to think that it is not ok to be rude about other people's bad English skills?

[bluecheeseforbreakfast]

I have read a few threads recently that say how uneducated and stupid people who don't spell words properly are. there have been times on mumsnet that my opinion has been belittled because of the spelling/grammer in my posts.

I am dyslexic, I didn't learn to read untill I was 10 (I just looked at the biff and chip pictures and guessed what was going on, the teacher would correct me and I would memorise the story, I had to read to same book over and over untill I could "read" the entire book but I had actually just memorised the words.) I am not stupid, I have a degree, I read newspapers regularly, I have learnt a second language in he last 3 years, I have had a profesional job that I loved (I am now on maternity leave). I am just really crap at spelling.

I feel so stupid and unwelcome when I read negative things about spelling. I think that one of the great things about mumsnet is how open and accepting people are about many different issues but it still seems to be ok for posters to be rude and mean about people with bad English skills.

If you were to start a thread saying "AIBU to not want to read a friend's facebook status because they said their instead of there?" there is a high chance you will get lots of posters saying yes, never have anything to do with the fool again! If you started a thread saying "AIBU to not want to listen to my friend because they have a stutter and it anoys me when they struggle to get their words out?" I would assume that the concensus would be (rughtly so) yabvvvu.

I have a baby who goes to sleep at 5.45, my friends all have small children so they are at home in the evening, my dp works nights. I feel really lonely but mumsnet is a great way to make myself feel like I am have meaningful conversations with other adults, it would take me ages to post if I was to check each spelling that I wasn't 100% sure about.

Often on the people who can't spell are so stupid type threads people say "oh but not dyslexic people, I didn't mean dyslexic people" 1 in 10 people are dyslexic, often you won't know if a friend is dyslexic as it isn't the sort of thing that often crops up in conversation.

AIBU to think that learning difficulties/disabilities/differances should be treacted as any other physical/mental difficulty/disability/differance?

[DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis]

snowbility

and just so you are armed well in such cases Google Muphry's Law

yes, it is Muphry's Law - that's the whole point.
sorrybi can't link it. It's worth a search though!

[LessMissAbs]

Of course its not on to bully people for spelling mistakes or being dyslexic! But equally its not rude to politely point out spelling mistakes. I've found it helpful in the past. Dyslexia is a completely different issue from never bothering to learn to spell and write correctly when you are perfectly capable of doing so.

Is the latter not more to do with this: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24433320

"A major study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows how England's 16 to 24-year-olds are falling behind their Asian and European counterparts.

England is 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy out of 24 countries."

[gemmal88]

I won't lie, bad grammar and spelling are a pet peeve of mine. I do cringe if I make a mistake and don't notice until I've posted - I'm weird like that.

I do understand that people are dyslexic (my other half is) and it can't be helped, but, people can help writing in text speak and slang - that is even worse!

[Snowbility]

So, if you think it's not rude to point out mistakes, despite loads - feels like the majority - of people on this thread saying they feel it is - do you ignore them all and carry on as you were, risking being rude, just to satisfy your own need to correct other people?
In my opinion the basis of politeness and good manners is about other people feeling, welcome, comfortable and not offended - how can you publicly correct someone on a forum for their language and leave them feeling welcome and comfortable? If you don't like or understand a post, don't read it....there's no MN law suggesting you have to read and reply to every post - just walk away.

[DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis]

lesmiss

Those results can not be the true picture. Hungary is not even in it - we'd be near the top...

[DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis]

and by "we" I mean Hungarians

[wannaBe]

I think it's better than it used to be tbh.

A while ago remember an op posting a deeply emotive thread, about how she was pregnant and how her dp was pressuring her into having a termination, and the choices she was facing. I remember writing out a long, considered post, and after I'd posted it another, well known (then) poster came on to the thread and picked up one spelling mistake in my post. it was absolutely not the time to be pointing out a mistake in that way.

on another thread someone pointed out my spelling mistake with a spelling mistake in her sentence - I picked up with great glea.

tbh I do think that people who can should make the effort to try to at least use legible grammar (assuming English is their first language) but I don't agree that posts on an internet forum should be spell-checked, and we all write hastily at times.

Lack of punctuation though drives me insane as my screenreader reads it all in one continuous string of words with no gaps, and text speak is IMO just lazy (although it must take some doing as I sure as hell can't write like that!) and I won't read posts with it in. There is no excuse for text speak.

[ProfondoRosso]

Hear hear, Snowbility. I always wonder what goes through some folks' minds. If you know you're about to hurt someone's feelings and you can avoid it, what makes you go ahead regardless?

[SharpLily]

Refusing to capitalise 'I' or the beginning of sentences is pure laziness. I'd argue that refusing to bother with full stops is too.

[bluecheeseforbreakfast]

I forget to use capitals at the beginingof scentances when I write by hand very very often, I think my words flow much better in terms of spelling if I don't use a capital, the letters sort of run into each other. I don't not use them on purpose, it's more that I forget whilst trying to work out how the hell I should spell the next word.

This thread has mostly made me feel much happier about posting without worrying that I will be thought badly off because of my spelling, thank you!

[bluecheeseforbreakfast]

I also don't know anyone who lies about having dyslexia, I don't understand why people would exagerate struggles.

[hollowhallows]

OP i totally understand where you are coming from. My grammar is not always the strongest and i feel very aware of judgement on MN and have had someone belittle me once before.

I once checked out 'pedants corner' i think it is called and was appalled by how snobby, arrogant and judgemental some people can be.

[Mintyy]

I don't think I would ever directly question an individual posters spelling or grammar on Mumsnet, unless they were the type to be forever droning on about their qualifications from a Russell Group University or the like.

It is absolutely fine for the pedants to start separate threads. They need to hang out somewhere!

[DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis]

what is SPAG, please?

I read it and it makes me hungry as I think of spag bol!

[Mintyy]

S
Pelling
And
Grammar

very lazy shorthand, in other words.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

The P is for punctuation.

[Mintyy]

Oh really?