To think that it is very unfair, to pick someone up on spelling or grammar, just because you disagree with what they are saying.

[smokepole]

I posted recently on a ongoing topic in this section, I was picked up for my "appalling" grammar, my use of punctuation and for my sentence construction. I noticed that when my opinion changed , strangely enough my grammar or incorrect use of exclamation marks was not picked up upon. I have noticed that this happened on other threads as well. I think this is wrong for two reasons, the first being that it is a kind of bullying, intimating that because someone struggles with spelling, punctuation or correct sentence construction, that there are thick, therefore their argument or view point does not stand up. The other point it is very unfair to pick people up who have not benefited from higher education, or in my case not even education post GCSE'S, people need to realise this and accept that they have been fortunate to have been able to access higher education, but they need to give people like me some slack over my poor grammar or sentence construction.

Also, superfluous 'how' in that struck out sentence.

LOL Princess. Totally agree.

Oh and my name is Vintagejazz not Vintagjazz.

See how easy it is to make mistakes, and how irritating it is when people jump on them?

Why would you ever need to test someone's literacy down to which precise centile they're in? Some kind of pre-interview test or something?

It's based off a bell curve. When you do tests like the SATs and ACTs in high school to get into college they'll let you know what percentile you're in. They also do it when they test for LD's to see where you stand in certain areas.

It just means of everyone in your age group taking the test that a certain percent did better than you, and a certain percent did lower than you.

So, I have better English skills than 98% of the people in my age group and education level who have taken a similar test, and I have better math skills than 30% of people in my age group and education level who have taken a similar test. A typical person will have similar scores in both areas, a person with a LD will have a noticeable difference in skill levels between areas.

Although my English grammar, punctuation and spelling is basic by the incredibly high standards on this site. I have never found that people have any problem with my grammar or punctuation in real life , that's if people can read my writing which varies every time I write.

I know how to use paragraphs just about , the problem is it takes me twice as long to write as anyone else , it does not come naturally to me ( being Dyspraxic, 40 years of age and not having benefited from any help what's so ever). I think the attitude that because you struggle in areas that are straight forward for some people ,that you are not as intelligent as them has to change. The reality is that anyone who can overcome these difficulties is equally intelligent if not more so . The effect is like running with six bags of shopping in your arms and being called because you were slower than the "free runner.

LRD, I do understand that you are young and perhaps haven't quite grasped the ways of the world.

I would like to have this conversation with you when you are a bit older and maybe have a more mature view of the world.

I know LRD doesn't need anyone to fight her battles, but what a horrible, smug, condescending post Duckworth.

May I offer you a few tips?

1. Don't wang on about perceived shortcomings in other people's spelling, punctuation and grammar on an internet forum, it is boring and you set yourself up for a fall. Lo and behold, you committed the basic error of starting a sentence with a lower case letter.

2. Don't try and patronise someone who is cleverer than you. You'll look even stupider.

Duck also seem to commit the act of not ending sentences with full stops.

Very basic stuff duck seems to be missing.

Ah, sorry. I misread the question. Well, that probably sounded awfully patronizing then.

It's a common way to score the ACTs and SATs which are used to get into a good college. Actually, they're a bit more than that since colleges also take into account your grades throughout your 4 years in high school. They're also used to skip remedial classes in college (which saves money), and it helps you get scholarships.

ComposHat, having been on this forum for awhile and knowing the quality of LRD's posting, my money would be squarely on her. Not, as you said, that she requires anyone fighting her battles for her.

I think Duckworth has kindly demonstrated to us that a perceived high level of literacy is in no way an indicator of intelligence.

Why don't you read about the experiences of dyslexic people and parents of dyslexic children before you decide that anyone without a statement is lazy. I have no statement but I couldn't read until I was 10, I find your opinion incredibly insulting, you make it sound likemyself and other dyslexic people have choosen poor literacy or rather choosen to do nothing about it.

I have had a very successful career despite my inability to spell certain words. I am in the process of changing careers because my previous career wasn't really compatible with parenting young children. I think that it is great that you wouldn't employ someone lazy like me as I don't think we'd have a happy working relationship due to your ignorance and closed mindedness. I am interested as to how you avoid employing one of us lazy dyslexics, my dc2 and covering letter would obviously be perfect as I would ask at least 2 people to proof read it. I am also aware of the words I struggle with and in a professional environment I use alternative words that I am confident in spelling. Do you ask all applicants to sit a spelling test?

Congratulations on your strong literacy skills Duckworth, now I think you need to work on your ability to view a situation from other people's points of view, basic manners and understanding statistics.

Cv not dc2 ( dc2 is also perfect although very likely to have inherited the laziness dyslexic gene.)

I think it's passive aggressive, particularly when that is the only comment made. I feels stabby when the first (or any) reply says ouch I can't read that no paragraphs.

YANBU.

I think someone resorting to ripping the piss out of their'opponent',is someone who has a weak argument and is starting to realise they haven't got a leg to stand on.

I also dislike the deliberate use of obscure and highbrow vocabulary in a mainstream discussion.

I have awful grammar as well. I can spell but find grammar very difficult.

However, I think my posts are still readable.

I am doing an access course and my grammar is much better when I am submitting assignments, but it takes hours of concentration and consulting my grammar and punctuation book which I simply don't have the time do when just making a post here.

Saying that; I do find it frustrating when people don't understand the basics like the difference between your/you're and you are and don't even bother with paragraphs and capital letters. There is a difference between bad grammar and completely unreadable posts.

I must admit that the other day I used woman for women or vice versa. It happens when I rush at times ;)

Four posters.

All patting themselves on their highly literate backs and dissing the thickos.

And between them 21 SPaG mistakes.

The booby prize award, with a rather alarming 9 mistakes in total goes to..................Ah, but that would be twattish of me, wouldn't it?

Suffice to say I can understand why she needs to employ someone else to write the letters.

(Serendepitously (lovely word, much underused) every single poster on this thread not engaging in the smug backslapping has made far fewer mistakes than the hee-hawers.

Dontcha just love it when that happens?

serendipitously (I can also point out my own mistakes)

I find it quite sad that a poster assumes those who have poor grammar aren't trying to do anything about it.

I am re-taking GCSE's and doing an access course. I spend hours practicing grammar and punctuation in the evenings but it doesn't come naturally to me and it isn't something I am just going to 'get' straight away.

I do find it embarrassing at times; it's not nice knowing there are people out there judging you on being thick and ignorant when you are doing your best to improve.

I remember posting on another forum and I had someone completely pull apart my post to laugh at my grammar; it was mortifying.

If I was making a mistake over and over again I would have no problem with a polite PM pointing it out to me but doing it publically and in a mocking way speaks volumes about that poster.

Tell 'em to fuck off and get out from up their own arses U2.

I don't think they'd mistake any grammar in that

But if they didn't, we wouldn't get that delicious moment when they make a complete arse of themselves and fuck up their own spelling/grammar when thinking to mock someone else's.