To think it is literally not possible to be "offended" by poor grammar and punctuation as some posters claim.

[ElleBellyBeeblebrox]

Honestly, who gives a shit? The amount of smug wankery on here sometimes is unbelievable. Is there really any justification for snarking at someone about their use of full stops,( other than to try and make yourself look like a smartarse.)

I'm not saying correct spelling and grammar doesn't have it's place, I'm just saying that commenting on it on an Internet forum is the work of a smug and joyless bastard.

I think I am the poster who asked for clarification, as cited by DrankSangriaInthePark

I asked for clarification, because I did not get what the poster asked for - she said she was scared, and I could see two meanings in what she was asking for. So I asked for clarification. She had posted the thread twice under different titles, so I was concerned.

On one thread, I was jumped on and my motives in asking for clarification were ripped in to. I posted a clarification of what I meant there as soon as I saw that I has been misunderstood. That however does not seem to satisfy those who are convinced I had an additional and unpleasant motivation, worth carrying over not this thread too. There didn't however seem to be any adverse comment on the other thread.

I did not criticise the poster, or comment on her grammar, or on anything she said or how she said it. I was genuinely seeking to clarify the issue.

Yes, I'm as likely as anyone else to fuck up how I express things from time to time

I really hadn't thought I was considered such a shit that people believe I would be deliberately unpleasant to a poster asking for help in a subject forum.

.

Don't think I've seen that thread, my moany rant this eve was prompted by reading this
"It's appalling that he's done that, but I have to say that the grammar and spelling in your post offends me more"

It bothers me but does not offend. Auto correct has a lot to answer for. Years ago when I dabbled in online dating I immediately discounted anyone with poor grammar. Ironically I ended up marrying a foreigner with dubious spelling, grammar and punctuation! Behind every misplaced comma is someone who has more to offer. May be worth bearing in mind.

Oh, does this mean I can start using txt spk and no one will mind. Yay!

It doesn't bother me too much but sometimes I grit my teeth, pet hate is mostly on fb rather than on here and it's loose/lose. I would never say anything though as it's kind of mean.

I did once say to a close friend on fb 'speak English' as she was using text speak and I hate it.

pearl clutches the lot of them with bi vocals peering through narrow mean eyes - thats how I see them grammar police

i know some stuff is harder to read but I think it smack of absolute snobbery. Especially when a poster has poured their heart out and is clearly upset, then along comes the grammar police - like they fucking care it is mean.

Emily Postnews said it back in the 80's for both sides. Do spell if you can because it makes your message clearer, gives your message more punch, all that kind of stuff. But if someone else isn't spelling correctly, you are an absolute twat if you make it A Thing. Thank you and good night

Emily Postnews, foremost authority on proper net behaviour, gives her advice on how to act on the net.

Q: What does foobar stand for?
A: It stands for you, dear.

As long as I can understand what is being said I really do not care about spelling or grammar.

I do find blocks of text difficult to read, but will manfully wade through it.

However, text speak? No. Cannot do it. Do not care what the subject is I just click straight out of it. Poor spelling I can accept, text speak is just lazy.

I think the standards on this forum are generally very high so some posts do stand out and can, in fairness, look unreadable.

The idea that it's an unreasonable burden on posters to try and present posts in a readable form is leaning too far the other way. It's a dick move to point out the mistakes of others, but it's also a dick move to ask people to read a post that you couldn't be arsed writing properly. The burden should fall to the writer to make themselves understandable rather than on the reader to decipher.

OP YANBU. One of the biggest crimes on Mumsnet, apart from poor spelling and grammar, appears to be judging and making assumptions, which in a lot of cases, is fair enough.

Until you have walked a mile in someone else's shoes..... etc etc.

But it's the hypocracy (oh fuck I know that's wrong CBA to google) of the SPAG nazis that gets me. For example:

Any time that there is a discussion about food, of the 'I can't afford vegetables so I have to feed my children on frozen pizza' variety, anyone that suggests that seasonal vegetables and pulses are cheap and healthy gets shouted down with cries of 'but what if they don't have a supermarket, pan, knife that they can use, or what if their electric has run out, or what if they are depressed, etc etc etc etc.

There are always armies of posters that come up with reasons why it might not be easy to cook from scratch and how it is much more expensive than Iceland pizza and chips which it isn't.

But people who can't manage to cook from scratch because they haven't had chance to learn or have SNs are likely to be the exact same people that don't have perfect SPaG and if they did come on here asking for help with feeding their children with something other than Iceland pizza, they might not write their post in perfect degree level English and they would get snippy comments on their written English and if they were a new poster they would probably think 'well fuck it you bitches, I know where I'm not wanted' and not post again.

English is a comparitively (sp!) complex language. I am very impressed with those with a reasonable grasp of it, particularly those who didn't get the best start in life or if English is not their first language, which could be the case for many on here.

I like that the standard of posting on Mumsnet is usually very good, mostly because I'm and old luddite that can't read txtspk, but I think that pulling up other posters on often minor errors in spelling or use of their/there/they're etc is inappropriate and incredibly rude.

I only opened that post yesterday morning Meditrina because I saw how the OP was written and that yours was the only reply. And I knew there was zero likelihood that you hadn't commented on her English. You can dress it up as "asking for clarification" all you like, but no-one will buy it.

If it makes you think about your attitude towards people whose level of English might not be quite as marvellous as your own, then my job here is done. (Unless you're going to start a thread again in Pedants, in which case, see you later!)

Those who think it is acceptable to 'helpfully' comment on someone's SPaG; when do you think this is appropriate? I see a lot of 'helpful' comments on threads where the OP is obviously emotional and often talking about something difficult. It is inevitable that a smug few will ignore the context and focus solely on their grammar or spelling. I think we do have to be careful; English is not everyone's first language and dyslexia (and other learning difficulties) are fairly common. Your so-called helpful comment might be really offensive to someone who is just seeking support, not an English lesson.

I don't really care how people post, but I reserve the right to judge, silently.

The one thing that will have my fingers itching though is the use of of instead of have.

Candy- there is no moment, unless an OP has specifically posted a language query.

It does expose the hypocrisy of MN, as others have said. I actually think it's time HQ started to consider slagging off someone's English as a PA and delete them, and warn persistent offenders.

However, I shall continue to do my community service and go round pointing out the grammar police's mistakes. On the Daisy thread, on the first page alone, there were 13 mistakes. From the very posters slagging off the OP's use of English. Warms my cockles, does that

Of course, if I were like them, I'd name them. Or put a snidey passive-aggressive "Hello I reeeaaaaally can't understand that post of yours with the 7 mistakes" (yes, one of them was obviously so busy attacking the OP she forgot to insert her own wonderful grammar and made 7 mistakes in one post)

The irony really, is that many years ago, I was part of a pedants' group on another website. A founder member no less. Because I am a pedant. I'm just not a bitch. Unless I'm having to out-do one.

Cheap shots as mentioned before & the feeling of superiority.

Poor grammar, punctuation and formatting can make some posts difficult to read. I agree, but there are ways of stating that are better than what some currently say.

As an English teacher it can irritate me, and make me long for a red pen. It does not, however, give offence and, in the context of this forum, I wouldn't mention it.

I hate when people comment on lack of paragraphs. Someone has just poured out their heart and soul, and the first reply is about paragraph spacing?! It would put me off ever using the site again. Some people don't have brilliant literacy skills - doesn't mean they should be ridiculed for it.

It irritates me sometimes too.

There's a thread on the relationships board at the moment and the heartbroken op is using lots of abbreviations/txtspk - I'm guessing cos she's using her phone to post and someone made a snarky comment about it rather than showing a bit of compassion :(

I'm not sure who would get offended - seems a bit extreme!

I notice bad grammar/spelling etc... but I have good comprehension skills.

I haven't read anything yet where I literally can't understand what a poster means.

Makes me think the people complaining about the quality of a poster's writing can't be as intelligent as they believe...

I shall continue to do my community service and go round pointing out the grammar police's mistakes.

I love doing that too drank, though I concentrate my efforts on one person. I see her as my special project.

Shall we buddy up like in a cop movie? I'll be the shambolic drunk with a death wish who lives in squalor.

You haven't seen me chant "practice/practise is the same as advice/advise" to myself every sodding time I have to use it. And I can do accommodation now because I remember that if it looks wrong, it's actually right.