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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Unashamedly a TAAT!

445 replies

JudgeRinderSays · 18/02/2015 09:03

AIBU to think MN should ban grammar and spelling pedantry on all forums except the one explicitly for this purpose.
It is so F*cking tedious!

OP posts:
anothernumberone · 18/02/2015 12:44

Icimoi your understanding of dyslexia is wrong.

GoringBit · 18/02/2015 12:45

I like pedant's corner. I like pedantry in general. Just, it should be something to chat about in a geeky way, not something used to make people feel bad.

Totally agree, JDM.

AwakeCantSleep · 18/02/2015 12:47

I'm not saying people are out to annoy with bad grammar. How bizarre.

I'm saying people are careless with grammar and spelling. That's their preference for posting on here. I happen to care about grammar so it might annoy me. That doesn't mean that I am right and they are wrong, or the other way round. But I am entitled to voice my annoyance unless it is obviously inappropriate.

I also genuinely believe that we don't do posters on here a big favour by passing over things like 'should of'. It is a very obvious and basic mistake and will be picked on in other contexts.

NickiFury · 18/02/2015 12:47

People who correct grammar on a thread disgust me and I would absolutely love to know if you'd do it in RL to a person you'd just met if you say you would you're a massive liar.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 18/02/2015 12:49

awake, you did actually use the term 'want'. If you are going to insist on accuracy, you need to express yourself in a clear way, don't you?

And I don't need any favours from you, or any one else on here, in terms of picking up typos. And if I did, I would ask.

ghostspirit · 18/02/2015 12:49

i have dyslexia my spelling is crap and i dont know how to use grammar. i dont mind if it pointed out as long as its not in a bitch way. then i will just ignore anyway. to me if someone feel the need to pick at spelling. then they have lost the fight/debate

Firesidetreat · 18/02/2015 12:55

It is always inappropriate to point out a grammatical error.

And let's stop pretending it's for the posters own good.

AwakeCantSleep · 18/02/2015 12:55

Then we agree to disagree.

I find it interesting that most people who are commenting on here how they don't like grammar mistakes being pointed out are very articulate and don't make any mistakes themselves. I wonder why they get so upset about it.

Behindthepaintedgarden · 18/02/2015 12:56

I am itching to point out a very basic grammatical error in one of the rather superior posts on this thread. So far I have managed to restrain myself. Smile

NickiFury · 18/02/2015 12:56

Why do YOU think they get upset about it awake? What's your theory?

NickiFury · 18/02/2015 12:58

Oh do behindthe. If it's one of those supporting dishing out grammar advice I am sure they won't mind Smile.

Behooven · 18/02/2015 12:58

Totally agree with Twat

I would just like to post without spending hours checking my few lines of writing for mistakes. Just to keep a twat at bay.

NickiFury · 18/02/2015 12:59

?

GoringBit · 18/02/2015 12:59

Behind on a thread like this, if it's me, I'd rather know. So I can blame my phone or OH for distracting me. Grin

Firesidetreat · 18/02/2015 13:00

I get upset when I see a poster getting told over and over they have spelt something wrong on the internet.

ghostspirit · 18/02/2015 13:02

There are parents of children with learning difficulties/dyslexia. we are all understanding of their situation and them children. in a few years time when them children are adults it will be their spelling/grammar thats being picked on.

bruffin · 18/02/2015 13:02

pisses me right off when someone posts a thread where they really need help and have the thread is "PARAGRAPHS OP" "AWWW my eyes" "post again using paragraphs!"

I can't read a post that doesn't have paragraphs. I suspect a lot of posters are put off by a wall of words with no breaks in it, so the OP will not be reaching the widest audience.

I very rarely correct grammar, but the other day a post on how to improve her childrens' chances in life was littered with rogue apostrophes. I did point it out and spelt "apostrophe" wrong Blush. I have a dyslexic DH and DS so I am forgiving of spelling. I do realise mobile phones can cause typing problems, but I can't get passed no paragraphs!

MetallicBeige · 18/02/2015 13:02

"I like pedant's corner. I like pedantry in general. Just, it should be something to chat about in a geeky way, not something used to make people feel bad."

Yy, this exactly.
I like having a lurk in pedant's corner, I find the posts there witty and interesting.
However it's certainly not the same tone at all from the self declared grammar saviours who jump onto random threads to bestow their wisdom (and obviously expect the op to be grateful for it).
I can't understand how people cannot comprehend the utter rudeness. I just can't, is so very thick skinned and "well my grammar is correct and so am I". Bore off!

Quiero · 18/02/2015 13:09

I so glad this thread has been started, I was going to start one last night but tiredness got the better of me.

Last nights thread was just the final straw. I feel really, really strongly about this.

We are a community. We are here to support each other and hopefully have a few laughs along the way. We all have different backgrounds, educations, experiences and challenges and that's what makes us so strong and also so influential. If we start excluding people (and making them feel thick is a way of doing this) then we are no longer a community.

We challenge stereotyping , disablism, racism, sexism, ageism every day here yet it is still acceptable to challenge someone on their literacy skills.

Not on people.

BeCool · 18/02/2015 13:09

Yes it is fucking tedious. My grammar is OK, but my typing is shite - mistakes happen.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 18/02/2015 13:11

Yanbu. The SPAG crew have their own corner to play in and yet some still feel the need to come headtilting onto threads and wailing about paragraphs. I feel sorry for them as they clearly have ishoos.
I personally think its a way to bully and scare off anyone they don't deem worthy of mn. Yeah I said it!

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 18/02/2015 13:18

Hold on, I should say I'm not accusing all the spag/pedants corner fans of doing this on threads.

GoringBit · 18/02/2015 13:18

What's SPAG? I tried searching for mumsnet/spag, which hasn't helped. Well, that's not strictly true, I've found several dozen ways of improving my spag bol.

LuluJakey1 · 18/02/2015 13:21

Well, my spelling, puctuation and grammar is usually pretty reasonable but I am aways happy to learn if someone spots I am doing something wrong - as opposed to a typo.

I was never 'taught' grammar at school but have made an effort after being taken aside on teacher training, very nicely, and been told by a Headteacher that I needed to do something about it because it would stop me getting a job. It didn't matter how good a teacher I was, people would make a decision based on my application. He also said I was not geing a good role model for students. I had a degree but my writing was inaccurate.

At the time I was upset but he was right. I was actually just lazy about it and I sorted it out really quickly. Once I had, I noticed it in others. Now after 13 years teaching, I see it all the time in parents many of whom who send really badly written. notes and letters or forms or requests and ae uncomfortale about writing. They will say, quite cheerfully, ' Oh I am rubbish at Maths' without any embarrssment but I have never met one yet who is not embarrassed if their written English is poor. (Note this is a 99% white working class intake.)

It matters. If we don't make ourselves write accurately we get out of the habit and develop bad habits that are hard to break.

Anyone with a learning difficulty may find accuracy really difficult and I sympathise. I am not about humiliating anyone and agree that once it's been said, it doesn't need re-saying and there are instances where it isn't appropriate. However, like any kind of factual accuracy or any opinion you express on social networking, you expose yourself to challenge.

Moancollins If you put £50,000 for a costing of £80,000 in you would be an incompetent who hadn't made basic checks on their work, could potentially have caused huge problems for your work and probably deserved to be sacked.

I completely disagree, it could be nothing to do with incompetency, it could simply be a typo and yet you have just judged me as incompetent and deserving of the sack. Hoist with your own petard there, I think. Smile

That is my point! Mistakes are easily made, should be pointed out and rectified and there is no need for anyone to be judged or sacked. Interesting that you are judgemental about that but not about accuracy in words.

OnceUponATimeAgain · 18/02/2015 13:23

Personally - i think so long as it is understandable, and not full of 'huns' and 'wanna's i dont mind (and sentances too please)

Language evolves, and maybe with time we will be saying "Should OF" instead of "Should HAVE" and we will say, that derives from the modern english etc...

It doesnt bother me