Pedants

[Frenchw1fe]

Do some people really browse Mumsnet with the purpose of commenting on the use of English language and add nothing of any use to the original topic.
I have read many threads where the OP is extremely put off by some of the ‘superior ‘ attitudes of those who may be academically intelligent but emotionally stilted if their first thought is to criticise language skills rather than offer advice on the problem.

Surely everyone in need of advice should feel able to post on mumsnet without worrying about a few grammar mistakes.
Please feel free to criticise any mistakes in my post at least you’ll be leaving some other poor person alone.

I agree but I do find it very, very hard to ignore hideous grammar. I try to just grumble time myself but it really does make my teeth itch!

There's another thread discussing this about mean girls and it seems the consensus is to say nothing.

I think SPAG are really important. The one's pointing it out are just keeping up the high MN standards, their quite right to do so and don't out themselves as rude at all.

My favourite are the people who post “well I can’t understand your post at all* because they think it implies their grammar is just so perfect.

In reality it makes me think they’re a bit thick if they cant understand what is perfectly clear!

they're

The one's pointing it out are just keeping up the high MN standards, their quite right to do so and don't out themselves as rude at all

Unfortunate. Standards dropping, you mean “they’re”.

I agree but some posts are very, very hard to understand. Im talking about the long rambling posts that dont have a single bit of punctuation in them.

Irony is lost on MN this morning!

Irony is lost on MN this morning!

Arf. Good attempt at recovery

On an official printed document to be circulated to important clients - be as pedantic as is required.

A post calling out for help on a forum that people use their phones, may be distraught and have to navigate with chunky fingers - pedants need to consider - are they helping? or are they making it about themselves?

And yes I forgot a question mark.

JacquesHammer I inserted 3 SPAG issues, disappointed only one was found! awaits

You're right - I don't think there's generally any need to correct people's grammar and do find it rude (unless the person is questioning themselves like the bear/bare thread a while back).

I find it irritating when people don't use paragraphs or punctuation, but just ignore those threads.

I think the posters who sneer and take the piss out of spag are the ones who lower the standard

The teacher in me does flinch at poor grammar but the empathic human being in me does override this when replying to a poster who’s having a shitty time and simply want advice or a hand hold and not a bloody English lesson!

It is an odd one. I can understand someone might notice errors and not understand why the 'offender' doesn't know it's wrong. But I don't understand why anyone feels the need to correct another person's post. Unless it's a post asking about grammar or requesting editing. (Which would be quite unusual post to see!)

It is always amusing when these posters (or their supporters) make mistakes in their 'correction' posts.

I got the irony @BatEaredFox

While pedants are aboard, should the word ones have the apostrophe? I can't work out if it's a weird contraction

I think SPAG are really important. The one's pointing it out are just keeping up the high MN standards, their quite right to do so and don't out themselves as rude at all.

I actually like my SPaG correcting (unless someone is just being a dick over autocorrect or a typo) I would hate to be making similar mistakes in my everyday life.

I had a rubbish education, now have a first class honours degree so am clearly 'bright', but the foundations of my basics definitely need 'underpinning' every now and then.

I am one of the pedants (ex-teacher, work in publishing). I don’t see why people can’t just learn to write, the rules are not that hard!

I think you actually must be a bit thick if you think sneering about someone's grammar is the best response to a post where someone is upset and the meaning of their post is perfectly clear.

I cringe when I see posts with 'should of' or 'could of' but I'd never correct them because my typing is dismal and I always post before checking it so my posts are often barely literate and no one ever picks me up on it. So most people must be pretty kind and focus on decoding what the poster means so they can reply to that not their SPAG.

It's usually when a poster is being a twat that they are 'pulled down a peg' due to their shit SPaG to be fair!

@BatEaredFox do you mean four, rather than three? Or was that a test too?

How many in your second and third posts. Oh, this is fun!! I'm not a grammar expert so help us out.

I am one of the pedants (ex-teacher, work in publishing). I don’t see why people can’t just learn to write, the rules are not that hard!

It’s a forum. It’s casual. For people who are posting in need of advice, their last thought is a careful proof-read. There are people with dyslexia, a poster the other week commented she was using typing software due to being partially-sighted, there are posters who don’t have English as a first language, or who haven’t had a decent access to education.

When you type “the rules are not that hard” it’s a bloody privileged position!

SPaG is important professionally. It isn’t important chatting in the online equivalent of a pub with your mates.

i think its horrid and the people doing it are twats.
they have no idea if the op has some kind of disability.
I suppose they think it makes them look clever. really they just look really stupid.

Not always, the other night the first responses were from clever souls remarking on the grammar.