AIBU that criticising someone's spelling and grammr on AIBU is rubbish behaviour ?

[Stinkycatbreath]

Ive noticed this on Facebook and here. Now I can understand that when people use offensive language people need to pull them up on it. But sometimes people might miss a letter or comma or something and there is always one or several people who make a comment nothing to do with the thread about the OPs spelling or grammar! I mean you logged on to make a comment nothing to do with the thread. We have all made typos and posted things which are not grammatically accurate but some people are just out to get others as they think they have superiority. I especially like it when people are losing an arguement then really get in their with "yeh well at least I can spell properly " or something to that affect. It must be lovely to be so perfect and for my money those peole can stick their grammar where the sun don't shine. As long as a post is legible and understandable its fine., no need to be such a twonk.

I can be pedantic but will only criticise such posts if it's a formal post on behalf of a newspaper, for example.

YANBU OP.

There seems to be a little wankers army of armchair teachers lately, scouring threads so they can pick people up and make themselves feel superior.

The real reason as far as I can see, (behind the fake concern) is that those posters have a problem with reading poor grammar/spelling and simply 'can't' learn to scroll past.

That's their problem to deal with and not the OP's.

Also, I wish MNHQ would come down harder on it. They tend to remove posts when reported but as far as I can see, it's not solving the issue.

I imagine it's very off putting for anyone with poor SPAG who wants to post for advice.

I've said this before but I live in an area where adult and child poverty is rife, domestic violence is rife, alcohol and drug addiction is rife, as is child obesity and housing issues.

If the SPAG police were to see my local Facebook groups, they'd burst a blood vessel because a lot of the posters are poorly educated or have English as a second or third language.

And the sad thing is I've recommended Mumsnet in the past to some of those people and they've said they wouldn't post here due to MNs 'reputation'.

So well played grammar police. Carry on putting women off seeking help, as long as you get to feel superior for a few seconds

Most spelling and grammar mistakes that people make do not detract from the sense of what they are saying and, even if you inwardly cringe at "would of" instead of "would've", it is very petty to point it out.

Huge blocks of text not separated in to paragraphs I simply don't bother with. I don't comment but I don't bother to read either, I just close the thread.

The only time I think it is tempting to comment is when somebody is explaining themselves so poorly that it is impossible to make out what they are trying to say. Sometimes I would ignore that too but I would occasionally ask for clarification.

YABU

Spelling and grammar DO matter.

I would much prefer an MN random correct me than being overlooked by a potential employer because I didn't know the appropriate use of 'of' and 'have'.

If someone doesn't point out your mistake, you are going to keep making it.

Re the would of/have. I've seen it in a sentence as "to of not"...

There were few threads when this happened The only time I think it is tempting to comment is when somebody is explaining themselves so poorly that it is impossible to make out what they are trying to say.

I find it quite fascinating. They're/their/there and you're/your are absolute basics even foreigners manage. Syntax and commas can be super difficult so I would never even think about cringing at that.

On threads where someone is either goady, being pedantic or complaining about spelling, grammar or pronunciation, then yes I might comment.

Other times I don't, especially if someone is obviously in emotional distress, it is clear that the person's first language may not be English, or if the post is absolutely full of errors and it is obvious that the OP has trouble with literacy, but is doing their best.

But it may make them think a bit more, next time they post something, to make is easier for others to actually understand what they're saying. I find a lot of SM posts virtually impossible to read because of poor SPAG. Yes, it does matter, a comma in the wrong place, or lack of a full stop, or a spelling mistake can completely change the meaning of a comment, or can make it nonsensical.

I had to read this 4 times before I managed to understand the point @Kazzyhoward was trying to make.
PS Kazzy, your comma usage needs work.

Bunch of pendants 😂

If someone doesn't point out your mistake, you are going to keep making it.

Do you honestly think when an adult comes here and posts 'would of' instead of 'would have', they've never ever been corrected in their lives?

Honestly, some people take 'the power of Mumsnet' a little too seriously.

Dont forget the apo's trophy

oh yes.

Well yes and no.

I once saw a thread on here where the english was of such a standard that there were several posters saying english is obviously not your first language. Only it was her first language and she couldnt understand why anyone thought that.

I did point out some gramatical errors when someone was asking for feedback on a letter she'd written. I think thats fair enough.

I would much prefer an MN random correct me than being overlooked by a potential employer because I didn't know the appropriate use of 'of' and 'have'.

Hmm

Depends. Normally I like the way that SPaG is generally better on MN than elsewhere on the internet, and it is nice to read things that 'flow.' However, I agree with OP, if the post is otherwise perfectly legible and the typo/grammar error doesn't actually change the context, why point it out? Particularly dickish when it's clearly someone who's very upset.

If your first instinct when reading something like 'I should of left him the first time he hit me,' is to reply 'I think you meant should have left him' (similar examples to which I have seen many times) then there is something pretty wrong with you.

A lot of it is thinly disguised snobbery though.

If someone has SEN, English as an additional language or has received a poor education, it's no-one else's business.

I often get the impression the armchair teachers are only doing it because they don't want to see Mumsnet 'dumbed down'.

And that's a disgraceful way to think, given that Mumsnet was created to help parents.

Parents from all walks of life, not just those who can speak and spell correctly.

"There will be a review of the accounts under the control of John Smith" means that you're suspicious of the way John Smith has been running them.

"There will be a review of the accounts, under the control of John Smith" means that you're suspicious of the way they've been run but trust John Smith to examine them and report back.

Perhaps suggest people try the free www.grammarly.com/

I don't have it, but if I was concerned about my written presentation both formally and informally, I'd definitely give it a try.

It claims to :-

Compose clear, mistake-free writing

Check the tone of your message before you hit send.

Get corrections from Grammarly while you write on Gmail, Twitter, LinkedIn, and all your other favorite sites.

If someone doesn't point out your mistake, you are going to keep making it.

Yes I'm sure all the MNers who have been on the end of snarky grammar corrections have immediately changed their linguistic habits.

People have a million and one things to remember and worry about in life. If spelling and grammar are not their strong point and not their priority, a condescending correction from some MNer is not going to make them mend their ways. Some people find spelling and grammar rules very very hard to remember. And the one rule you've picked on will probably be the tip of their iceberg. Contrary to some MNers' beliefs, not all jobs require good spelling and grammar.

If spelling and grammar are not their strong point and not their priority, a condescending correction from some MNer is not going to make them mend their ways. Some people find spelling and grammar rules very very hard to remember.

Exactly and all it's going to do is dent their confidence even more. Especially since that might've been the 2nd/3rd/4th time that day, some twat on the internet has decided to 'teach' them.

This is like the EU referendum nearly a 50 50 split. I just think its nasty calling people out on it when that is not what they were asking. I understand the need to be legible but he grammar police pulled me up on a thread. I was one letter out in a word and the person didnt like what I say so went for a low blow and criticised my spelling. Think of something better stupid.

I genuinely can't work out if all the spelling and grammar errors on this thread have been done deliberately to make a point. I know some have, but there are so many...

Do we REALLY have to have referendum or Brexit mentioned on threads which have NOTHING to do with it...
It's relentless and some of us want a break from it, hence being on a thread with absolutely unrelated topic.

English is my second language and I do lots of mistakes but I learn a lot by reading and commenting here on writing. I don't have enough contact with written English so it helps me some way. I like to read some well written conversations and I'm very often thinking well that is nice English. Lots of people around me is foreigners so I don't mind mistakes at all we all in the same boat trying to learn and improve.

I like to make sure my grammar and spelling is as correct as it can be and have even been known to post on Pedants' Corner, but like everyone else I make mistakes.

If I notice a mistake I've made after I've posted I'll generally post a correction.

However, I can honestly say, I have never pointed out any other poster's spelling or grammar mistakes.

I think there is a certain type of person who likes to think themselves superior to the common herd and will point out other people's perceived short comings whenever they get the opportunity; particularly online, as they can be as nasty and spiteful as they like and remain anonymous.

Blanktimes a lot of pedants would pick up on that grammerly extract for being wrong though as it spells 'favorite' (and presumably other words) the American way......