To sometimes hate grammar pedants ***message edited by a MNHQ pedant***

[Soubriquet]

There are people pouring out their troubles and woes to have someone come along and say
“Actually OP. Yabu. Because it’s I went to the store not I gone to the store. “

They add nothing to the conversation but just strong arm their grammar into a thread where it isn’t needed

Your thread title will be the MN highlight of the day for me. Well done OP.

On the subsidiary issue of grammar pendantry often being pointless, I agree.

I find most people fall into one of two categories, they don’t comment/notice/care or they comment and make a mistake (even if on a different comment) whilst trying to look smug. Nobody’s perfect and autocorrect is the worst out there for making people fall into both categories.

Pendants 😂, sorry couldn't help it. Its hilarious 🤣.

Tbh there are loads of SPAG issues on here that give me the rage, and I have to fight the urge to correct them, but mostly bite my tongue / but there are some which really need pointing out IMO.

They only need pointing out if the grammatical errors mean the OP is having trouble being misunderstood.

However, that's very rarely the case. It's almost always the idiots who claim they 'simply can't scroll past' who take great joy in pointing out errors like 'could of/should of' etc.

Meanwhile I really do think it puts lurkers off posting.

*understood

@ BIWI That reminds me of a long and acrimonious Boxing Day argument I had about whether it should be Pedant’s Corner (singular like Woman’s Hour) or Pedants’ Corner.

@sobriquet That sounds very pretty but might be open to some misunderstandings...

Etsy has loads of lovely stuff but there's a "Grammar Nazi" pendant which I find a bit

Wouldn’t that be a gramzi?

But I agree grammar nazi is a bit off

@BlusteryLake

I agree OP, pedantry has its place but that place isn't on a post where someone is asking for advice. I would correct a work colleague on a professional document, ditto for my (teenage) children's essays, but it totally derails a thread on here. It's also very insensitive to make someone who may not have had the educational opportunities and support that the pedants have feel inferior at a time when they are seeking advice and support.

I agree, @BlusteryLake - I notice mistakes but wouldn’t correct them unless asked. And I certainly wouldn’t commit pedantry on a thread where the OP was distressed, upset or in need of help.

I think threads on here are like conversations - and I don’t think many people expect perfect grammar in normal conversation.

YANBU. Miss Manners gives only solicited advice.

Spelling A
Grammar A
Interpersonal skills - F

Your not being unreasonable. Me and you are being reasonable. The others, there being unreasonable.

I once prided myself on being a grammar pedant.

Then one day my husband pointed out that I had spelled grammer incorrectly.

Oh, that was too easy, OP.

I'm an equal opportunities pedant, not just about grammar - I can pedantify anything you wish! But yes, I agree, and I do try not to be nit picky.

@3scape

Spelling A Grammar A Interpersonal skills - F

Why thank you

no idea what interpersonal skills are

@WorraLiberty

Tbh there are loads of SPAG issues on here that give me the rage, and I have to fight the urge to correct them, but mostly bite my tongue / but there are some which really need pointing out IMO.

They only need pointing out if the grammatical errors mean the OP is having trouble being misunderstood.

However, that's very rarely the case. It's almost always the idiots who claim they 'simply can't scroll past' who take great joy in pointing out errors like 'could of/should of' etc.

Meanwhile I really do think it puts lurkers off posting.

Sorry @WorraLiberty when I said that, I meant that yes, I do think they should be mentioned, but not necessarily in a serious or heartfelt thread, and even then only if the meaning was obscured as a result.

Not that certain SPAG issues should be routinely corrected. I wasn't very clear.

I do find SPAG errors grating but as I said, I mostly grit my teeth and move on unless there's a genuine benefit in mentioning it (or the poster is clearly a Goady troll, in which case I don't care if it's offensive!).

I’m happy that grammar is corrected...if you aren’t told you’ve made a mistake, how will you learn? (Now waiting for someone to come along and correct mine).

Grammar pendants should be hung by the neck. Or round it.

@RichPetunia

I’m happy that grammar is corrected...if you aren’t told you’ve made a mistake, how will you learn? (Now waiting for someone to come along and correct mine).

It has its time and place

And one place it isn’t needed, is when an OP is talking about a serious topic such as the death of a loved one, abuse, or something that is seriously bothering them at home

Then you just look like a cunt

And thank you MNHQ!

@RichPetunia

I’m happy that grammar is corrected...if you aren’t told you’ve made a mistake, how will you learn? (Now waiting for someone to come along and correct mine).

See this is the sort of attitude I'm talking about.

It would take a special kind of idiot to think that despite all the teachers and other people in that posters life, telling them they're getting something wrong, they would be the 'chosen one' and that their correction will actually change that person and stop them making the same mistake again.

MN is a chat forum. No-one's here to save the world.

It would take a special kind of idiot to think that despite all the teachers and other people in that posters life, telling them they're getting something wrong, they would be the 'chosen one'

Nah @WorraLiberty, I'm foreign, i would actually like to be corrected sometimes. Think I could learn from it .

Bold fail

I've been told off by MNHQ in the past for being a grammar arsehole, however I have never commented on a post which is heartfelt and genuine, I will only correct if the poster is being a cunt.

There’s a time and place for pedantry. That said being able to communicate clearly and effectively is an essential skill. And if no one is ever corrected then they’ll not know how to do that.