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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that correcting someone's spelling/grammar etc on a thread is actually quite petty and pathetic?

156 replies

wannaBe · 15/02/2008 15:05

Really what does it matter?

OP posts:
dontwanttogetoutofbed · 15/02/2008 15:06

i would want my grammar to be corrected.
sometimes people do it automatically, not to be petty or annoying

Notalone · 15/02/2008 15:06

YANBU - there is no need imho. Seems a bit patronising to me

Tortington · 15/02/2008 15:08

yeah - what is this Enlgish GCSE?

TheFallenMadonna · 15/02/2008 15:09

It's rude.

Unless in Pendants' Corner.

I think you enter there at your own peril.

wannaBe · 15/02/2008 15:09

but would you do it to someone's face? Because I actually do think it's quite patronising to "correct" someone's spelling/grammar - it's not an exam room.

OP posts:
Notalone · 15/02/2008 15:09

Custardo Its English - not Enlgish!!!

TheFallenMadonna · 15/02/2008 15:10

You'd want your grammar to be corrected?

Mind you, I have corrected someone's biology before now. Probably just as rude...

Notalone · 15/02/2008 15:10

Never been in there FallenMadonna - it seems a bit scary

Blossomhill · 15/02/2008 15:11

I think people that do it are so up their own arses tbh

dontwanttogetoutofbed · 15/02/2008 15:11

it depends on the tone of voice. sometimes incorrect grammar rings strangely and for some its an automatic response to state the correct grammar. i don't think its rude

Notalone · 15/02/2008 15:12

I've not actually seen it happen as yet on here but I've heard the rumours. Any links ??

Blossomhill · 15/02/2008 15:13

would you correct someones grammar if you was having a conversation?

Anna8888 · 15/02/2008 15:13

Agree with OP. I'm usually doing lots of things simultaneously when on MN and certainly don't spend time checking my posts.

However, when other posters' grammar/spelling/punctuation are really bad I don't bother to read the posts.

Notalone · 15/02/2008 15:16

Lots of text speak really annoys me but I would never say something. As Anna8888 says I would probably just give up on trying to decipher the post and move onto something else.

themildmanneredjanitor · 15/02/2008 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2bulletsformyvalentine · 15/02/2008 15:18

yanbu tis rude.

StealthPolarBear · 15/02/2008 15:18

As someone who enjoys pedants' corner, I agree. To do it on the rest of the board is rude, people are often posting on here quickly and while doing something else and don't double check before they post - why on earth should they? Or maybe they don't have perfect spelling / grammar, that doesn't mean they shouldn't post. IMO very few people actually want their mistakes corrected.
(Feel free to correct my post though )

Blossomhill · 15/02/2008 15:18

anna ~ i think that's a bit harsh actually. So just because someone for example was severely dyslexic it means their opinions aren't valid/worthy of your time to read.

StealthPolarBear · 15/02/2008 15:19

Agree, a lot of txt spk annoys me, as well as posts with no punctuation as they're very hard to read - I sometimes can't manage it

wannaBe · 15/02/2008 15:21

I had my spelling corrected on

this thread.

I just think it's petty that someone would take it upon themselves to pick out one spelling error in a post that otherwise was perfectly fine, had, IMO, decent grammar/punctuation, and would totally go off the point of the topic of the thread just to ensure that they corrected the spelling.

And I make no excuses for the fact I can't spell - that's what word was invented for .

OP posts:
lucy5 · 15/02/2008 15:21

Especially when the correction is incorrect. That happened to me once and it really niggled me.

Anna8888 · 15/02/2008 15:22

That's just life - like I said, I'm normally doing lots of other things simultaneously when on MN, I skim read the threads and read the posts that interest me - there is absolutely no obligation to anyone to read anything here unless it manages to grab their attention somehow - particular subject, particular poster, particular wording etc.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 15/02/2008 15:22

Well I'd want to know if I constantly confused through/threw or brought/bought etc.

So I think there is no harm.

I got bitching for correcting someone today and took it with a pinch of salt. As I would if someone corrected me.

stuffitllama · 15/02/2008 15:23

bang to rights I have done it

once with spelling

but y'know there's much worse abuse around so i don't feel that bad

some posts ARE very difficult to read, Pan did a sweet thing last night and made a long tricky one more readable so as not to put off other readers

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 15/02/2008 15:23

Oh wannabee, get over yourself.