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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

pedant alert!

13 replies

sadie42 · 14/06/2010 17:32

AIBU in thinking that people should know the grammatical difference between there and their?

OP posts:
Easywriter · 14/06/2010 17:34

People should know a lot of things but don't.

From a fellow pedant, breathe deeply and count to ten...

BlingLoving · 14/06/2010 17:37

Yes, they should.

But, you should know that there's some scientific thingimajig that proves that some words are regularly spelled incorrectly when typed because of the way we use keyboards. Their and there is one of them - for some reason, our brains apparently default to their.

I know this is true as it's something I do all the time. I'm constantly having to go back. But I would never make that mistake when writing normally. And I can spot it at 100 paces (luckily - as otherwise my proof reading wouldn't work).

There are a few other examples but I can't remember what they are.

ChippingIn · 14/06/2010 17:41

AIBU in suggesting that you could find 'Pedants corner' and play with the other pedants?

Some people struggle with things like this, it doesn't make their opinions any less valid nor welcome (to most of us).

Others of us type quickly and sometimes make mistakes - so what?? It's a chat board not an english exam and people like you, put other people off of posting and I know who I would rather 'chat with'.

Or put more simply - do fuck off.

cocolepew · 14/06/2010 17:43

I hate people who correct spellings in other posts, who gives a fuck? Superior complex much?

Easywriter · 14/06/2010 17:47

Now play nicely!

didgeridoo · 14/06/2010 17:56

Yes, and should HAVE not should OF!!

diamondsandtiaras · 14/06/2010 17:59

fair enough if it irritates you, but to be fair this is mumsnet not an oxbridge dissertation. It doesn't matter.

sadie42 · 14/06/2010 18:00

all true, and i didn't know about pedants' corner. apologies to anyone i offended.

OP posts:
biryani · 14/06/2010 18:02

YANBU. This is infant school stuff. No excuses!!

AgentZigzag · 14/06/2010 18:02

YABU...fact.

Easywriter · 14/06/2010 18:06

Can I just add...

... what about they're?

rockinhippy · 14/06/2010 18:29

That would depend on who & where those people were.......

if you mean in a book or newspaper, or as part of an exam paper when you may of worked your socks off Teaching someone the correct form, then no YNBU

However if you mean on here, which I presume you do, then yes, YAB V U .....

as already said, its chat board, & therefore attracts people from all walks of life & abilities, some may not be English, some may have disabilities, be ill, exhausted from sleepless nights with a young baby, or just had a rough day........others may not of had the benefit of good Schooling, or parents that have pushed home the importance of putting your head down & learning.........

it doesn't make anyone thick, & has already been said doesn't make their opinions or questions less valid

I have a CNS condition & because of this I often make similar types of mistakes,..... despite knowing full well ALL the rules of correct grammar, (Teaching family).....sometimes my brain says one thing, & my hands write something else......my brain then doesn't register this often until much later........

in the early days of being ill, it was something that really frustrated & upste me, & I would of been deeply bothered had I been pulled up for it, but these day it really doesn't bother me for myself as I think it says far more about the people who DO nit pick peoples spelling & grammar mistakes, than it ever does the victim, but not everyone is as thick skinned as I am, & I find it very sad on behalf of others

Some time ago I recommended this site to an Indian friend, very educated, & beautifully spoken Lady, she complained afterwards that she had looked, but felt very uncomfortable posting here, because she'd read people picking holes in peoples spelling & English Grammar..& she felt she might be attacked as she wasn't confident in her written English.....yet she speaks better than some English people I know,...

I was surprised as until this week I had never been on a thread where that had happened & then I was rounded upon, on another thread for similar such mistakes, by a group of so called "Teachers" & I have to be honest, it left a bit of a nasty taste in my mouth, & though I'm sure the involved posters have a valid role to play here, I doubt I'll ever put much value on anything I read by them again, because where as it didn't actually bother me personally, I can't now see them as anything other than a group of bigoted, insecure, harpies

rockinhippy · 14/06/2010 18:32

& for the record it gets RIGHT up my nose, when I see people writing posts in "text speak" type short hand, but I personally wouldn't dream of pulling someone up on it, IMHO its unnecessary, & just plain mean

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