I am contemplating giving up pedantry...

[hatwoman]

...it's bad for my health. Last week, in addition to the usual stresses of commuting, I had to listen repeatedly to some pre-recorded moron say: "From 18th May South West Trains will be running a new timetable. New copies of the timetable are available at all stations." (Clearly they are not "new copies"....they are copies of the new timetable)

When it starts to bug you this much I do wonder if it's just time to quit.

If inaccuires in my published work are brought to my attention (as they have been) then I will concede it is indeed an inaccuracy that should not be there, but will have little respect for the petty mindedness of such person and would much raher they commented on my opinion.

I think i have a different overall life view to pedants.

Better, obviously.

the title stataes 'I am thinking of giving up pedantry...' so i clicked to give my view 'yes you should because.......'.

All those things are impostant NJM, I agree, it's the obsessive nature, and not being able to ever let any small inaccuracy or misdemanor go that i think can then appear petty and overly obsessive.

The is a confused face, is it not? and not just used to convey 'I disagree'. I have seen many poeple on here express the view they feel that it is used in a condescebding and patronising manner to suggest

'how strange'
'what a bizarre notion'
'well I never'
'I think you're argument is muddled'
'that makes no sense'

etc etc

i think you are being disingenuous LL.

Lavender, pedantry is the linguistic equivalent of litter gathering. Pedants take the trouble to tidy up after people who are too lazy or ignorant to use language properly themselves, and they deserve some respect for it.

You can't give in. You have to make it your duty to educate the likes of me.

Just this week. i learned that a group of mumsnetters 'is'.

It rubs off..keep perservering.

Published in print, not necessarily in a book.

I think it is apparaent I am not too fussy about my typing on MN.

I do proof read all work and try to correct all inaccuries, i think it's importatnt. i want my children to know and be able to use correct grammar, but I won't be looking to correct it and ensure it is used absoultely correctly at all yimes.

knowledge is imporatnt, communication is imporant, grammar is imptant for both of these, but an over preoccupation with it is not imporamnt or desirable to me.

In fact for me, it indicates more about the person who is preoccupied, and indiactes someting i personally find unattrcative. I MUST say howver this would not be my only measure of the person's attributes and would not dismiss them soely on this basis but would think 'struth, get a grip, let's talk about something that matters more....like who will win the apprentice.'(more interesting anyway)

hmm...published in print, not necessarily in a book...

Is it your job to write the particulars on estate agents' listings - the ones that say things like "we are pleased to present this fore bedroom period-style property in imacculate condition". That would explain a lot

No that's not my job, and I woudn't actually view an objection to the mis spelling of four as pedantic.

Interesting - so it's a question of the degree of the offence. Where do you draw the line? Would you be happy with "imacculate" and "period-style" but not with "fore"?

well I like being a pedant.

I like being able to post on pedantry threads and know that everyone will share my horror of the inaccuracy I am recounting.

I wouldn't dream of correcting someone's spelling or use of grammar on a different thread.

As Lapin mentioned earlier on, we would not go on a vegetarian thread and complain at them being aghast at the thought of eating a rare beef butty, so please, lavendar, leave us to our pedantry. If it offends your sensibilities, there is a "hide" button.

don't get me started on estate agents...I have cause to read rather a lot of their literature at the moment and there is a positive rash of properties that "comprise of..."

No, pedantry suggests obsession with the deatial and mistakes most others frequently miss, therefore not really basic spelling.

For instance: if someone ran through a red light most of us would go 'how stupid and dangerous'-not pedantic. A driving pedant however would point out every time you failed to indicate with sufficient time, or failed to check in your mirror etc.

They would be correct, it is very impotant, to drive as safely as possible, but they would also be very annoying.

Dictionary definition of pedant 'noun (scornful) a person who insists unimaginatively on strict observance of formal rules and details.'

and no, my job is not writing dictinary defeintions either.

I don't normaly go on pedant threads , for obvious reasons, but as I have explained, I did do so today as some one was thinking of giving it up and thougt I'd support that thought.

Hope that is all right with everyone.

and obviosuly there would be degress of pedantry, why wouldn't there??

More peadnt dictionary definitions:

1. a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2. a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3. a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.

I am in particular agrrement with 1 and 3.