Spelling Errors! Its LOSE not LOOSE

[Squire]

When I see bad misspellings, I tend to think people were careless. If it's a regular habit of theirs, I assume they are poor spellers or care little for correct spelling. Sometime I figure out that they aren't native English speakers. Of course, they might simply be in more of a hurry than those who proofread more carefully.

If some members are "less educated" about spelling and grammar than others, will posting corrections help them learn? It's a nice thought, but I think that most of the time the cost is too high, namely the chance that they will take offense, become shy about posting at all even when they have something to say, and the requirement that everyone else reading the thread see that "off-topic" discussion.

It occurs to me that "less educated" not only doesn't mean dumb, but it might mean "not yet finished with their basic education". Many of our members have not yet graduated from high school, and even some middle schoolers qualify to join. So perhaps they are still learning to spell and will improve over time. Then again, maybe we should be correcting them all the time to help them improve their grades!

In answer to Music_Producer's original question, I notice the widespread lack of proper spelling, but no I'm not surprised.

Excellent points. I think threads like these let people "vent" a bit without any of the normal fallout that would occur in another thread.

[Speaking of which, why would somebody come into a thread to criticize the topic? I just don't understand. If someone started a thread about, say, the new Porsche Cayman, I wouldn't post a comment criticizing the idea of discussing the car. It just doesn't make sense.]

I also agree with the formal vs. informal comment above. Yes, we write here in a conversational manner so nitpicking about grammar (which, by the way, isn't as black and white as it used to be) on a regular basis (i.e. in other threads) is a bit much. But, to return to my original point, I think these threads are good for the mental health of those forum readers who actually care about what they write.

-Squire

 

[aquajet]

As long as the ideas come across clearly, I don't really care about incorrect grammar and/or spelling. Unless of course it's difficult to understand what you're trying to communicate. But that almost never happens here.

As long as we're on the subject, there are a few things that I'd like to get off my chest. I've seen a few rather intelligent posters here that consistently mix up the following words (sorry if this has been hashed out already):

"There" is an adverb. Let's see it in action:

The cheesecake is over there.

There comes a point in a man's life in which there's nothing else to do but kill yourself. (notice the second "there" is a contraction of "there" and "is")

"There" can also be used as an exclamation:

There, there, you're back in good 'ol 1985.

You're an *******! So there!

"Their" is a possesive adjective:

I watched somebody eat their cheesecake.

Their cheesecake tastes like ass.

"They're" is a contraction of "they" and "are":

They're going to demand a refund because the cheescake was moldy.

While we're at it, let's clear up something else:

There's no such word as "alot". It's "a lot", as in:

That's a lot of cheesecake.

I've also seen "allot" used in place of "a lot". It is indeed a verb, and is correctly used in the following sentence:

Each group was allotted five slices of cheesecake.


Alrighty, I think that's it. Feel free to correct me if I've overlooked anything.

 

[Doctor Q]

Nice lesson, aquajet. Thank you. You should post one of these each week until we're all properly trained.

I thought of another aspect to this topic: pride of ownership. I want my posts to look nice, or at least correct, because they represent me here, just as I'd want my house to look nice if visitors stopped by. And it's a lot easier to type a post with a bit of care than it is to clean the house!

 

[MrSmith]

aquajet > Services > Summarize

 

[Ezekiel]

[Speaking of which, why would somebody come into a thread to criticize the topic? I just don't understand. If someone started a thread about, say, the new Porsche Cayman, I wouldn't post a comment criticizing the idea of discussing the car. It just doesn't make sense.

It makes perfect sense to me, surely people are free to comment on something that they find belittling and hypocritical in a public forum? To post your annoyance at others spelling when your own is completely average is hypocrisy of the highest order.

Maybe I should start a thread about hypocrites, arrogance and belittlement, if I actually cared enough to do so that is. Which I don't.

It's almost laughable that posters are allowed to make "retard" comments with no basis whatsoever. I was a copywriter for four years, I think I know the different between the words "live" and "leave" although when writing informally in a forum environment, I don't expect one mistake in a thousand to be turned around on me and told that I spell like a four year old, especially when you go through the OP's history and spot numerous mistakes.

I don't care about IQ, I don't care about English degree's and I don't care about the odd spelling mistake, I just care about having a chat in an informal way. What next, paying a copywriter to check your posts on a forum? maybe I will send my posts directly to the editor of the Times to check through before submitting.

I feel like I am being portrayed as a complete idiot and have been made to feel intellectually inadequate because I didn't check back through my post in which I made a mistake. Completely unreasonable (especially considering how low the level of English is from the OP).

 

[Ezekiel]

Nice lesson, aquajet. Thank you. You should post one of these each week until we're all properly trained.

I thought of another aspect to this topic: pride of ownership. I want my posts to look nice, or at least correct, because they represent me here, just as I'd want my house to look nice if visitors stopped by. And it's a lot easier to type a post with a bit of care than it is to clean the house!

So if you do happen to make a spelling mistake is it reasonable to think less of you as a person, not having known you or your background? Would it make you any less of a person, it certainly wouldn't have any influence on how I thought of you (unless you started spelling like "hi m8 wat u doin i jus got a nu mac itz gr8").

I care much more about what you say, not if you put two letters instead of one. I wonder if Einstein ever made a spelling mistake, an idiot surely.

 

[bousozoku]

So if you do happen to make a spelling mistake is it reasonable to think less of you as a person, not having known you or your background? Would it make you any less of a person, it certainly wouldn't have any influence on how I thought of you (unless you started spelling like "hi m8 wat u doin i jus got a nu mac itz gr8").

I care much more about what you say not if you put two letters instead of one. I wonder if Einstein ever made a spelling mistake, an idiot surely.

Einstein put his un-cashed pay cheques in a drawer, not realising what they were. He was brilliant at science and maths and not so good at a lot of other things.

In some instances, the spelling and grammar errors make what people are writing too difficult to decode, especially in a technical environment when capitalisation and the case of letters in measurements counts.

 

[Ezekiel]

Einstein put his un-cashed pay cheques in a drawer, not realising what they were. He was brilliant at science and maths and not so good at a lot of other things.

In some instances, the spelling and grammar errors make what people are writing too difficult to decode, especially in a technical environment when capitalisation and the case of letters in measurements counts.

Yes, I fully agree. If I need to write something formal I will write a draft, then correct a final draft. my English is very very good although, I suppose that depends on if I am typing on a forum or typing where English is vital. I feel that just because I am standing up for people that cannot spell, that I am instantly being looked upon as somebody stupid. It's unjust and unfair.

 

[MrSmith]

I feel that just because I am standing up for people that cannot spell, that I am instantly being looked upon as somebody stupid. It's unjust and unfair.

Well, I don't think anyone here is talking about people who can't spell, i.e., dyslexic people.

 

[bousozoku]

Yes, I fully agree. If I need to write something formal I will write a draft, then correct a final draft. my English is very very good although, I suppose that depends on if I am typing on a forum or typing where English is vital. I feel that just because I am standing up for people that cannot spell, that I am instantly being looked upon as somebody stupid. It's unjust and unfair.

Never worry. We can find other reasons to come to that conclusion.

 

[Ezekiel]

Never worry. We can find other reasons to come to that conclusion.

;D

If people judge me on what I say and still don't like me, they are more than welcome!

 

[Squire]

I don't care about IQ, I don't care about English degree's and I don't care about the odd spelling mistake, I just care about having a chat in an informal way. What next, paying a copywriter to check your posts on a forum? maybe I will send my posts directly to the editor of the Times to check through before submitting.

(My emphasis above and below)

...which is exactly why I don't understand your interest in this thread. Before the little feud between you and the OP began, nobody was singled out; there were only general comments about the rampant mistakes in posts.

I feel like I am being portrayed as a complete idiot and have been made to feel intellectually inadequate because I didn't check back through my post in which I made a mistake. Completely unreasonable (especially considering how low the level of English is from the OP).

Last edited by Ezekiel : Today at 04:06 PM.

Is that so?

Just kidding.

-Squire

 

[Music_Producer]

I was a copywriter for four years, I think I know the different between the words "live" and "leave" although when writing informally in a forum environment, I don't expect one mistake in a thousand to be turned around on me and told that I spell like a four year old, especially when you go through the OP's history and spot numerous mistakes.

I don't care about IQ, I don't care about English degree's and I don't care about the odd spelling mistake, I just care about having a chat in an informal way. What next, paying a copywriter to check your posts on a forum? maybe I will send my posts directly to the editor of the Times to check through before submitting.

I feel like I am being portrayed as a complete idiot and have been made to feel intellectually inadequate because I didn't check back through my post in which I made a mistake. Completely unreasonable (especially considering how low the level of English is from the OP).

Funny how every post of yours (in this thread) has been edited. Perhaps you found the need to edit them and correct your mistakes after referring to a dictionary?

I still don't think you understand my point. You seem absolutely convinced that I am trying to belittle people who cannot spell. You don't make spelling mistakes Ezekiel, you simply use different words!

Anyway, since you've worked as a copywriter (it's obvious why they never promoted you to the post of an editor).. you obviously have a more stronger command over the English language than I do. I've worked as a doctor, as a musician and as a currency trader. Who am I to be good at English?

Let's take a look at some of your posts -

1.

I think England will go out there with a fairly week looking team tonight and beat croatia convincingly, I've seen it a million times. English teams that are expected to have a hard game win, English teams that are expected to win, lose.

*Its weak.. not week*

2.

Plagerism is alive and kicking

Please feel free to copy my posts and let me know the mistakes that I might have made. I am a non-native English speaker.. you are not. I don't have to be excellent at English.. my professions do not demand it. However, you work as a copywriter and yet you make childish errors. I am not sure where you are going with these attacks.. it simply makes you look less credible. I don't care if I am typing something in a forum, an SMS, or an e-mail. I make it a point to spell correctly, if not.. at least use the right words. You surely have intelligence, use it for *everything* and not just segregate it for certain tasks.

Geez, it's not like you're trying to spell Medulla Oblongata or something.. but if you can't discern the difference between 'weak' and 'week' 'live' and 'leave' then I don't know what to think.

We can keep attacking each other, if that's what you want. I have no interest in doing that. If you thought I was trying to 'belittle' people who cannot spell or cannot determine what word to use, then I apologize. That wasn't what I was trying to do. No, I wasn't trying to make you look like an idiot either. I would appreciate it though, if you didn't jump into my thread and label my life as 'unfulfilled'

Oh.. and it's not 'English degree's'.. it's 'English degrees'

 

[Squire]

Psst...Music_Producer...quick, get rid of the double superlative in line six of your post. (Hint: Ditch the word more.)

-Squire

<edit> Sorry. It's a double comparative not superlative.
(This thread is fun.)

 

[Music_Producer]

Psst...Music_Producer...quick, get rid of the double superlative in line six of your post. (Hint: Ditch the word more.)

-Squire

Lol Squire.. At least I didn't use 'Moor'

 

[MrSmith]

Psst...Music_Producer...quick, get rid of the double superlative in line six of your post. (Hint: Ditch the word more.)

-Squire

Psst...Squire...it's a comparative not a superlative



Etc.

 

[Squire]

Psst...Squire...it's a comparative not a superlative



Etc.

Nice. That was the most stupidest mistake I've made in this thread. (There. That was a double superlative.)

-Squire

 

[bousozoku]

It's still better to use Asian languages. It's really tough to go wrong writing Chinese, Japanese, or Korean since the computer works with you in a kind of forced spell check.

English just needs a new writing method to avoid mistakes.

 

[annk]

It's still better to use Asian languages. It's really tough to go wrong writing Chinese, Japanese, or Korean since the computer works with you in a kind of forced spell check.

English just needs a new writing method to avoid mistakes.

Yeah, except that you can make some funny mistakes in Chinese when you aren't looking carefully enough, and pick the wrong character by mistake. People will usually still know what you mean, but it's pretty obvious you weren't paying attention when the little row of choices came up on the screen.

 

[MrSmith]

At least with an alphabet system if you have an understanding of the underlying phonics you can sound out words and attempt to match them with the corresponding letters/symbols. With kanji you either know it or you don't. Kana, on the other hand, would be nice in our system.

 

[Gasu E.]

I guess it's a mute point (and where in the world did that one come from? Are there places where moot and mute are pronounced the same?)

If "a point is that which has no part" (Euclid), then a "mute point" would be "that which has no non-speaking part."

 

[Gasu E.]

Im tiered of this discusion, lets get some piece all ready.

 

[Mr Skills]

From the BBC website:



Owed Two A Spell Chequer

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea
Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee four two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong
Eye have run this poem threw it
am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

 

[aquajet]

aquajet > Services > Summarize

I don't know how to take this post.

To be frank, I'm a horrendous speller. I have to use the spelling checker nearly every time I post.

 

[bousozoku]

Yeah, except that you can make some funny mistakes in Chinese when you aren't looking carefully enough, and pick the wrong character by mistake. People will usually still know what you mean, but it's pretty obvious you weren't paying attention when the little row of choices came up on the screen.

Yes, you have to be awake while you're writing. Of course, it's easier in Chinese to do those kinds of things since they don't have an auxiliary writing system.

At least with an alphabet system if you have an understanding of the underlying phonics you can sound out words and attempt to match them with the corresponding letters/symbols. With kanji you either know it or you don't. Kana, on the other hand, would be nice in our system.

By itself, kana leads to the same types of mistakes, so it's no good that way. Kanji prevents those mistakes with some kana to tie it together.