What ever happened to the English language?
#1
O.K. so I may be one of the "old brigade" but looking through the various forums has revealed some appalling examples of spelling and grammer. I certainly don`t profess to be the best speller by any stretch of the imagination but I do try!
I assume pretty well everyone sits at their computer to indulge in Scoobynet so why all the text-message shortcuts? Mobile phones have got a lot to answer for! The occasional LOL and IMHO etc. are fine, but lately there has been a couple of examples where I`ve had to read the message two or three times to understand what the guy was on about!
Phew, I feel better now! Vote for the "Speak English" party at the next election. Honestly though, is there anyone else out there who feels the same?
JohnD
I assume pretty well everyone sits at their computer to indulge in Scoobynet so why all the text-message shortcuts? Mobile phones have got a lot to answer for! The occasional LOL and IMHO etc. are fine, but lately there has been a couple of examples where I`ve had to read the message two or three times to understand what the guy was on about!
Phew, I feel better now! Vote for the "Speak English" party at the next election. Honestly though, is there anyone else out there who feels the same?
JohnD
#4
Computers have a lot to answer for as does the education system. I only achieved a B at O level English some 19 years ago but feel I have a pretty good grasp of spelling and grammar. It amazes me how those younger than I lack these basic skills. Our business is quite "correspondence based" and thus the standard of our letter writing reflects on the standard of our service and the quality of our people. I have to grammatically correct so many letters. Even with spell checking, basic spelling errors still land in front of me. Rant over!
#5
its only a BBS- its like having a conversation with ppl, as long as they understand 90% of what you are talkong about thats enough to get by with.
in the same way you dont walk up to some one at a party and say "Dear John Smith, I am speaking with you regarding the party that we have attended....." you dont need to worry about using capital letters and the odd typo on here, IMHO!
Tiggs oops!, i mean...
Yours Sincerley
Mark Tigwell
in the same way you dont walk up to some one at a party and say "Dear John Smith, I am speaking with you regarding the party that we have attended....." you dont need to worry about using capital letters and the odd typo on here, IMHO!
Tiggs oops!, i mean...
Yours Sincerley
Mark Tigwell
#6
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Recon phone text, BBS's and Email have a lot do with it.
Business wise a lot of Email correspondence is almost 'shorthand', grammar does not seem to get a look in.
As far as my own experience goes, I have found that since using a PC my spelling, grammar has improved somewhat.
As far as the up and coming generations of kids/workers goes suppose the next few years will tell.
Most of my errors on 'ere are down to cr@p typing
I am suprised by how many CV's i have seen that have had spelling and gramatical errors!
Paul
Edited due to my typing
[Edited by Paul Habgood - 5/6/2002 7:58:46 PM]
Business wise a lot of Email correspondence is almost 'shorthand', grammar does not seem to get a look in.
As far as my own experience goes, I have found that since using a PC my spelling, grammar has improved somewhat.
As far as the up and coming generations of kids/workers goes suppose the next few years will tell.
Most of my errors on 'ere are down to cr@p typing
I am suprised by how many CV's i have seen that have had spelling and gramatical errors!
Paul
Edited due to my typing
[Edited by Paul Habgood - 5/6/2002 7:58:46 PM]
#7
Whoops! Told you I wasn't the best speller.
I am certainly not trying to make any kind of issue out of this, I just find it a shame that people can't be bothered to even try to use the Queens English.
As for the education system, I agree. I teach (not English of course!)in the post 16 F.E. sector, and all mainstream students have to study key skills in literacy, numeracy and I.T. in addition to their chosen subject. A sad reflection of the school system maybe, but lack of incentive and poor motivation on the part of so many students is a major problem.
JohnD
I am certainly not trying to make any kind of issue out of this, I just find it a shame that people can't be bothered to even try to use the Queens English.
As for the education system, I agree. I teach (not English of course!)in the post 16 F.E. sector, and all mainstream students have to study key skills in literacy, numeracy and I.T. in addition to their chosen subject. A sad reflection of the school system maybe, but lack of incentive and poor motivation on the part of so many students is a major problem.
JohnD
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#9
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I find it quite scary that there is such a poor level of spelling about now, even simple words are being spelt incorrectly, ffs what do they do in schools these days???
As for punctuation, sometimes I have to read and re-read posts to make any sense of them, sometimes I just give up
So just call me **** but it annoys me too - although I think it frightens me more
Edited to please fast bloke
Edited again 'cos I still got it wrong, goddam
[Edited by scoobychick - 5/7/2002 4:47:07 PM]
[Edited by scoobychick - 5/7/2002 5:14:02 PM]
As for punctuation, sometimes I have to read and re-read posts to make any sense of them, sometimes I just give up
So just call me **** but it annoys me too - although I think it frightens me more
Edited to please fast bloke
Edited again 'cos I still got it wrong, goddam
[Edited by scoobychick - 5/7/2002 4:47:07 PM]
[Edited by scoobychick - 5/7/2002 5:14:02 PM]
#11
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Don't care too much about a bit of poor grammar, and the odd typo (as opposed to bad spolling! ).
The error I see mostly is silly 12 year old errors like the mis-use of there/their/they're etc.
The error I see mostly is silly 12 year old errors like the mis-use of there/their/they're etc.
#15
Diversity: recognizing people's right to spell badly?
Spelling badly isn't a right, it's laziness and/or lack of education.
(How many people on here ask about 'warrantees'? What's a warrantee? I know what a warranty is -- it means it's 'warranted', i.e. there is a warrant that says it's OK, and if not it'll be put right.)
[Edited by carl - 5/7/2002 3:52:00 PM]
Spelling badly isn't a right, it's laziness and/or lack of education.
(How many people on here ask about 'warrantees'? What's a warrantee? I know what a warranty is -- it means it's 'warranted', i.e. there is a warrant that says it's OK, and if not it'll be put right.)
[Edited by carl - 5/7/2002 3:52:00 PM]
#16
I don't think that enough emphasis is put into punctuation, spelling and grammar in schools.
When I went to school, we had continuous spelling tests and grammar tests.
Later on, I became a proof reader and charged a certain amount per hour for proof reading articles and such.
A lot of the time, my writing suffers because I type too fast and don't re-check my work.
Michelle.
When I went to school, we had continuous spelling tests and grammar tests.
Later on, I became a proof reader and charged a certain amount per hour for proof reading articles and such.
A lot of the time, my writing suffers because I type too fast and don't re-check my work.
Michelle.
#18
From a young persons point of view, BBS's text messages and alike are not spelling bee's and as long as what your trying to say is clear enough, then type o's or general spelling are largely ignored.
I spend half my day writting very long reports, that are customer facing as such my focus on grammer and syntex is somewhat different, it is sometimes nice to talk /text/post in a less formal manner !!
One thing though, whilst i was down in the west country i started doing my 11+ exams, my family moved half way through but once i was back in class up near london the empahsis on the three R's, was clearly shifted in favour of more modern subjects, such as DT and CEA (design tec, and creative and expressive arts !)I guess bill gates is far enough into our pyscie, that the spell check will always be there to sort things out !
Phill
I spend half my day writting very long reports, that are customer facing as such my focus on grammer and syntex is somewhat different, it is sometimes nice to talk /text/post in a less formal manner !!
One thing though, whilst i was down in the west country i started doing my 11+ exams, my family moved half way through but once i was back in class up near london the empahsis on the three R's, was clearly shifted in favour of more modern subjects, such as DT and CEA (design tec, and creative and expressive arts !)I guess bill gates is far enough into our pyscie, that the spell check will always be there to sort things out !
Phill
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my grammar and spelling is cr@p and I dont care If I get the message accross then its served its purpose.. and I can think of better things to be doing than correcting my spelling.
David
David
#24
I can think of better things to be doing than correcting my spelling.
Do you have "better things to do" than spell properly when writing a job application letter?
#25
It is laughable to see the letters and memos posted up by our management.
When I worked in the warehouse, I used to get a pen out and correct all of the mistakes. Having been promoted to the operations side, I tend to leave them and snigger privately. It is quite despairing to see the poor grammatical and spelling errors. I have offered to proof read the documents, but they are too up their own rear ends to take me up on it.
If they wish to look unprofessional, who am I to stand in their way?????
There, their and they're, all are not picked up by the spell checker for use in the right context. You cannot rely on spell checkers for everything.
When I worked in the warehouse, I used to get a pen out and correct all of the mistakes. Having been promoted to the operations side, I tend to leave them and snigger privately. It is quite despairing to see the poor grammatical and spelling errors. I have offered to proof read the documents, but they are too up their own rear ends to take me up on it.
If they wish to look unprofessional, who am I to stand in their way?????
There, their and they're, all are not picked up by the spell checker for use in the right context. You cannot rely on spell checkers for everything.
#26
Indeed. I have a large book on the shelf at home, called a 'dictionary'. If I'm not sure how to spell something (even when posting on Scoobynet) I look it up in there
Dictionary + Roget's Thesaurus + Fowler's Modern English Usage is all you need.
Dictionary + Roget's Thesaurus + Fowler's Modern English Usage is all you need.
#27
Have you ever been in a crisis situation where precise and informative instructions need to be written?
Now tell me good English grammar is not important.
Incorrect use of the language and modern text messaging/internet abbreviations of words can and have lead to confusion with disasterous consequences.
Now tell me good English grammar is not important.
Incorrect use of the language and modern text messaging/internet abbreviations of words can and have lead to confusion with disasterous consequences.
#29
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Some of us didnt have an education,or it was offered but refused.
I think that so long as you get your point across,who cares about the grammar and spelling!
Also I have seen people on this board getting stick over thier spelling and I know that two of them are dyslexsic (so think before you slag em off they have a disability)Were as I just cant spell
ps..what a horrable word to use for somebody who has problems with how they see letters?
I think that so long as you get your point across,who cares about the grammar and spelling!
Also I have seen people on this board getting stick over thier spelling and I know that two of them are dyslexsic (so think before you slag em off they have a disability)Were as I just cant spell
ps..what a horrable word to use for somebody who has problems with how they see letters?
#30
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boomer, text messages are generally a max of 160 characters and a pain to type out. Abbreviations mean less typing.
Todays youth may find it laughable how useless many old codgers are when it comes to computers.
Todays youth may find it laughable how useless many old codgers are when it comes to computers.