OT - Research on Grammarians

[bags27]

didn't quite see that coming. it was only a spelling correction....

 

[vtcwbuff]

I'm not sure if I fit into that category, but I probably do. Generally, no--that would be obnoxious. When my kids were growing up, I tried to teach them proper grammar. With other folks, I probably noticed it, but let it slide.

My point is that message board postings are in the same category as casual conversation. Correcting someone's grammar in either instance can come across as obnoxious snobbery.
The only thing that should matter in a mb post is comprehension - not fodder for some elitist snickering about a misplaced comma.

 

[meyers7]

Neither Kibs nor I are "obsessed" with grammar. It is just that we sometimes feel the need to defend the besieged ramparts of correct usage against those who persist in using "lead" for "led", "coupe" for "coup", "route" for "rout", "rein" for "reign" and other such linguistic shocks. Someone has to. Or so I think. And neither do we jump on every offense. It is just that there are some examples of poor usage up with which we simply cannot put.

Grammer knotzies our a bunch of loosers.

 

[meyers7]

Research from Michigan indicates that overly-critical grammarians aren't necessarily the nicest people in the world.

Yea, pretty much figured that.

 

[MilfordHusky]

My point is that message board postings are in the same category as casual conversation. Correcting someone's grammar in either instance can come across as obnoxious snobbery.
The only thing that should matter in a mb post is comprehension - not fodder for some elitist snickering about a misplaced comma.

I largely agree. Whether someone is understood is the important part. Proper grammar facilitates that, but small flaws are usually immaterial. I hesitate to correct unless someone else does it first. Among other things, I know I'm not perfect (my typing is much worse than my grammar or spelling).

 

[Zorro]

Lay off, McDuff, I've had enough! (Or enuff, if you prefer!)

 

[FairView]

Most of the time you will loose unless you are the dominate team.
Lets go eat grandma
Lets go eat,grandma
Tiny,tiny,tiny little comma and grandma is saved.

Let's go eat, grandma.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Truth in advertising - I think correct grammar and word usage is important. In college I had a graduate assistantship in the school's writing lab. And when I find an error (typo, spelling, etc.) in my postings here, I really do cringe.

Research from Michigan indicates that overly-critical grammarians aren't necessarily the nicest people in the world.

I'm not trying to take a poke at anyone - it's just that since the topic of grammar shows up now and then on this board, I found the fact that someone did research on this a bit amusing.

Hear's the link two the story if your interested.

People obsessed with grammar aren't as nice as everybody else, study suggests

My wife must be the exception--she was college professor --specialty in English grandmer. Obviously, I didn't take her course. But it is an amazing business/professional asset to have someone you can rely on to provide proof reading of communications etc.
However, those in 3rd grade and maybe a couple higher required guidance in English usage, punctuation, spelling, etc. Those who have achieved adulthood,or at least think they did, are owed a certain respect even if they fail the Blogger reader tests. My wife went to the Christ the King School of conservatism--which says you earn more respect for yourself and respect for others if you leave your EDUCATION at the DOOR. I'm as guilty as the most egregious.

 

[Dougie]

A question for the compulsive grammarians. Do you also correct people in normal conversation?

So this very bright but somewhat unsophisticated young man from the sticks in Connecticut gets accepted at Dartmouth. It's his first day on campus and he's a little disoriented. Walking his way is a handsome, very well dressed preppy type. So the young man stops him and asks "Could you please tell me where the library is at?"

The upperclassman looks at him with disdain and asks back "Didn't anyone ever tell you never to end a sentence with a preposition?"

Somewhat flustered the freshman says "Oh, sorry. Let me rephrase that. Could you please tell me where the library is at, a**hole?"

 

[Biff]

 

[Gus Mahler]

View attachment 13375

I might be weird, but I'd like to see a comma after "tough."

 

[bags27]

You're right: I think it actually needs that comma, Gus. Just it wouldn't look as nice.

 

[Gus Mahler]

You're right: I think it actually needs that comma, Gus. Just it wouldn't look as nice.

I guess it would disrupt the stream--and the point.

 

[cabbie191]

Interestingly (at least to me), my dad was hired by a small family owned business in Hartford solely on the basis that he could write well. He was born in 1910 so the percentage of students graduating from high school let alone college was much smaller then, so perhaps his was a relatively rare skill. He worked for this company for close to fifty years

 

[Aluminny69]

 

[Aluminny69]

A question for the compulsive grammarians. Do you also correct people in normal conversation?

 

[bags27]

People who constantly point out grammar mistakes are pretty much jerks, scientists find