Grammar matters!

[MDLarson]

Well, after reading what a few people have said regarding the subject of grammar, let's have a lively little chat about it here!

I think it's important to successfully communicate and articulate whatever it is you're trying to say–otherwise your paragraphs are more susceptible to misunderstanding. So to me, grammar is worth striving for.

What do YOU think?


And now through the Dialectizer! (Hacker dialect)
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well, aftar er4ding what a few doodz ahve sdaid regardi|\|g Teh subject o fgra/\/\mar, let"s have A lively little caht about it her3!!!!!!!!!!!!1~~~~~~ 1 think it"z impprotaznt to successfully communic4te and artIci8l whatevbert it is ur trying to say–tehrwisde youre p4ragraphs r mroe susceptible tyo misuindetstandign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111~~~ so t0 me, gr4mmar is worth striving fro!!!!!!!!111~~~ what do you think!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?? olol!!!!!!!!!!!11~~~~

[Matrix Agent]

My friend and me think bad is grammar!

Actually I think grammar has its place, as far as things like ~~NeYo~~ go, but constant pestering about using "I" instead of "me" should problably be avoided. I would be surprised to see many english majors here, or other language students (with the exclusion of Admiral, he's just a player).

[TommyWillB]

I guess I'm a bit suspicious of the folks who insist on "linguistic precision".

As long as we can understand each other, that's what is important. If some folks are hard to understand, that become part of the challange. Some people take longer than others to get to know, and the same is true for their written personna's.

I know MANY people will disagree with this sentiment, but this is my 2¢...


If MacOSX.com would enable the spell checking feature that is part of this forum software, that would go a long way to making things better. In the meantime, most of the issues that folks complain about will continue to be spelling/typing errors... not grammar issues.

[Valrus]

I agree that the most important thing is being understood. If I have to read what you write two or three times in order to understand it, not because it's complicated, but because you're not making any fricking sense, there's a problem.

Curiously though, I like ~~NeYo~~. He's got style, even if I'm a bit skeptical about his syntax. And he's always so upbeat about everything that it's hard to dislike him. In my opinion.

But I think that it's good to pay attention to the details too. If two people are having an argument (um, I mean "debate"), and one person says, "I think your wrong about that," I'm instantly going to take that person a little less seriously. If they speak English and can't put in the effort to make sure their grammar is right, I get the impression that they just don't care enough to polish a little bit, and that will negatively affect how I view their argument.

So while I like ~~NeYo~~, I do find it extremely difficult to take him seriously.

-the valrus

[edX]

well, i did start my first go around in college as an english major and while i think grammer is important, i think knowing when and how to break the rules of grammer to communicate in a more casual or contemporary way is also important. I also think there is a big difference between applying these standards to english speaking people and those who have other first languages.

i don't think it helps to criticize anyone for their misuse of grammer but i have noticed that some non english speaking people actually appreciate the help when you correct something in a polite way. I know i would if i were typing in a second language.

but i would agree that grammer reflects on a person overall. but reflections of ourselves can be good or bad, it depends on what we make them.

[googolplex]

your your your your your yoru your!!!

Its a casual error. I don't think it really is a big problem. You know what the person means. Its just a mistake. I'm typing fast and I forget to spell it 'you're'.

Honestly who proofreads their posts. I don't! and I wont proofread this one either!

I don't think we need to be perfect on here. You have to sound decent, but I dont think we should be pointing out if somebody uses 'your' instead of 'you're'.

If me write this way all times and it wasnt well. Wroting will be bad to understand.

But, unless someone is really butchering it I think we should all just leave them alone.

[Kris]

Grammar matters, sure it does. But to point at people's grammar constantly is unnecessary. I agree that the most important thing is to understand eachother.
But what's even more annoying than spelling-mistakes is verbal mistakes. I don't know if this is common among people who has english as their mothertongue, but it is among some other languages. I think it's sad when people don't even "care" enough to pronounce things correctly.

- On this board it's important to remember that not everybody has english as their mothertongue. Perhaps english isn't even their second language. This requires patience.


Kris

[MDLarson]

I'd agree that communication is the goal. Proper spelling and grammar are just means to the end.

I also think maturity has a lot to do with it-- sometimes people (trolls) just come in and spout off. They don't really want to communicate anything, just tick people off.

Anyway, I'm glad this board has mature members that care about communication (for the most part :P )!