Mastertech / Spelling and grammer Thread

At the risk of virtual decapitation, as I am a forum newbie and all:

• Having good grammar and spelling are nothing to be ashamed of.
• Having the desire to help others improve is also a noble thing.

Those being said, it is incumbent upon the person desiring to do the helping to realize that those he or she might wish to help may or may not wish to be helped in that manner and, as often as not, may even be offended at the mere suggestion that they need the help being proffered in the first place.

Here's the rub: in my experience, personal skill and accomplishment at grammar and/or spelling and language in general is often a point of pride for those who are well-educated and practiced in those areas, but just as often can be a rather "touchy" subject for those who aren't. There are also plenty of folks who just don't care either way (about correcting OR being corrected).

The thing about correcting others is that it's like "butting in" on a conversation with your opinion or advice on something - it may or may not be wanted or welcomed. If it is, great. But, if it's not, don't be surprised if the reaction of the person being corrected isn't a pleasant one - in a public place like Facebook or these forums (or any other spot on the web that can be viewed by a large number of people), folks often don't appreciate being made to look ignorant or "less than" in any way. Many people wouldn't want to be shown an error in front of a group of their peers (which, in a way, is exactly what Facebook or a forum like this is) - even if it is, technically, a misuse of grammar or a spelling mistake.

Personally, I am consistently perturbed at habitually egregious transgressions of spelling and grammar, but I (usually) keep those feelings to myself because:

1. I don't see the point in correcting others when they neither ask for nor appreciate the correction, and
2. this is neither the time nor the place for said correction (again, public place)

More often than not, it comes across as pedantic and condescending, even if well-intended.

 

No decapitation likely, Doc. You get it.

 

You'll be the most e

You'll be the most erudite trucker on the highway, hammer down at 57 mph. You're a smart guy; are you sure Prime is right for you?

 

That's because you folks all talk "funny!"

And if that don't work, just grab the boxin gloves. . .

Uhyeah, they's gwanna dun be sum rolin' heds 'roud hereabouts!