Whose chequing yore speling?

[Woodwould]

The trusty spell-checker has become the curse of good writing, writes David Campbell.

One of the ATMs of a major bank was out of action the other day and a large sign informed potential customers that "We appologise for any inconvenience this may cause".

The only inconvenience I suffered was a sense of irritation that such carelessness with spelling should be put on public display. And if that makes me a pedant, so be it. It's a badge I'm proud to wear.

Shorthand text-messaging, the proliferation of hastily written emails, an increasing reliance on computer spell-checkers and a general "near enough is good enough" approach to our writing are sabotaging proper attention to correct spelling and grammar.

English is a beautiful language that can so easily be ruined by careless, unnecessary mistakes. British writer and broadcaster Lynne Truss has excited a great deal of comment recently with her best-selling book Eats, Shoots and Leaves about the correct use of punctuation, but I want to tackle another disease that commonly afflicts modern writing - the curse of the spell-checker.

Each of the four words in the heading of this article is incorrectly spelt, but only two of them were picked up by the spell-checker. "Whose" and "yore" are both wrong in this context, but they were accepted because they do have genuine uses.

Unfortunately, our increasing dependence on the computer means that we are not turning to our dictionaries often enough to confirm correct spelling and usage of words.

I haven't seen "appologise" before, but if you take a drive around the beach at Elwood you'll find that old favourite "accomodation" prominently displayed on a sign. They're examples of carelessness, and there are any number of similar words that are regularly misspelt.

A very short list of common mistakes that the spell-checker should pick up might include independant, relevent, seperate, arguement, correspondance, definate, experiance, grammer, liason, priviledge, wierd, Febuary, harrass, sieze, labratory, graffitti and truely.

When we see them we wince (hopefully), but if it's only an incorrect letter (such as an "e" instead of an "a") technology will quickly fix it. Problems arise, however, when the errors are those that the spell-checker won't recognise. There are many, many pairs (or groups) of words with the same or similar pronunciation but different spelling.
For example, a literary anthology that included some poetry of mine last year contained a "forward" instead of a "foreword".

"Does it matter?" some might say. "We know what it means."
Yes, it does matter, for consider those mistakes that create ludicrous outcomes.

Reading in a newspaper that "the lambs gambled happily in the field" suggests that we credit sheep with a hitherto unknown tendency towards risk-taking. (Were they, perhaps, placing bets on a "hoarse"?) In a similar vein, learning that someone is "under the wether" conjures up a rather startling image.

Should the person concerned be more "discrete" or more "discreet", and should we question their "principles" or "principals"?

My spell-checker, of course (coarse?), is perfectly content to accept (except?) these words, whether (weather?) right (rite?) or not (knot?) in context.

And that is why a good dictionary should always be close at hand so that you can verify whether: you pay someone a "compliment" or a "complement"; a horse is "led" or "lead" to water; we wait with "bated" or "baited" breath; you're going to "loose" or "lose" your money at the pokies;

she's the immediate "past" or "passed" president; a dentist is giving you an "aural" or "oral" examination; your daughter wants a "bridle" or "bridal" veil; you're going fishing on the "peer" or "pier"; you're buying something on "hire" or "higher" purchase; you are studying "currant" or "current" affairs; you're seeking someone's wise "counsel" or "council"; you are trying to "illicit" or "elicit" information; the car is "stationery" or "stationary"; your cousin is pursuing a "naval" or "navel" career; you're setting off to "pedal" or "peddle" your bike; you have been the victim of "fowl" or "foul" play; you're going to "waive" or "wave" your rights; you're learning the "marshal" or "martial" arts; you are eating a bowl of "cereal" or "serial".

Because if you don't check, the results can be quite absurd. For example, yew could right a storey about a pour, pail mail. He eight a bole of muscles and through up awl ova the plaice wen he sore watt he'd dun.

Your trusty computer won't find a single mistake... so do you have to "practise" or "practice" constantly?

[tea lady]

I can miss spell so creatively that the 'puter has NO IDEA what I mean. :rolleyes:

[jchappo]

Sadly, all too (to, two) true.
My personal hate is the tendency in Australia to spell the letter h with a haitch at the beginning :oo::((

[Groggy]

A practical reason for care with spelling on the forums is to ensure the search works. A well written piece entitled "Sharpning" will be lost forever because searches for "Sharpening" simply will not find it. As a moderator I am occasionally guilty of correcting a key word to ensure our search engine will not lose a good post.

[RETIRED]

As a moderator I am occasionally guilty of correcting a key word to ensure our search engine will not lose a good post.Me too or should that be to or maybe two.:kickcan:

[Woodwould]

Now that the secret's out, I'll have to test you lot. :q :U

[jmk89]

Now that the secret's out, I'll have to test you lot. :q :U

Oh dear, more work for us:doh:

Actually it is entirely subjective - as Groggy says - it's only for worthwhile posts:D

[Groggy]

We'll start with the Americanised spelling in your signature block then shall we :p

[Woodwould]

Oh dear, more work for us:doh:

Actually it is entirely subjective - as Groggy says - it's only for worthwhile posts:D

That's me stumped then! :C


We'll start with the Americanised spelling in your signature block then shall we :p
No! No! Pretty please No!

[wheelinround]

How about a bit of German Ve can make you suffer using Vasser torture.:;

So will we be doing Braille also :U what about sign or Ozlan :roll:

[Chesand]

[QUOTE=Woodwould;1095106] a dentist is giving you an "aural" or "oral" examination;

It would be a pretty clever dentist who could check your teeth through your ears.

[Gingermick]

we'll start with the americanised spelling in your signature block then shall we :p
bam

[underfoot]

I'll have to test you lot. :q :U
"you" a colloquialism of the 17th century.
"you".... is the second personal pronoun in "modern English"
"Ye" is the original (and correct) nominative form.

[Harry72]

Honestly who cares...

[stuffy]

Honestly who cares...

Hear, here.

:rolleyes:

[Grumpy John]

Honestly who cares...

That, and the other catch cry of the "Y" Gen, "whatever", are the reason standards in our schools are falling to an unacceptable level. The spelling and grammar of some of the posters on these forums is so bad that I have placed several forumites on my ignore list, their posts are just too painful to read.

[jimbur]

Just look to the left and see, advanced fourm search
Cheers,
Jim:D

[ST John]

I think in say about....Oh I don't know.....20 odd years, the internet will have its own language. Now there are about 400 internet terminologies being thrown around. To think it all started from 'lol'.

[Gingermick]

And since when did February have a silent R.

[joe greiner]

Our local rag used to have a regular column by Grammar Man, addressing this sort of thing. One that I've saved concerned the evolution of "a norange" and "a napron" into "an orange" and "an apron."

The funny (or not so funny) thing about all this is it looks so much worse when mis-spellings are rendered in fancy typ faeces. Oops! I just did one accidentally, so I'll leave it that way.

Cheers,
Joe

[rrobor]

The English language has always been a language in flux. It is a language which has been created from many others, using bits here and there as needs arise. For example we write “An hotel” because hotel is French and the H is dropped. We do not write an house. You then find people in difficulty. Is it a historic, or an historic? So should one care?
My opinion is no. The English language has changed from Yea olde worlde style to what it is now. To cling to rigid form has never been part of its history. The creation of the British Empire</ST1:p pulled in new words from Sanskrit etc. Even Kangaroo and boomerang were added to the language in meanings other than their origins.
So no, lets not have the correction police tutting and spluttering over variations. Let the language alone to evolve as it has done since its creation. That is what made it the dominant world language. We do not do as the French do, and have language police.
So slacken off your underpants and remove your stays. Let it all hang out.. The good will stay, the bad will go.

[ubeaut]

:whs:Well said rrobor. Pity all didn't share the same sentiment. :thanx2:


Just look to the left and see, advanced fourm search Cheers,
Jim:D

That's not an error that's a deliberate plant. Taken long enough for someone to find it.

There was actually five all together, two others have already been found and it tool almost 7 years for them to both be discovered. Just goes to show how much difference it doesn't make when something is spelled wrong but looks right.

That one's been there for almost 2 years now.

Give that man a cigar.....:Smoker:

Suppose I'll have to fix it now it's been discovered. That leaves 2 more just about as glaring as the FOURM one. But I guess not all spelling nazis are also observant.

The other 2 have been there for over 4 years now. So there's a bit of a challenge for those of you with superior spelling knowledge, knock yourself out.

If you can't find them pull your collective heads in. :shutup3: If they are found the finder gets bragging rights for 10 seconds...... Then can pull his/her head in.

:U

[Grumpy John]

:whs:Well said rrobor. Pity all didn't share the same sentiment. :thanx2:



That's not an error that's a deliberate plant. Taken long enough for someone to find it.

There was actually five all together, two others have already been found and it tool almost 7 years for them to both be discovered. Just goes to show how much difference it doesn't make when something is spelled wrong but looks right.

That one's been there for almost 2 years now.

Give that man a cigar.....:Smoker:

Suppose I'll have to fix it now it's been discovered. That leaves 2 more just about as glaring as the FOURM one. But I guess not all spelling nazis are also observant.

The other 2 have been there for over 4 years now. So there's a bit of a challenge for those of you with superior spelling knowledge, knock yourself out.

If you can't find them pull your collective heads in. :shutup3: If they are found the finder gets bragging rights for 10 seconds...... Then can pull his/her head in.

:U

Well done Neil :2tsup:.

Aoccdrnig to rseearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Maybe I'll start using this (http://www.lerfjhax.com/scrambler) little tool when I compose my next post :D.

[jimbur]

That's not an error that's a deliberate plant. Taken long enough for someone to find it.



:U

Didn't think it was worth mentioning before but then the right situation cropped up.:U
Cheers,
Jim

[Woodwould]

I'm all for language evolution (it's how some of my favourite literary works, phrases and sayings came to be), but bad spelling and grammar are not part of that process. 'Bad language' actually retards the process.

It's interesting Neil brought up "spelling Nazis", yet the only ones to raise their heads were Groggy and ! <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='15pt; 15pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Bob\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif" o:href="http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/happy/biggrin.gif"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->:U

I don't go around telling 'the youth of today' to put their hats on properly, or pull their trousers up (no matter how much it affronts my disposition); to do so, would be to display "Nazi" tendencies, but misuse of the English language, both spoken and written, makes it difficult for me and others to comprehend what a person is attempting to communicate.

Communication is the key here! As Grumpy John highlighted, scrambled words are still intelligible. Bad language is incoherent, scrambled or not. Modern language is as valid as it was 20, 50, 100 and 1,000 years ago, but habitual and intentional bad spelling and grammar abuse is as anti-social as graffiti and other forms of vandalism. Bad spellers and imperfect grammaticians are no different to any group that flaunt our conventions, be they road hoons or terrorists.

I'm no "spelling Nazi", I just resent lazy, ignorant, inconsiderate people's actions (or inactions) impinging my relative order – whatever form they take.

[jerryc]

In discussions about correct English, be it spelling or grammar, the old chestnut is always trotted forth. English is a living language and prone to change. In that, I agree. and it has changed. After all, at one stage I studied Middle English, the language of Chaucer, and am aware the English language is dynamic.However to hide behind such an excuse, or to use a sneering defence such as "spelling nazi " cannot hide the fact that many people are lazy minded.
Wouldwood made the point that it is where language is used in an official capacity, such as on an ATM or worse still on the dreaded tele' , that correct spelling should be corect.That is a neccesary ocassion.

One example that stays in my mind was the ABC "promo" for a show that advertised a "Grizzly Murder". I just could not bear to watch it.

Just as a post script I got caught out myself just recently. I wrote "programme" as correct spelling, only to find it was a 19th Century affectation, much like "shoppe"

Jerry .

[Big Shed]

Shouldn't that be "trotted out" (http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/trotted+out):D

And of course it's "occasion" not "ocassion".

Not being picky, or a spelling nazi, just pointing out that we all make mistakes, spelling checkers not withstanding.

[Woodwould]

And of course it's "occassion" not "ocassion".
Are you certain?

Occasional faux pas are what makes us human. Flagrant misuse of language is unacceptable.

[rrobor]

Sorry, all this proves the point as to “what do we want from life”
We are in a forum discussing wood and its uses etc. We have as members, people whose first language is not English, who did not learn laws like I before E etc.
Language is communication, it is not the art of “Showing off” or displaying ones penmanship skills. It is getting ones message across.
If a forum such as this turned into a medium where a mild error evoked screams of horror and ridicule, I’m sorry you would find it would turn the forum into a desert. One with the odd oasis of spelling freaks disrupting the blandness.

[jerryc]

I reely must take my tongue out of my cheek. Obviously I spelt "necessary" and "occasion" wrongly because they are two of the most constant mistakes. Also, with intent, I wrote "corect" in the same sentence as I had used "correct".

Jerry

[jmk89]

In my experience those who have English as a second language are much more likely to try to spell and to express themselves in accordance with the norms of the language. They may fall short (as I do when I write or speak in French, a language that I learned to University level and use in my business), but they are in general more aware of the rules and how things work in English than native speakers (and again I am aware that this is the case with French - non-native speakers have a better knowledge of the rules that native speakers).

The criticism that I think is being made is not of those who, for any number of good reasons, fall short of perfection in what they write but who try to get it right, which probably includes 90+% of members. Rather the criticism is of those who appear to delight in throwing any old collection of letters, numerals and punctuation onto the screen in no particular order, apparently expecting the readers to unscramble the mess. That is disrespectful of the other members.

All I think those who have been called "spelling nazis" are asking is for those who can do better to try, not because spelling well has a particular virtue, but to make it easier for everyone to understand. That will in fact make the Forums more vibrant (as discussions of spelling do not).

[Woodwould]

Succinct as always. :thyel:

[jimbur]

I like what J K Galbraith said. The reader should meet the writer half way and vice versa.
Cheers
Jim

[ubeaut]

In an open forum like this it really shouldn't matter 'ow ya gets ya message across. If it's usin' strine, sms abbreviations, slang, proper english, ye goode olde English, dyslixec Engilsh or even US English isn't really important, no matter how frustr8ting it mite b.

The most important thing to get the message across.

Look at this thread (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f12/can-every-one-plz-read-thank-you-sorry-111675/) to see just what sort of stress and problems sticklers can cause. There has been an ongoing problem with people picking on others spelling and I for one reckon it's time that we all put a stop to it. We have lost a lot of good members over the years because of spelling nazis and it really needs to stop.

I know for a fact there are people out there who won't post or even join for fear of being made to look foolish because they have a problem either spelling or expressing themselves. I have had many emails about just this over the last 10 years and continue to get them.

Picking on people's bad spelling and grammar is rude, poor form and borders on discrimination. It's hard enough for some people to come to a forum and open up to others without being made to look foolish by some one pointing out their shortcomings.


It's interesting Neil brought up "spelling Nazis", yet the only ones to raise their heads were Groggy and !
As for Admin team raising their heads. Their job is to keep the forums running smoothly and if changing the spelling of a key word or two will help keep the search engines on track then that's what they'll do. Other than that they don't interfere with spelling.

By the way I'm not singling anyone out as being a spelling nasti. Nothing could be further from my mind.

Cheers - Neil :U

[ST John]

in an open forum like this it really shouldn't matter 'ow ya gets ya message across. If it's usin' strine, sms abbreviations, slang, proper english, ye goode olde english, dyslixec engilsh or even us english isn't really important, no matter how frustr8ting it mite b.

The most important thing to get the message across.

Look at this thread (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f12/can-every-one-plz-read-thank-you-sorry-111675/) to see just what sort of stress and problems sticklers can cause. There has been an ongoing problem with people picking on others spelling and i for one reckon it's time that we all put a stop to it. We have lost a lot of good members over the years because of spelling nazis and it really needs to stop.

I know for a fact there are people out there who won't post or even join for fear of being made to look foolish because they have a problem either spelling or expressing themselves. I have had many emails about just this over the last 10 years and continue to get them.

Picking on people's bad spelling and grammar is rude, poor form and borders on discrimination. It's hard enough for some people to come to a forum and open up to others without being made to look foolish by some one pointing out their shortcomings.


As for admin team raising their heads. Their job is to keep the forums running smoothly and if changing the spelling of a key word or two will help keep the search engines on track then that's what they'll do. Other than that they don't interfere with spelling.

By the way i'm not singling anyone out as being a spelling nasti. Nothing could be further from my mind.

Cheers - neil :u

here here!!!

[Woodwould]

In an open forum like this it really shouldn't matter 'ow ya gets ya message across.
That's what I've been saying. Communication! Communication! Communication! But that often doesn't happen because some people are lazy, slovenly and disrespectful. It has nothing to do with spelling Nazis. Nobody in this thread so far has come across as one. I think you're confusing the issue Neil.


There has been an ongoing problem with people picking on others spelling and I for one reckon it's time that we all put a stop to it.
I have not seen any personal attacks of this nature and I would not condone it. As you say, it's an open forum and this topic will keep recurring as long as tripe is posted. If you close the threads or ban those whose opinions you don't subscribe to, who is the discriminator then?



We have lost a lot of good members over the years because of spelling nazis and it really needs to stop. I know for a fact there are people out there who won't post or even join for fear of being made to look foolish because they have a problem either spelling or expressing themselves.

It's a two-way street then. Similarly, I know of several people who have moved on because of the level of tripe posted by a few that destroy perfectly good threads. In recent days, at least one person has admitted blocking some members because of the wilfully incoherent tripe they post. It's all very well blocking some individuals, but then others respond to the blocked members' posts and the thread becomes even more impossible to decipher.


Picking on people's bad spelling and grammar is rude, poor form and borders on discrimination. It's hard enough for some people to come to a forum and open up to others without being made to look foolish by some one pointing out their shortcomings.
Posting tripe is rude and inconsiderate! What you're saying is akin to siding with smokers when non-smokers complain about their air being polluted. The problem isn't the non-smoker - or average forum member, the problem lies at the feet of the inconsiderate perpetrators. Nobody in this thread (or the previous, now closed thread) is picking on any individual and driving them away, nor are they discriminating against anyone of non English-speaking background or those with afflictions or learning difficulties. As said by jmk89 in post #31 above, the majority of people with (English) language difficulties usually make a considerable effort to converse coherently.




Quote:
"It's interesting Neil brought up "spelling Nazis", yet the only ones to raise their heads were Groggy and !"

As for Admin team raising their heads. Their job is to keep the forums running smoothly and if changing the spelling of a key word or two will help keep the search engines on track then that's what they'll do. Other than that they don't interfere with spelling.
That was a humorous poke at those two; I included a broad-smiling smilie which I see you have culled in your quotation. You wouldn't be trying to paint me in a bad light Neil, would you? The admins do a great job and I'm sure nobody would object to them correcting as much spelling and grammar as they see fit. <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='15pt; 15pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Bob\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif" o:href="http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/happy/biggrin.gif"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->:U (Another throwaway comment).

Ban the tripe posters! :U (Ooops! There's another one.)

[jerryc]

Ladies and Gentlemen, this discussion is bordering on confrontation. Both are allowed in this segment of the forum I know but let us not get heated. People have "pet hates" and they should be seen as just that, not as Earth moving disasters.

I entered the discussion in a spirit of fun, as I'm sure many other did. There is no intent to denigrate those who do not or cannot spell correctly. (Yes, we all know Shakespeare could not manage to spell his own name correctly). If , what should be a lighthearted discussion engenders such outbursts as "I detest spelling nazis", then I, for one, withdraw from the fray.

Jerry

[Grumpy John]

............................................
The most important thing to get the message across.
............................................

Cheers - Neil :U

Exactly, and that's where spelling and grammar come in to play. Poorly spelt and constructed posts make it difficult to decipher what the poster is trying to convey. I'm sure Neil, apart from the deliberate mistakes that you have planted, that you are very particular about the way your web site and forum is presented. After all it is a reflection on you and your business.

[wheelinround]

WW in using English which version shall we use

Geordie, Yorkie, Liverpudlian, Queens, Welsh, American, Australian or my favourite Cockney rhyming slang.

As for gramma again who's/which version so often I have seen/heard and been corrected in using what I was taught to be correct only to be embarrassed when informed it was incorrect in certain quarters.

I recall coming to Australia and being told by teachers to speak English :o but I am with a Geordie accent.

[rrobor]

People think they understand other people because they equate them to themselves. This is the first folly of life. No person is the same. I’m an express train. My thoughts are10 words away from my typing, so unless I use some measure of control, my writing tends to ramble. I also think on several planes at the same time. My thoughts recorded, yes can be confusing.
I create furniture, but you will never see a plan as I can not commit that to paper. Ask me to spell “and” backwards and without seeing it on paper I would struggle. You say poor grammar is lazy, you say poor spelling is lazy. You perhaps are the bland majority without issue. Please accept there are those here who do not conform to your rigid rules. Not by choice, but by birth.
And you know what, I am what I am, and blow you and your rigidity. The bland majority are the sheep of society. I say Baa to you.

[funkychicken]

Exactly, and that's where spelling and grammar come in to play. Poorly spelt and constructed posts make it difficult to decipher what the poster is trying to convey

It's espesally anoying when........people write there posts like this......with lots of elipses......and no capitals or puncuatation......its just plain iritating........adnrew

[corbs]

I think its time my attachment

those at the polar ends of this discussion aren't going to meet in the middle... personally if I can understand it, I really couldn't care less how its written:2tsup:

[Woodwould]

You say poor grammar is lazy, you say poor spelling is lazy. You perhaps are the bland majority without issue. Please accept there are those here who do not conform to your rigid rules. Not by choice, but by birth.

I presume by "You" you mean me. I did not say poor grammar and spelling is lazy (though it often is a result of laziness). There are all manner of reasons for an individual's grammar and spelling to fall below the norm (what ever that is), it could be due to ethnicity, learning difficulties, or injury.

What I've been ranting on about are the inherently lazy, ill-mannered people who couldn't be bothered to write or speak properly, who know better and openly declare their disregard for proper speech and grammar, who say everyone else can like it or lump it. Those are the people whose threads, posts and PMs I choose to ignore and who I have nothing but contempt for - like queue jumpers, like those who attend jacket-and-tie functions in jeans and a T-shirt... I could go on ad nauseum. I probably have already!

[rrobor]

My issue with that is, once you draw that bow you leave it open to the nit pickers who pounce on a typo. You would then find this forum would not be as free flowing as it could be.
If you look and see many answers to this are from university graduates, not from the kid who left school at 15 or 16, because that wasn’t his bag;
Having edited for 10 years in another situation, I can tell you there is little here that is really bad.
So please, just take care that you don’t turn the forum into snobsville with people afraid they may err. Rude and ignorant people don’t give a stuff anyway, you won’t stop that.

[wheelinround]

:lb: Here you go WW notice the name of it Aussie Phorums - Powered by vBulletin (http://phorums.com.au/)