Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

[Hudelf]

As I've been perusing the forums (and, well, the internet in general), I've noticed a bit of a split between A) People that either don't care about good grammar/spelling or that simply don't have it and B) People that think these are of the utmost importance, especially online.

Personally, I think it is extremely important to be mindful of grammar and spelling, since these are really the only things others have to judge you on. While what you say may be intelligent and insightful, if it's written in l33t5p34k, I'm not going to give it nearly as much credit. To me, it comes off as not only immature, but also very lazy.

Thoughts and opinions? (NO FLAMING OR ARGUING)

[tsugomaru]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

This seems more of a Chit-Chat thread, but whatever.

I'm all for grammar, but as long as your message can get clearly across, I'm fine with it. After all, that's what communication is all about.

~Tsugomaru

[Hudelf]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

Eh, mods feel free to move it anywhere, I just didn't want a boatload of people responding with depth-less comments.

[wwwJ4mmYcouk]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

I think as long as the post is readable then it doesnt matter. The grammer doesnt have to be perfect.

[purebloodtexan]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

It's now a rule that you atleast try to type properly on these forums.

[omgitznpv]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

Proper grammar and spelling is always better. If the post does not have proper grammar/spelling, I don't have much of a problem, unless the post is unreadable. I'll prefer proper grammar/spelling.

-> Proper grammar and spelling.
-> not proper grammar and spelling
-> unredable gremerr end spelng

[andy-o24]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

First off, yes, grammar and spelling are important on forums and general chatting. Secondly, the only thing wrong with the "-> not proper grammar and spelling" is the 'N' in 'not' not being capitalized and there's no period. But, not to be off topic too far, grammar and spelling are important but if you miss CaPiTaLiZaTiOn and commas it's not going to be that bad. Like afermentioned, if it's not too horribly butchered then I'm fine with it.

[Tokzic]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

I use grammar and spelling when I'm serious because it just seems half-assed not to do so. I prefer reading posts with full grammar, and no matter what, spelling shouldn't be horrible. Not correcting typos before you hit "Post" is just lazy and it shows you don't really care about what you're saying.

on the other hand when i'm not being 100% serious i drop capitalization and end of sentence punctuation

this helps with that whole "internet tone" thing

[Squeek]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

Nobody here cares if you're absolutely perfect. It's the effort that counts.

Believe me, I break grammatical rules all the time.

All we care about is that people understand the difference between a forum and a chat room / instant message chat.

[GuidoHunter]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

I'm all for grammar, but as long as your message can get clearly across, I'm fine with it. After all, that's what communication is all about.

Communication is about effectively conveying an idea. Grammar rules exist as a standard so that we can all understand each other, and if those are thrown out the window, there is a communication breakdown.

Misunderstandings and misconceptions are effectively eliminated when good grammar is used because, for the most part, there is only one (contextual) interpretation of a string of words. This allows messages to be read and understood only once, leaving both the writer and the reader to move on. Without that, messages have to be reread several times to make sense of what is written and to try to interpret the intention of the author. These problems lead to slower communication and misunderstandings.

Even people with "pretty good" or "good enough" grammar are going to have their messages misconstrued at one point or another.

It is in everybody's interest to use pristine grammar in all aspects of life for the sake of efficient communication, and especially to present yourself as having an IQ greater than that of a grapefruit.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[Verruckter]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

Since I've entered college, I've been thinking a lot about language (since my program is about studying languages). I read a lot about germanic and latin languages, about how they descend from Proto-Indo-European, which is a hypotetical language that could be the ancestor of now French, English, German, Spanish, Swedish, etc. I noticed all of these different languages and dialects evolves independantly from each other.

Now, the dilemma here is wether or not to let the language follow it's evolutive course, i.e. let internet slang take over and simplify everything to eventually become it's own dialect, a process which is absolutely normal in the evolution of a language, or make strict rules about preserving the actual language and not let it change, thus stopping the evolutive process, but keeping a decency and general comprehension.

Still haven't made my mind which is best yet.. :P

[TD_m0nster]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

It becomes a problem when someone insults someone elses point of view and shows that they can't even speak for themselves. Let me exemplify a brief situation:


"I personally think...blah blah etc etc."
"your an idiot"


Who's the idiot?

[Hudelf]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

Now, the dilemma here is wether or not to let the language follow it's evolutive course, i.e. let internet slang take over and simplify everything to eventually become it's own dialect, a process which is absolutely normal in the evolution of a language, or make strict rules about preserving the actual language and not let it change, thus stopping the evolutive process, but keeping a decency and general comprehension.

I disagree with the idea of that being a normal evolutionary process. If everyone online were to completely ignore grammar and spelling, I think it would be foolish to think those habits would not carry into other domains as well.

Good writing ability and vocabulary comes from practice. If, as children, one is never introduced to proper grammar, it is entirely plausible that they will not learn until it is too late, meaning college or even into the working world, which can be disastrous, especially concerning resumés and the like.

[foilman8805]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

it generally comes down to comprehension as numerous people have already said. if the meaning of the message is distorted by terrible communication, then there is a problem.

it's really a personal choice, that is, how you type. but depending on how you type, you are subject to different levels of criticism, because as you said Hudelf, someone that types in leetspeak is bound to receive far less praise, and much more scrutiny and flames especially from people on FFR.

the only thing i don't do religiously is capitalize - unless it's a name or i'm trying to add emphasis. i tend to think that people don't look down on my typing because of that. i hope.

[Verruckter]

Re: Grammar & Spelling - Is it important? Read post first

I disagree with the idea of that being a normal evolutionary process. If everyone online were to completely ignore grammar and spelling, I think it would be foolish to think those habits would not carry into other domains as well.

Good writing ability and vocabulary comes from practice. If, as children, one is never introduced to proper grammar, it is entirely plausible that they will not learn until it is too late, meaning college or even into the working world, which can be disastrous, especially concerning resumés and the like.

Well I agree that internet slang is maybe not the best example, but I do think it's normal for a language to change throughout time, and maybe communications are helping to do that.