Does Spelling Matter?

[CyberDruid]

To you?

When I read a post here or anywhere I find that I judge the poster's credibility and intelligence based on their ability to spell and use the English language as taught to our children in elementary school.

How about you?

What do you think about this? When you see a post filled with errors does it make you think that the poster is ignorant?

Do you think that it is important to take the time to edit and correct errors?

[MoonPig]

Yes. If you can't spell, you're an idiot. A basic level of grammar is needed too.

If someone's post is made up of shit spelling, i won't read their post / thread.

[entropy13]

Yes. If you can't spell, you're an idiot. A basic level of grammar is needed too.

If someone's post is made up of shit spelling, i won't read their post / thread.

http://i.imgur.com/AT8rZ.png

[Black Panther]

As a mod I do correct obvious mistakes in thread titles - I'm not finicky about it here but at TPU I am because such errors can preclude threads from showing up in searches etc.

When you see a post filled with errors does it make you think that the poster is ignorant?



No - I give the benefit of doubt just in case the poster is dyslexic, or from some country where they don't learn much English at school etc...

I think the poster is ignorant iF HE tYPes LiKe ThIs or uses way 2 many shortcuts that it obv tht's jst lazyness kthx by brb!!1!


(Ugh!)

[twilyth]

I thought all browsers had spell checking now - guess not. Either that or people are too lazy to pay attention when a word gets flagged. IDK.

I doesn't generally bother me unless it starts to interfere with comprehension or it slows me down a lot. If I can't go more than a few words without having to rewrite the text in my head, that's a problem and I'm not likely to finish reading. If I have to read sentences more than once to try to decipher what's being said, I'll cut my losses and move on.

Spelling is less of an issue unless you get someone like MM who used to try to make posts as incomprehensible as possible. But even that didn't really bother me since I just wouldn't read her shit.

[FordGT90Concept]

As long as I get the jist of what someone is saying, I don't really care.

[MT Alex]

You mean because I can't spell deprecation?

You bet. Syntax and grammar are very important. Other than long sentence rants from Solaris, I often shake my head at posts that are in all lowercase, filled with urban slang and gross errors. That being said, I'm a very poor speller, and have to use the google bar if I want to get things right.

ETA: Spelling is less of an issue unless you get someone like MM who used to try to make posts as incomprehensible as possible.

I don't think it was a conscience decision.

[CyberDruid]

I was just giving you a little poke MT.

Most browsers will highlight errors. So it is mostly laziness that lets spelling errors through. Syntax, grammar, all those little signs that someone knows their shit, are important to me. When I speak to someone I can rapidly determine their mental aptitude by a number of cues. And it is not much different when reading text. The exception being either ESL posters, or people that are clearly too lazy to type well. Those might be annoying but they are not really useful cues for me.

[MT Alex]

What is this "browser spell checker" you all are referring to? I always use IE, and have never had the ease of any wizz bang spell checker. That would be nice.

[twilyth]

What is this "browser spell checker" you all are referring to? I always use IE, and have never had the ease of any wizz bang spell checker. That would be nice.

IE still doesn't have a spell checker? That's amazing, even for Microsoft.

[MT Alex]

Yup. I just installed Speckie, but it doesn't seem all that great. I wish I didn't like IE9 so well, I'd ditch it for a browser that had one built in. Speckie flags as I type, but it's dictionary doesn't seem to include its name as a properly spelled word:confused:

[jmcslob]

Doesn't bother me at all when their are grammatical errors...Shit happens.
Personally I don't believe that anyone here has been perfect when it comes to grammar.
Besides I often have to misspell words for our other English speaking friends....Trust me "Z" is not as common here in America as it is elsewhere in the world.

[twilyth]

Besides I often have to misspell words for our other English speaking friends....Trust me "Z" is not as common here in America as it is elsewhere in the world.
Ruh?

English grammar is some fucked up shit. Not as fucked up as English spelling though.

[jmcslob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences#-ise.2C_-ize_.28-isation.2C_-ization.29

I meant to say more common but for some reason Ma mind got stuck in uncommon...LOL as in not as common

Trust me "Z" is not as common here in America as it is elsewhere in the world.
should have been "Z" is more common here in America than it is elsewhere in the world.

I will at times spell words with an "s" instead of the "z" but that's the way I was taught.
But Now the American standard is "z".

[Frick]

I thought all browsers had spell checking now - guess not. Either that or people are too lazy to pay attention when a word gets flagged. IDK.


It's the first thing I turn off as it annoys the heck out of me. Even more annoying as I browse sites in both swedish and english.

Anyway, I think it's silly to think someone is inferior because of their spelling. It's the Internet folks, they can be 12 and from siberia or something. They can be from anywhere. It's when they cannot make themselves understood I question if they should be on an english speaking forum at all.

But when I know it's a guy in his 30's from Minnesota or Edinburgh I want them to be somewhat correct.

Yes. If you can't spell, you're an idiot. A basic level of grammar is needed too.

If someone's post is made up of shit spelling, i won't read their post / thread.

Even if you know that person have english as a third language?

[jmcslob]

I just realized that it bothers me when someone typing in their second language gets told that their education system is inferior by someone that can only carry on a conversation in the one and only language they've ever known because it's all they were taught.

It also bothers me that they've been taking Spanish off of labels....Used to be a Spanish version of everything which imo was awesome since it had the same thing in English and Spanish written right on it....Which I'm sure made it easy for Spanish reading people to learn to read English and viceversa, que por cierto es el español

Which is also why a non-English speaking native of the US may have a hard time since here in the US we meld words from other languages on a whim and usually with a different meaning than the root of the word..

But yet they will argue and hold their own.

[DrPepper]

Is spelling important ?

iosfjo sgnornovbnroebmnpdmfvbl;mperjhpjepfogmpbm

Not really.

[WhiteLotus]

Ruh?

English grammar is some fucked up shit. Not as fucked up as English spelling though.

Hey, you leave English alone and take your bastardised version of the language elsewhere!
(slap)

[Frick]

English is the best kind of english.

[CyberDruid]

My position is that humans are devolving fast enough without a total break down of conventions.

[Soylent Joe]

Haha U Gus think Spelling n ashit rly Matters lul ppl on The Internt dont Have To spell like Real life its just For Fun,

[DanTheBanjoman]

People tend to come across as retards if their use of language is really bad. Apart from it being a pain to read I consider it impolite when people don't take the time to communicate properly. Sure, English might not be your native language, that's no excuse to skip punctuation as a whole. Why should I waste my time on somebody who can't be arsed to take a minute to write in a comprehensive way?

[jmcslob]

^Perfectly written.....and probably under the influence as well.

[theJesus]

Yes.

[Reventon]

Spelling and grammar are kind of important in not making yourself look like a retard, but you don't have to be perfect every time. It's okay to leave out apostrophes and shit, I always do.

[infanrtry18]

Really it depends on the situation. Spelling and grammar are important when it comes to instances such as writing important documents. But when it comes to writing casually like on forums or to friends then it's less important.

Most of the time the use of wrong spelling doesn't bother me too much as long as its not overly used. My OCD mind makes me write correctly most of the time. But I can't stand reading messages with so many abbreviations and wrong spellings. That I believe just shows no respect for the language being used. And unfortunately more and more people are using the abbreviations in real life. It's quite sad. There have been students that turned in report papers written like a bunch of text messages with crazy abbreviations. Ridiculous. And embarrassing for them.

[CyberDruid]

Although I can understand the message no matter how poorly it may be written, I find I am judging the individual based on his or her ability to use the tool.

If you go out to eat and obviously have no clue about etiquette the food still gets in your belly, but you may shock and appall the person across the table from you. There are reasons for manners, courtesy, etiquette, and the proper use of tools like language. It's a way of expressing who you are, what level of education and experience you have obtained, and perhaps even the quality of your person.

[Reventon]

Spelling and gammar are important when it comes to instances such as writing important documents.

Trolling?

[infanrtry18]

Trolling?

Sure... We'll go with intentional trolling :p

Lol it's a bit harder to type on my phone than my laptop...

[Wile E]

I don't mind a few abbreviations or misspelled words here or there, but when people speak entirely in text, or do not use semi-decent grammar, I generally ignore them.

I mean, I understand this is just a forum, but at least try to use proper grammar and spelling.

And dammit, learn the proper uses of their, they're or there and your or you're. It's not rocket fucking science.

[Reventon]

And dammit, learn the proper uses of their, they're or there and your or you're. It's not rocket fucking science.

So many kids my age still don't understand these. It's fucking annoying honestly.

[theJesus]

Really it depends on the situation.
I agree with this somewhat. On a forum, the discussion is not exactly real-time, so it shouldn't be a problem for you to take your time. However, in real-time chat, such as instant messaging or in-game chat, I tend to skip punctuation and capitalization in favor of speed. I still try to spell properly though.
Trolling?
Trolling is a art.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Spelling and grammar are kind of important in not making yourself look like a retard, but you don't have to be perfect every time. It's okay to leave out apostrophes and shit, I always do.

Leaving out shit is preferred.

[sttubs]

To you?

When I read a post here or anywhere I find that I judge the poster's credibility and intelligence based on their ability to spell and use the English language as taught to our children in elementary school.

How about you?

What do you think about this? When you see a post filled with errors does it make you think that the poster is ignorant?

Do you think that it is important to take the time to edit and correct errors?

eye allso agrea wit ewe

[entropy13]

Trolling is a art.

Its a science!

[DaMulta]

IDK

I have a Learning Disability with written English language. It's legit they have a whole dedicated department with schools that prove it.

If I want what I type perfect in every which way. I have too read over what I type at least 5 times counting nouns, verbs, and all of that good stuff.

It's crazy to me cause I can read just fine. Yet, when it goes to typing what I just read back down. It's almost as if it's backwards in my head. That's the only way that I know how to explain it.

I went all threw HS so bad I could never pass a written anything. Then down the road a few years I received a honorable high school diploma when I just went to college without getting my GED(didn't finish my Senior year in HS. I passed the GED with flying colors every time I took it over all. Just I could never ever get my essay correct to receive it; even after about 5 tries.


So, when I enrolled into college without my GED I went into a pre-starter refresh English class. Somehow he showed a whole new way to recap what I was writing. I think I was about 25 when I finally started to learn how to wright correctly in a understandable manor.

After another 2 semesters taking my basics, receiving my honorable high school diploma. and ending up on the dean's honor roll. I decided to take one more trip to get my GED. Which I really didn't even have to at this point, but I thought I could actually do it. Which I finally did.

In the end IDK if I feel stupid for not being able to pass that part of the test over, and over again. To me feeling really good about learning how to do one of the most basic things too know in school for most people. Which does make myself feel good about it, but when I tell someone how many times it took me to pass that silly teat. Making me feel just straight up stupid.

So does spelling matter? I don't really think it does, but writing in a style that someone wil understand what you are trying to express. far out weights the importance of correct spelling, and the missing of the correct course of doing it by the book every single word, punctuation, and understanding what someone is trying to say will out pass those every time in my mine.

[theJesus]

So does spelling matter? I don't really think it does, but writing in a style that someone wil understand what you are trying to express. far out weights the importance of correct spelling, and the missing of the correct course of doing it by the book every single word, punctuation, and understanding what someone is trying to say will out pass those every time in my mine.
Spelling and grammar are definitely important, but they don't have to be perfect. In your post, it's evident that you actually tried, whereas a lot of other people just don't give a shit.

[DrPepper]

Spelling and grammar are definitely important, but they don't have to be perfect. In your post, it's evident that you actually tried, whereas a lot of other people just don't give a shit.

Hypocrit (▲)

"I Doesn't Afraid of Anything"

[theJesus]

Hypocrit (▲)

"I Doesn't Afraid of Anything"
That's actually a quote from remixedcat, I put it there to make fun of her lol

[DrPepper]

That's actually a quote from remixedcat, I put it there to make fun of her lol

I know I was kidding.

[theJesus]

I know I was kidding.
Well, I looked the original post up just in case :)

http://www.generalnonsense.net/showpost.php?p=54735&postcount=366

[Reventon]

Its an science!

Yes.

[_JP_]

Hypocrit (▲)

"I Doesn't Afraid of Anything"
That's actually a quote from remixedcat, I put it there to make fun of her lol
I think theJesus is a pretty cool guy. eh dies for our sins and doesnt afraid of anything.

[twilyth]

I thought that was a Steven Colbert quote. Hmmmm. Might have to try googling it.

[theJesus]

Well, I guess it is a meme (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/pretty-cool-guy) and remixed was probably aware of that.