Apostrophe now: Bad grammar and the people who hate it

[Evil Eye]

Children are again to be subject to a rigorous examination in grammar. But why does it make adults so cross when other adults break the rules?

A new grammar and spelling test arrives in primary schools in England this week. It is the first time in a while that such emphasis has been put on grammar.

Some of the questions will seem straightforward for many adults, such as where to place a comma or a colon in a sentence. But other aspects - identifying different types of adverbs or distinguishing between subordinating and co-ordinating connectives - might raise eyebrows.

Grammar is not just an educational issue. For some adults, it can sabotage friendships and even romantic relationships.

The research arm of dating site OKCupid looked at 500,000 first contacts and concluded that "netspeak, bad grammar and bad spelling are huge turn-offs". The biggest passion killers were "ur", "r", "u", "ya" and "cant". Also damaging to online suitors were "luv" and "wat".

On the other hand, correct use of apostrophes was appealing. Using "don't" and "won't" caused better than average response rates - 36% and 37% respectively, according to the research.

Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22403731


Do you consider bad grammar to be a turn-off?

 

[Andrew Darmac]

Yes, bad grammar does annoy me. However, I don't go out of my way to correct people about it.

It bothers me a lot more in real-life than on forums though.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

If I can understand someone it doesn't bother me much. I remember when I ran a different forum back in the day, we had a staff member with really bad grammar, sometimes nobody knew what he was talking about. After a while it just wasnt working out anymore.

 

[Raven]

No because im dyslexic. Grammar nazis piss me off !

 

[DrLeftover]

There is a difference between being a "grammar nazi" and someone who uses such poor grammar that the meaning of what they wrote is unclear or even wrong.

And don't blame dyslexia for not knowing how to use the language.

I've got dyslexia to the point where that, at times when it is very busy, I will end up writing circuit IDs or phone numbers backward AND upside down. Something I cannot consciously do..... (see: http://themediadesk.com/newfiles3/dyslexia.htm )

Back to the point:
I got a work email about an install yesterday from somebody with a bunch of letters behind their name (MSIT, MSM, etc) who used the word "do" when they meant "due" among various other errors. If I had not called the customer to confirm what they were talking about and just went with what was written, they would have been, shall we be polite here, torqued off.

 

[Raven]

And don't blame dyslexia for not knowing how to use the language.

Errr, Where exactly did I say that?!

I can't even process numbers let alone write them backwards, but then that's my Dyscalculia.

 

[DrLeftover]

Perhaps I was reading a tad too much into the statement.

I apologize.

But I have met those who do when, truth be told, they're either trying to be cute, or they're just lazy.