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Spelling and grammar; what the Hell happened to it?

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There are many reasons for less than standard English. Including Dyslexia (what a bloody name for the condition!!), poor education opportunities and others.
When I suspect it is a) laziness or b) disregard for the reader's experience it puts me off. I interpret the writer's attitude from the writing - I have to, it's all I have to go on. I generally assume the conversational ability is on a par with the prose ability - less the spelling in that case and more the content etc. And, yes, it IS judging people by what they write - why not? There are people on here that judge my by the size of my tits.
i Have too argree incorrectly grammatical sentences and the lack off punctuation awe won of the greatest problems facing the werld twoday personally outy and shoot i would take them
Timely thread this Keepyourcool, for me at least, and I salute you forritsir! Crystalises a lot of things I've been thinking about of late, which I won't go into, I'd most likely bore you with it. lol :uhoh: I've got me 'O' level English as it was when I were a nipper and nobbut a lad, and it's stood me in good stead all of me life. For the most part at least. Done Latin at 'A' Level, and a fair bit of French, so like to think I have a basic grasp of how yer romance languages work as well, you know. Know all about subjects and objects, and the relationships between them in time and space and what have you, had subjunctive moods of the pluperfect past falling out of my arse back in the day, maybe even with gerunds thrown in for good measure, I forget. Still had to edit something I put up earlier cos reading back through the thread I'd put 'you're' when all it needed was a 'your'.
I've got eats shoots and leaves on me frequent reads book pile. I've written essays on the abitrary nature of signs and signifiers and the ways in which they come to be over-loaded with meaning, having first come to mean anything at all in the first place. I've debated with lecturers whether the thing most people call Margaret Thatcher actually exists in an objectively verifiable sense or whether she's merely an agglomeration of signifiers constituting some kind of linguistic construct in what I shall choose to call for the purposes of argument 'the imagination', assuming that we've agreed on terminology and a frame of reference that makes the sequence of characters or sounds from which this sentence is composed even intelligible to anyone other than me. Still took me the best part of 40 years to learn that 'its' is possessive all by itself and doesn't need a bloody apostrophe, except where I'm indicating missing letters ((( Thanks , you rock! biggrin ))), but can I get the apostrophication in its / it's right 100% of the time? Can I bollox! I still get it wrong, and it bothers me. mad
Should it? Depends what you think language is really. There is formal language, a thing of beauty: a product of the human intellect that's mathematical in its precision. Indeed, it can be nothing but mathematically precise, for mathematics too is a language of the human intellect. It's the exact same thing, but I never quite got that till recently. That explains why I was good at languages but shit at maths, good at practical computer programming, rubbish at theory. I didn't get that it's all the exact same thing: a boot-strapping, self-referential system that defines itself and its own terms. It has static rules that can be rigorously defined, but those same rules allow language to modify itself, in a way that is fluid and dynamic, ever changing. Language then makes a toy of itself, that is playable with infinitely once you grasp that. It's not difficult, a child can do it. It both defines the human experience, and is a product of it. All that matters is that a human being has sufficient grasp of it to first creatively define themselves, and then creatively make themselves intelligible unto others. How they use it is really up to them. That's what the rules are there for, to enable it. You can't break them then, except within a narrow formal frame of reference that is a specific subset of the bigger thing called Language with a capital L.
Does it matter what we think language is or how we use it when we talk to one another, in real life or through the medium of the internet? Bit deep for this time of night on a swinging site? Dunno. Maybe, but you started it! :P
Quote by paddy
It is much better when the spelling or grammer is correct, it makes things easier to read, but not everyone is educated to the level required, the cure, therefore is to open your own swingers site and have people complete a literacy test before being permitted to join.
Sometimes mails, posts, chat is unintelligable, sometimes it is just too hard to understand that I give up on it, but I don't put people down for thier skills or lack of them, I consider myself uneducated, I failed my 11+, I have no educational qualifications whatsoever, no GCSE's, no CSE's or anything else that they call them in this day and age, I just do my best with what I know, I don't use spell check though occasionally I do use Wikipedia to check things.
It has to be, enjoy, suffer, move on, or as I said open your own swingers site, you cannot expect everyone to have the educational standard you like despite the fact that most people on here are "professionals" (joke).
Bare in mind it is not just about spelling and grammer where people make mistakes, introducing yourself to someone for the first time by showing a picture of a cock or an open pussy could also be considered as big a mistake as a spelling error wink

Is it not grammar?
But you missed the bare that surely should read bear as in carry ? but wasn't I the one who said "I am uneducated" lol nice spot though :wink: hmmmm does look better without the italics
Quote by MidsCouple24
hmmmm does look better without the italics

It does, yeah. Not sure that bold purple's that much of an improvement though. On this at least Keepyourcool and I are of one mind. It's hard to read.
Just sayin' like . . . ;)
N
It is a shame, for those like myself, that failed their education it leads to insecurities that hinder you in life. I don't always spell correctly nor do I always use punctuation, as I am not sure where to add it.
I was told by my teachers when leaving school that I was thick and stupid and I would achieve nothing with my life.
I am not about to make excuses nor apologise for my failings in being able to communicate with you about correct grammar or my non punctuation in my writing.
I would just like to say until finding this site and I came here originally to communicate with like minded liberated people but what it also gave me was confidence to write in the written form. Before coming here I never had the confidence in my written ability and always felt I would be judged.
Luckily for me in life there have always been people around rather than be critical have offered help, guidance and support.
One might be able to write a good script which can be admired, but can we learn from that if in fact that person is intelligent or not?
I do however agree that text talk is somewhat frustrating as I have not a clue what is being said.
But I think to be critical of grammar and punctuation and to judge a person on that, you might find there are some very interesting minded people in life that you might be over looking.
I shall leave you with a quote from Yeats
"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people".
Minx
x
Quote by Smooth2
What the hell is the world coming to???
Much has been said about just being able to communicate. The profiles on a sex site are just the thin end of the wedge. The abuse of the language is found everywhere these days. OK, most are here to sell themselves in a way. It doesn't give much of an impression if a couple or whoever reading it think that that is the level of communication to expect. It seems today that many people use the hideous so-called text-speak in normal use not just for texting. OK when we send a text we like to abbreviate words but seeing the frequent use of i for I, 2, 4, R and U makes me cringe. The whole world has gone lazy and can't be bothered to use even a reasonable standard of English. I'm sure that its not that it doesn't exist its just that people are lazy.
To add to this I absolutely hate seeing words like 'Crimbo'. This bastardization of the English further adds to the sorry state we are in and what of the next generations?
Well done for raising the thread.
Off my soapbox now.
Smooth1

if someone wants to moan about the incorrect use of the english language, should you not make sure yourself that the word i have highlighted is NOT spelt with a Z !
that is the same bastardisation of english that you are moaning about? just a thought blink
american spell checks are no good if you are spelling english.:doh:
Quote by noladreams
but on SH, an 'incredibly' hot minx who can't spell but who can suck like a Dyson is probably going to get a reply to any message she sends me lol

And one who can suck like a Dyson and spell?
Just checking...
wink
Well... Yes!
Quote by Theladyisaminx
It is a shame, for those like myself, that failed their education it leads to insecurities that hinder you in life. I don't always spell correctly nor do I always use punctuation, as I am not sure where to add it.
I was told by my teachers when leaving school that I was thick and stupid and I would achieve nothing with my life.
I am not about to make excuses nor apologise for my failings in being able to communicate with you about correct grammar or my non punctuation in my writing.
I would just like to say until finding this site and I came here originally to communicate with like minded liberated people but what it also gave me was confidence to write in the written form. Before coming here I never had the confidence in my written ability and always felt I would be judged.
Luckily for me in life there have always been people around rather than be critical have offered help, guidance and support.
One might be able to write a good script which can be admired, but can we learn from that if in fact that person is intelligent or not?
I do however agree that text talk is somewhat frustrating as I have not a clue what is being said.
But I think to be critical of grammar and punctuation and to judge a person on that, you might find there are some very interesting minded people in life that you might be over looking.
I shall leave you with a quote from Yeats
"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people".
Minx
x

......................makes room in the corner for minx to join me and watch the intellectuals wave
Well you are a lot like me then, uneducated in the schools system but having the intelligence to learn the more important things in life including verbal and written communication, I understood everything you wrote and thought it to be heart felt, well written and easily understood, perhaps there were some grammatical errors and even spelling mistakes in there, I wouldn't know, for me it did the job and did it well, I only hope most of my posts come as close to saying what I want to say as yours appear to.
Txt spk is for txting

Quote by Lizaleanrob
It is a shame, for those like myself, that failed their education it leads to insecurities that hinder you in life. I don't always spell correctly nor do I always use punctuation, as I am not sure where to add it.
I was told by my teachers when leaving school that I was thick and stupid and I would achieve nothing with my life.
I am not about to make excuses nor apologise for my failings in being able to communicate with you about correct grammar or my non punctuation in my writing.
I would just like to say until finding this site and I came here originally to communicate with like minded liberated people but what it also gave me was confidence to write in the written form. Before coming here I never had the confidence in my written ability and always felt I would be judged.
Luckily for me in life there have always been people around rather than be critical have offered help, guidance and support.
One might be able to write a good script which can be admired, but can we learn from that if in fact that person is intelligent or not?
I do however agree that text talk is somewhat frustrating as I have not a clue what is being said.
But I think to be critical of grammar and punctuation and to judge a person on that, you might find there are some very interesting minded people in life that you might be over looking.
I shall leave you with a quote from Yeats
"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people".
Minx
x

......................makes room in the corner for minx to join me and watch the intellectuals wave
As a reasonably educated person, particularly in languages and the written word, I recognize what you say. However, I guess like many peeps (lol) on here, I am a people person and so I have worked out that some very nice people aren't as comfortable with writing as others. We are from all walks of life on here. I really think I need to be tolerant of differing abilities. Because I need that of other people too. Yes of course I am George Clooney / Super Stud combined lol. Maybe in reality whilst my grammar is really good I don't compare so favourably physically with youger men. Eroticism isn't just physical (thank You, God!!!!) it also requires imagination, attention to detail, consideration and another 1001 human skills. OK I accept the physical is a big part of it and I think I'm OK with that. But I also think that if you are intelligent you can achieve a great deal. I'm sorry but slagging off other people for not meeting your own grammar standards doesn't wash here. Maybe on a Correctness of Language site I grant you.
I also note that you weren't aggressive in what you said. I hope you understand I am not being nasty in my reply. I applaud you for raising the subject. But I have to accept how people are, especially on this site and, in all honesty, if I am not looking for a penpal but someone to enjoy sex with (or should that have been with whom to enjoy sex?). lol sic. lol again.
Language and its rules evolve. This is probably the time in which it is chaniging faster than ever. The media and technical explosion are the cause. You and me are caught by our age. We appreciate good grammar and precise language. But we are humans too and to exclude people because they don't meet our exacting linguistic standards is, IMOH (lol), wrong.
Yours, very humbly (cos I've been wrong before),
Mick x x x
Quote by mickt
Language and its rules evolve.

Forsooth, thou verily sayest the truth.
@Minx
Your post consisted of (and they usually do) a number of good points effectively communicated :thumbup:
Quote by MidsCouple24
Txt spk is for txting

I agree with this 100%
In the near future I hope predictive text, qwerty keyboards on phones and less restriction on character count will make 'txt spk' both redundant and old fashioned.
Quote by MidsCouple24
Well you are a lot like me then, uneducated in the schools system but having the intelligence to learn the more important things in life including verbal and written communication, I understood everything you wrote and thought it to be heart felt, well written and easily understood, perhaps there were some grammatical errors and even spelling mistakes in there, I wouldn't know, for me it did the job and did it well, I only hope most of my posts come as close to saying what I want to say as yours appear to.
Txt spk is for txting
It is a shame, for those like myself, that failed their education it leads to insecurities that hinder you in life. I don't always spell correctly nor do I always use punctuation, as I am not sure where to add it.
I was told by my teachers when leaving school that I was thick and stupid and I would achieve nothing with my life.
I am not about to make excuses nor apologise for my failings in being able to communicate with you about correct grammar or my non punctuation in my writing.
I would just like to say until finding this site and I came here originally to communicate with like minded liberated people but what it also gave me was confidence to write in the written form. Before coming here I never had the confidence in my written ability and always felt I would be judged.
Luckily for me in life there have always been people around rather than be critical have offered help, guidance and support.
One might be able to write a good script which can be admired, but can we learn from that if in fact that person is intelligent or not?
I do however agree that text talk is somewhat frustrating as I have not a clue what is being said.
But I think to be critical of grammar and punctuation and to judge a person on that, you might find there are some very interesting minded people in life that you might be over looking.
I shall leave you with a quote from Yeats
"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people".
Minx
x

......................makes room in the corner for minx to join me and watch the intellectuals wave
Reminds me of school
The one thing that does kind of grate on me is the lack of learning. So many years of being on the net and being net heavy has improved at least some of my spelling and grammar if not all of it. I have noted many members who continually spell simple words incorrectly in the most obvious fashion. It does make me think can you not see that you are spelling that wrong five bloody times over when its written on the page correctly ten other times.
I cnduo't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty uesdtannrd waht I was rdnaieg. Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mttaer in waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rhgit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whoutit a pboerlm. Tihs is bucseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey ltteer by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Aaznmig, huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghhuot slelinpg was ipmorantt!
:thumbup:
long as the can give me there phone no. who cares......
Carnt bee bovvered two repliee..........
Content will always win over form for me, language is a tool to be used (and occasionally abused). Here's an example of where I draw the line though - I've yet to decipher this message entirely:
Quote by Anonymous SH user
Hai you lick sm hay it the I wonte trrey deth it pOsibale

blink lol
Quote by pebble
Content will always win over form for me, language is a tool to be used (and occasionally abused). Here's an example of where I draw the line though - I've yet to decipher this message entirely:
Hai you lick sm hay it the I wonte trrey deth it pOsibale

blink lol
I'm sorry, but have you ever tried typing with your left hand whilst trying to maintain a steady rhythm with the right? confused
On second thoughts, don't answer that!
:giggle: bolt
Quote by Bambi
I cnduo't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty uesdtannrd waht I was rdnaieg. Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mttaer in waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rhgit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whoutit a pboerlm. Tihs is bucseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey ltteer by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Aaznmig, huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghhuot slelinpg was ipmorantt!
:thumbup:

:laughabove:
Feckin Brilliant
Quote by tweeky
The one thing that does kind of grate on me is the lack of learning. So many years of being on the net and being net heavy has improved at least some of my spelling and grammar if not all of it. I have noted many members who continually spell simple words incorrectly in the most obvious fashion. It does make me think can you not see that you are spelling that wrong five bloody times over when its written on the page correctly ten other times.

Yer see Tweeky, your use of a whole two spaces after a full stop as used above is an anachronism, according to some. You did it deliberately, cos you wouldn't hit space twice after a full stop so consistently by mistake?
You punctuated the following sentence like this:
So many years of being on the net and being net heavy has improved at least some of my spelling and grammar if not all of it.

I could also have done this:
So many years of being on the net and being net heavy has improved, at least, some of my spelling, and grammar, if not all of it.

^That might have an Oxford comma in it, after the 'spelling' and before the 'and'? I'm not entirely clued up on Oxford commas, but personally think the break is quite appropriate there? I'm aiming for rhythm. Whaddya reckon?
So many years of being on the net and being net heavy has improved, at least, some of my spelling and grammar, if not all of it.

Definitely no Oxford comma there. There's a comma pair allowing the removal of the 'at least', and the comma after grammar is an appropriate pause.
Question is Tweeky, which of them is right? D'you know, cos I sure fuckin' don't! ;)
I favour your second version Neil... but purely on a gut reaction preference. I know nothing. wink
Quote by noladreams
I favour your second version Neil... but purely on a gut reaction preference. I know nothing. wink

Damn you and your subjectivity Nola. This is probably why noone can speak the lingo no more! What are people teaching 'teh kids' these days? :P
p.s. I favour the first one atcherly: the one in the middle. That's exactly how I'd type it cos I read things in my head as though someone was speaking it. Pauses are important. Is it grammatically correct? Course it is. Any poet worth their salt will till you the way they lay signs out on a page is abitrary! Are kids poets? Debatable, but they sure 'nuff know how to play with language. smile
D'you know, I was having a similar convo with a friend who was taught English in India only last night. I think we decided a return to discrete grammar teaching would probably be beneficial. Dull, but beneficial.
Quote by noladreams
D'you know, I was having a similar convo with a friend who was taught English in India only last night. I think we decided a return to discrete grammar teaching would probably be beneficial. Dull, but beneficial.

I had to Google 'discrete grammar' so I knew which way I was jumping? I think we should go back to it. I wouldn't have been in any doubt about the half-understood Oxford comma thing earlier if I'd been better taught it I suspect? I now understand a serial comma requires three terms to be that posh! lol
I think there was a huge difference in the way I was taught English as opposed to the way Latin and French were taught. In those last two subjects correctness was key. Grammar was rigidly defined; free and fluid translation was what you did once you had a firm grasp of the logical underpinning of the language. 'A' Level stuff. English was different, perhaps because there was no translation involved being native speakers. We'd already learned a lot of the rules subconsciously so maybe the expectation to some extent was that it didn't require teaching as a formal language to quite the same degree, even at grammar school. Expression was everything. Our Latin teachers were forever correcting our ill-understood grasp of English. When to use 'Fred Bloggs and I' rather than 'Fred Bloggs and me' for instance. Depends on whether the 'Fred Bloggs and somebody' are subjects or objects of a verb, don't it? Had to go to a dead language to learn that. I'm sure it was covered but didn't get it in an English class cos you understand who's doing what to who(m?) without the need for formal rules to help you work it out?
Purely as an aside, everyone I hope is familar with Mark Grist, english teacher extraordinaire? Probably not to everyone's taste but this is how to play with langauage:

Poor kid got rinsed:
He's my hero worship His Dead Poets stuff is fab.
Quote by noladreams
D'you know, I was having a similar convo with a friend who was taught English in India only last night.

Wow! One night eh? It's taken me 43years so far and I'm still not finished!
...and that's why I luuuuurve the language wink