I think this topic has been mined before, but unfortunately it is fresh for me so I need some simple feedback. When someone corrects you to your face about your grammar how does it make you feel?
When the Grammar Nazi's strike!
- Thread starter The Boy Who Cried Worf
- Start date
Since high standards are important to me, I'd appreciate it if someone pointed out any errors I might make (unless they're being a jerk about it).
Unfortunately, we currently live in a cultural climate where people are not only dismissive of standards but hostile toward any attempt to improve them, so correcting somebody's mistakes usually creates an unpleasant situation. As a result, standards continue to fall. I'm constantly amazed at the memos and emails I get from allegedly college-educated people who don't know how to punctuate, spell or form a complete sentence.
Unfortunately, we currently live in a cultural climate where people are not only dismissive of standards but hostile toward any attempt to improve them, so correcting somebody's mistakes usually creates an unpleasant situation. As a result, standards continue to fall. I'm constantly amazed at the memos and emails I get from allegedly college-educated people who don't know how to punctuate, spell or form a complete sentence.
^Bingo!
Posting here (in what is my third language) has made me feel somewhat alone in discovering how to actually get a point across, so whenever I do really stupid things I would seriously appreciate comments on my grammatical mistakes!
Apparently, though, people are afraid of being called 'grammar nazis' and probably therefore don't help those of us not having English (or derivatives thereof) as our first language.
Oh! and BTW:
The 'nazi' part of 'Grammar nazi' shouldn't be capitalized.
Posting here (in what is my third language) has made me feel somewhat alone in discovering how to actually get a point across, so whenever I do really stupid things I would seriously appreciate comments on my grammatical mistakes!
Apparently, though, people are afraid of being called 'grammar nazis' and probably therefore don't help those of us not having English (or derivatives thereof) as our first language.
Oh! and BTW:
The 'nazi' part of 'Grammar nazi' shouldn't be capitalized.
Actually since it's a headline the mistake is not capitalising "strike" also, isn't it?
Actually since it's a headline the mistake is not capitalising "strike" also, isn't it?
I suppose you're right 
I don't mind people pointing out my mistakes so long as they do it politely.
There used to be a poster on this board (several years ago) who used to 'correct' British English which really annoyed me.
I rarely point out mistake that another person make unless it is one of my sons.
I recently did point out someone's mistakes on this board but that is because she was complaining about people (i.e. immigrants) not being able to speak English well when her own written English was appalling.
There used to be a poster on this board (several years ago) who used to 'correct' British English which really annoyed me.
I rarely point out mistake that another person make unless it is one of my sons.
I recently did point out someone's mistakes on this board but that is because she was complaining about people (i.e. immigrants) not being able to speak English well when her own written English was appalling.
I have a feeling that was deliberate.
Very rarely happens and anyone trying to correct me is always wrong.
Switch
Captain
Or maybe they're just dismissive of arrogance, presumption, pedantry and elitism masquerading as assistance.
No, they just have low standards and are intimidated by anyone with high standards.
I'm with the Grape on this one. I am aware of the importance of maintaining good grammar (and spelling) in my professional and everyday life, as otherwise it makes one look unprofessional, untidy, uneducated, and unable to find a decent spell- and grammar-checker.
The exceptions are when it is for stylistic and ironic reasons, but of course these exceptions prove the rule. I'd be happy to let anyone correct me because of my grammar mistakes, just so that I don't make the mistake again in future. You might say it is the sort of pedantry up with which I am willing to put.
No, deliberate would have been "grammer".
-------
Now, I'm going to be the Diction Nazi!
We're all "grammar nazis". If someone's grammar fails, everyone of us would go, "Wha?". Grammar is a system of words and phrases designed to convey meaning. I believe the OP is really talking about "usage nazis".
If someone were to say or write, "Ya'll ain't got no widgets," we would all understand him to mean, "You all have no widgets". His grammar is sound. He has an intended meaning to convey and the listener has understood the words in the manner intended.
We could call that substandard usage, or maybe just informal usage.
If the intended meaning is successfully conveyed, you have no problems with grammar.
As far as usage goes, that is generally learned at a very young age. You're going to get what you're exposed to... er, you're going to get to what you're exposed. Some people make it a point to learn and employ more formal usage, some don't. To some it's just not important. Well, okay, no big deal.
Things like the following sound, to me, like a fork scraping a chalk board:
I seen him last night.
He got ran over.
I wish I was rich.
Come here real quick.
or
Think quick!
or
Take it slow! (especially if that's coming from a girl)
or
Run quicker!
He did it hisself.
They did it theirselves. (Troy Aikman on even FOX NFL game)
12 items or less.
To boldy go...
I could go on and on and on. To bad I dont. Your missing out.
The funny thing is, there are several people reading this who won't see what the problem is with a few of those sentences. It's not that they're stupid, it's just they simply don't know. All that being said, I generally don't correct people.
One big eggception: If someone is acting all smug and superior, putting someone else down or trying to look smart, then they asses is about to see the bh'ness end of a Harcourt Brace smackdown!
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