You spelling pedants
08 August 2008, 12:55 PM
#61
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Punctuation isn't always easy.
This one is gramatically correct, but needs punctuation
Ann while Bob had had had had had had had had had had had a
better effect on the teacher
This one is gramatically correct, but needs punctuation
Ann while Bob had had had had had had had had had had had a
better effect on the teacher
08 August 2008, 12:56 PM
#62
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08 August 2008, 12:58 PM
#63
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If it is decided to just let it go as this bloke suggests, it will be yet another example of allowing standards to fall. We all had to work at it in the past to try to spell correctly and though not many of us are perfect in that respect, I think it is important to attempt to get it right at least.
Its a bit along the lines of giving up on teaching children that it is a mistake to have sex at such a young age but instead of that handing out contraceptives to try to stop it starting up pregnancies in young girls. And this without even telling their parents whats going on. They are proposing secret abortions now! Look where that has got us!
That may seem an extreme example but I think that it demonstrates the danger of just giving up and letting it all happen.
Les
Its a bit along the lines of giving up on teaching children that it is a mistake to have sex at such a young age but instead of that handing out contraceptives to try to stop it starting up pregnancies in young girls. And this without even telling their parents whats going on. They are proposing secret abortions now! Look where that has got us!
That may seem an extreme example but I think that it demonstrates the danger of just giving up and letting it all happen.
Les
08 August 2008, 01:09 PM
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I felt like that with many application forms, but in Public Sector (Equal OPs) recruitment, you can't not interview someone over a criteria not specified in the person spec requiremensts for the job. We always include 'I high standard of written communication' or similar now.
I wanted to reject a form which had been typed and included typos. I was told I couldn't, but pointed out that the spec included the requirement to be proficient in Office applications, which I would consider to include spell-checking!
I wonder how many people don't get jobs because of their spelling / grammar, then blame being female / black / old etc
I wanted to reject a form which had been typed and included typos. I was told I couldn't, but pointed out that the spec included the requirement to be proficient in Office applications, which I would consider to include spell-checking!
I wonder how many people don't get jobs because of their spelling / grammar, then blame being female / black / old etc
There's hardly an excuse when they are knocked up on computers with spell checkers. If you want a job where competition (and salary) are both high you make sure you have it all done properly. Particularly when the minimum qualifications require a good degree from a decent university!
08 August 2008, 01:17 PM
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She works in media where people have to proof read their own stuff!! It can be rather costly to release artwork and then have to recall artwork and articles due to errors!
08 August 2008, 01:21 PM
#67
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08 August 2008, 01:39 PM
#68
Do I get a gold star?
Here's another one for you:
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
Anyone care to make sense of that one? It's a quote from Steven Pinker (The Language Instinct), which I opened one of my essays with on my teacher training. Talk about weird looks from your teacher.
My degree at university was in Linguistics, so I love reading threads like this, especially when people become really pedantic about things. Someone mentioned it earlier, but we all make mistakes in our writing, especially in forums etc like this. I'm pretty sure someone's going to spot something in mine now and rip me to shreds
Also, I'm pretty sure there was more to that 'i before e except after c' rule. Something like 'but only when the sound is ee'. I don't remember, though I've definitely heard something else follow it before. Even given this, the list of exceptions is fairly extensive.
The countless lists of rules, exceptions and bizarre spellings which have originated from other cultures is what makes the English language special. Yes, it's a mongrel amongst languages, but it takes an educated person to control the beast
As for irritating examples that we hear all the time, how about 'and that's one pence change'. Penny = singular and pence = plural!
Last edited by nerocircus; 08 August 2008 at 01:47 PM. Reason: my keyboard didn't type an 'e'. Couldn't have that in a post like this, could I?
08 August 2008, 02:45 PM
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Tell me about it. That is the way our culture is going unfortunately. Nobody seems to give a toss anymore and the whole attitude is one of 'I don't give a ****', which quite frankly is appalling. As for what to do about it, well I can't answer that one.
08 August 2008, 03:36 PM
#74
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All the way through school I hated writing by hand; I always found it an awkward, uncomfortable thing to do. I can type much faster than I could ever write, and the end result is much easier to decipher too.
08 August 2008, 03:46 PM
#75
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It doesn't help that the BBC, which should be above reproach, makes so many errors.
I complained only today about an Olympics blog which said "I felt Salt Lake was not quit as successful".
I complained only today about an Olympics blog which said "I felt Salt Lake was not quit as successful".
08 August 2008, 03:51 PM
#76
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I just think it's a real shame. I have letters written by my grandmother to her uncle in Canada during the 1920s and another written by one of my great- uncles during WWII.
Having said that, I work as a Medical Summariser and trying to decipher the handwriting in some of the records is a bloody nightmare!
Having said that, I work as a Medical Summariser and trying to decipher the handwriting in some of the records is a bloody nightmare!
08 August 2008, 05:55 PM
#77
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I before E, except after C, when the sound that it makes is a capital E.
Being, not bE-ing, as it were.
I have a driving licence (noun), therefore I am licensed (verb) to drive
A doctor works at a medical practice(noun], he practises (verb)
medicine
I advise you to check your spelling, I often give unwanted advice
(I REALLY hope I got that right!)
08 August 2008, 06:37 PM
#79
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Poor spelling and bad grammar are useful as a stupid-o-meter.
Have bad spelling and grammar? Then people WILL think you are stupid, irrespective of whether you are or not.
Personally I don't care if people make mistakes in their writing, we all do that(especially when quicky replying in forums, e-mails etc.), however there are some that really don't know or care that they're crap and stupid.
I saw an old deer the other day. Now, was I spotting some old lady or was I cutting the limbs of a four legged animal?!
I think the worst is there/their/they're. People who get this wrong are clearly as thick as pigsh1t.
Have bad spelling and grammar? Then people WILL think you are stupid, irrespective of whether you are or not.
Personally I don't care if people make mistakes in their writing, we all do that(especially when quicky replying in forums, e-mails etc.), however there are some that really don't know or care that they're crap and stupid.
I saw an old deer the other day. Now, was I spotting some old lady or was I cutting the limbs of a four legged animal?!
I think the worst is there/their/they're. People who get this wrong are clearly as thick as pigsh1t.
or is that exactly what you were saying? 
I today saw an application to join the union I work for, that came in from a medical doctor, there were lots of spelling mistakes (just happened to be polish but that's another matter). A little bit worrying, when he could also be filling out prescriptions in this way!
08 August 2008, 06:44 PM
#80
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Poor spelling and bad grammar are useful as a stupid-o-meter.
Have bad spelling and grammar? Then people WILL think you are stupid, irrespective of whether you are or not.
Personally I don't care if people make mistakes in their writing, we all do that(especially when quicky replying in forums, e-mails etc.), however there are some that really don't know or care that they're crap and stupid.
I think the worst is there/their/they're. People who get this wrong are clearly as thick as pigsh1t.
Have bad spelling and grammar? Then people WILL think you are stupid, irrespective of whether you are or not.
Personally I don't care if people make mistakes in their writing, we all do that(especially when quicky replying in forums, e-mails etc.), however there are some that really don't know or care that they're crap and stupid.
I think the worst is there/their/they're. People who get this wrong are clearly as thick as pigsh1t.
08 August 2008, 07:27 PM
#82
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Agree about there/their/they're, Drac. On a par with your/you're, which i reckon is the number one most common error.
Has the general level of spelling always been so poor but we're only noticing it these days because more people are able to communicate publicly? Who knows. If i could teach the world the difference between your and you're, i'd die a happier man.
Has the general level of spelling always been so poor but we're only noticing it these days because more people are able to communicate publicly? Who knows. If i could teach the world the difference between your and you're, i'd die a happier man.
08 August 2008, 09:25 PM
#86
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Ann, while Bob had had 'had', had had 'had had'; 'had had' had had a better effect on the teacher.
Do I get a gold star?
Here's another one for you:
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
Anyone care to make sense of that one? It's a quote from Steven Pinker (The Language Instinct), which I opened one of my essays with on my teacher training. My degree at university was in Linguistics... ... I'm pretty sure someone's going to spot something in mine now and rip me to shreds
Do I get a gold star?
Here's another one for you:
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
Anyone care to make sense of that one? It's a quote from Steven Pinker (The Language Instinct), which I opened one of my essays with on my teacher training. My degree at university was in Linguistics... ... I'm pretty sure someone's going to spot something in mine now and rip me to shreds
