Spelling and grammar on this forum

[SS4]

I think there is a difference between those who just have no grasp of spelling and grammar in all posts, to those who make occasional typos or other language errors (eg. could of / could have).

If it appears a member is about to stick around for a while I PM them and ask them to double check their posts in future or consider installing a spill chucker. If it gets too bad then people can be placed onto Moderation, but this is very uncommon.

Where can I get a spill chucker? It sounds a very interesting device.

also chrome says that your spelling of chucker is correct whereas mine is not

 

[bb21]

'Could of' instead of could have is the only thing that gets my eyebrows raised on here, but I have a feeling it could be a regional thing. I'm sure I have heard a lot of people speak in the same way in the north west.

But anyone who understands grammar surely can tell that "could of" does not make sense. You can't make a sentence with those two next to each other.

 

[Striker]

I think there is a difference between those who just have no grasp of spelling and grammar in all posts, to those who make occasional typos or other language errors (eg. could of / could have).

If it appears a member is about to stick around for a while I PM them and ask them to double check their posts in future or consider installing a spill chucker. If it gets too bad then people can be placed onto Moderation, but this is very uncommon.

It's sad that you consider not being able to write in basic English ("could of"/"could have") as a "typo"!

Don't bother.

He's been banned for that before, and apparently nothing's changed.

What has this got to do with anything? I wasn't calling one particular person a moron. If you don't like a post then report it instead of trying to sway general opinion against me in some kind of pack mentality.

 

[OxtedL]

But anyone who understands grammar surely can tell that "could of" does not make sense.

Try living in the south east. Then you'll be saying "I could of sworn it was written like that, init" instead

OK Striker, not doing the optimum for your case here. Everyone needs to that little bit less defensive methinks...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

But anyone who understands grammar surely can tell that "could of" does not make sense. You can't make a sentence with those two next to each other.

I agree. Strongly.

But I'm (slowly) trying to recognise that we live in a world with fluid language use and, perhaps more to the point, a phonetic language. Its a representation of sounds, and even I have to admit, that the sound of 'have' is often closest to 'iv', which is more like 'of' than 'have'.

I think we have to remain aware that most of us use 'phonetic languages' which, unlike Chinese and others, attempts to achieve writing in 2 stages:
First, convert the meaning to a sound.
Second, convert the sound to letters.

Its a little easier in Chinese where there is just the one conversion:
Convert the meaning to a symbol.

 

[SS4]

But anyone who understands grammar surely can tell that "could of" does not make sense. You can't make a sentence with those two next to each other.

All I can think of for that error is that they sound similar to each other in spoken English and that many people say what they're writing out loud whilst they're typing (if that makes any sense)

Misuse of your and you're seem endemic on the internet too

 

[Ivo]

Try living in the south east. Then you'll be saying "I could of sworn it was written like that, init" instead

Not quite true. It would be more like this: "I don't give a [insert expletive here]!"

 

[OxtedL]

Indeed Ivo.

Misuse of your and you're seem endemic on the internet too

I have made that mistake in many embarrassing situations. Trouble is, once you've sent you're email and your re-reading it, its to late too go back and pick out all the little errors and think, what would of I done differently?

God that hurt to type.

 

[chris89]

I know a lot of people do have terrible spelling or are to lazy to write correctly.

If you were to correct people do it via PM and suggest it to them. As i am some others do have dyslexia (Before anyone says you can learn it is very difficult as i read a lot slower then others, so i don't think i need to place things like comars as much as needed)

I certinally try my best, and honestly if people pick it out i do take it to heart a lot more as i try my best, to make it understandable.

Chris

 

[OxtedL]

The last two posts there are perfectly readable (well, apart from the slightly contrived "would of" in mine) for someone like me who reads fast most of the time.

I stopped a couple of times and kept a mental tally of mistakes (sub consciously), but honestly, if it's understandable then fine by me.

Capital letters and punctuation are my two biggest.

 

[Striker]

I know a lot of people do have terrible spelling or are to lazy to write correctly.

If you were to correct people do it via PM and suggest it to them. As i am some others do have dyslexia (Before anyone says you can learn it is very difficult as i read a lot slower then others, so i don't think i need to place things like comars as much as needed)

I certinally try my best, and honestly if people pick it out i do take it to heart a lot more as i try my best, to make it understandable.

Chris

I understand it must be difficult for you. The fact that you try your best but sometimes fail to spell correctly is very commendable. Genuinely. It's the lazy scrotes who KNOW they're spelling incorrectly but just can't be arsed to correct it who annoy me.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

To be honest, I agree with Striker here to some extent.

I try and use correct grammar and spelling in all my posts. Sometimes I don't manage it, but at least I try.

I realise that some people here might have dyslexia, but you can install spell checkers for your browser. I have one, and it helps to catch out the little errors that sometimes slip in.

 

[Ferret]

This is one of the better internet sites for spelling - it's not often you read a post that is complete gibberish that you can't understand. Sure - some of us drop in an occasional typo, usually because I'm using a Blackberry with small keys in my case. I can think of quite a few sites though which tell me all I need to know about declining standards in education, and I fear the rot has set in.

 

[strange6]

I don't assume it's just children. It's just that it's not too late to correct children and teach them to spell correctly. I consider adults a lost cause.

U went away for a cuple of munths, Striker, and now your bak again. Were did u go two?

 

[Striker]

U went away for a cuple of munths, Striker, and now your bak again. Were did u go two?

Well, I won't be back for much longer as I can't seem to make a post without certain people jumping on me, even when there is nothing wrong with my post.

 

[4SRKT]

Well, personnaly my speling and grammer is impeckable, innit.

 

[strange6]

Well, I won't be back for much longer as I can't seem to make a post without certain people jumping on me, even when there is nothing wrong with my post.

There will always be people like that on any forum, mate! Just laugh it off and be cool!

 

[blackfive460]

There's one very easy way to improve your posts; just read what you've written before you post it.
Those who, for what ever reason, struggle with spelling, grammar and/or punctuation should consider asking someone else to read it before posting. From personal experience I can tell you that really does help improve your use of English in a surprisingly short time.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There will always be people like that on any forum, mate! Just laugh it off and be cool!

Some are closer than you think!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There's one very easy way to improve your posts; just read what you've written before you post it.
Those who, for what ever reason, struggle with spelling, grammar and/or punctuation should consider asking someone else to read it before posting. From personal experience I can tell you that really does help improve your use of English in a surprisingly short time.

Trouble is is that you know what you have written, so will see it normally anyway, i.e. you won't be able to spot spelling errors because you will just read what you have written automatically. On other people's work, though, it is very easy to find errors.

 

[ACE1888]

right click for spell checker anyone?

 

[strange6]

Some are closer than you think!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Nahhhh. Some people just seem intent on winding other people-up. Whenever I have had disagreements with people in the past it's becuase they have said something which was totally bang out-of-order and uncalled for, or they go in with all guns blazing and are just totally hostile for some reason. But, by and large, it's a good bunch on here, including you my friend!

 

[HST Power]

Fortunately for me, Google Chrome has a spell checker, so any mistakes I make are fixed!

Unfortunately, the spell checker runs on the American dictionary....

 

[blackfive460]

Trouble is is that you know what you have written, so will see it normally anyway, i.e. you won't be able to spot spelling errors because you will just read what you have written automatically. On other people's work, though, it is very easy to find errors.

Try reading your own posts out loud. Makes errors much easier to spot.
And if you spot an error after you've posted, there's always the edit button.
(Bad style that, starting a sentence with 'And'...)

 

[SS4]

right click for spell checker anyone?

Do you sea a problem here? Spell checkers have their uses (I can never spell inconvenient without one - ironically it's an inconvenience!) yet only really proof-reading is going to solve the problem, I usually end up editing a lot of my posts for spelling and grammar

Unfortunately, the spell checker runs on the American dictionary....

You can add the en_GB dictionary in chrome:

1. Paste chrome://settings/languages into the address bar
2. Click the Add button at the bottom left
3. Select English - United Kingdom from the drop down list and then OK
4. Drag English - United Kingdom to the top if you want it to be the primary language for spell checking

I also use French and German spell checkers, especially for getting the accents, umlauts etc...

 

[HST Power]

You can add the en_GB dictionary in chrome:

1. Paste chrome://settings/languages into the address bar
2. Click the Add button at the bottom left
3. Select English - United Kingdom from the drop down list and then OK
4. Drag English - United Kingdom to the top if you want it to be the primary language for spell checking

I also use French and German spell checkers, especially for getting the accents, umlauts etc...

Cheers! Chrome is now correcting the word Center into Centre, so it worked!

I always take ages getting the accents and the umlauts tracked down and then in the right place on MS word.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I will be perfectly honest and admit NEVER to have used a computer whilst my secretary could take dictation and shorthand. It's just me... not wanting to do things that other people specialise in. My other senior managers referred to me as "Mr. Dinosaur".

Since retiring and buying two computers, a laptop for my wife and a tower system for myself, I still only have used Microsoft Word and Excel and BT Yahoo Mail. I have not got the slightest idea how the scanner works and internet photography is completely over my head. Until I joined this forum, I did not know what a "thread" was when used in computer language. The two aids that I rely upon are Norton 360 5.0 and Uniblue Powersuite to keep whatever is in my computer running smoothly. I have been brave enough to have just gone on to Internet Explorer 9, then finding where everything like the PRINT icon had gone....panic measures at first.:cry:

But what I do when making a post is NEVER to use any spellchecker, but put my text into the PREVIEW mode and only post it when I am sure that I am satisfied.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

When I first joined the forum my grammar was awful the same with my behaviour on the forum. (Anyone remeber? Please don't remind me!)

In those two years, I've grown up and made the effort I didn't before and think before I post anything stupid like before...

When I first joined the forum and found people kept correcting me, I took it as bad criticism and instantly thought they were just doing it to wind up and annoy me. Now I do understand there point completely.

When I read a post no matter how 'technical' its written, if its in bad grammar I don't take the person as serious for some reason, whilst if its written good it usually makes me pay attention and listen more.

 

[SS4]

When I read a post no matter how 'technical' its written, if its in bad grammar I don't take the person as serious for some reason, whilst if its written good it usually makes me pay attention and listen more.

That's true and you lost some points for using good instead of well

 

[SouthEastern-465]

That's true and you lost some points for using good instead of well

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Now I do understand there point completely.

...their point completely....NOT there point completely.

Blessed are the spellcheckers, for they shall be grammatical.