Comment

Comment by Pirate Bard on January 20, 2009 at 7:58pm

I agree, Fox. Even when I am IMing (I don't tend to text in other formats) I almost always use correct grammar and spelling. Maybe it's old-fashioned of me, but I the way a person writes is a factor in how seriously I take them or what they have to say. Call it elitist if one must, but I think that if you want people to listen to what you have to say, you have to say it with clarity and dignity. Heck, just look at the difference between the speaking skills of Bush vs. Obama. No matter which one you like, Obama is clearly the better orator, and that alone makes him seem smarter and more respectable. I think the same is true with the written word.

On a side note, I have no problem at all with the living language developing in new and interesting ways. For instance "text" is now a verb, as well as "Google". "Blog" is a word, and "YouTuber" is becoming a noun. None of which I have a problem with when they are used in a grammatical context which is properly understood and not just downright lazy.

Comment by Fox Anderson on January 20, 2009 at 7:45pm

Txtng al day maks u a bad spllr.

Even when I do text and it isn't all that often, I make sure to use proper spelling and full sentences. A lot of the time I can't understand what the hell the person is trying to say.

Comment by Pirate Bard on January 20, 2009 at 7:32pm

Ziggy, of course you may cross post. Please credit it as written at the bottom of the passage. By: JM Wyrd (aka Pirate Bard) I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Comment by Rickr0ll on January 20, 2009 at 7:07pm

Jude, i agree. Even in text speak messages, i never make grammatical errors (their/there, here/hear, ect.) if i am aware of them. I do pride myself as a writer, after all. It's just this one thing. It even has a function for sniffing out the grammer pedants from people who just want to have a conversation. Pedantry is fine, but only in small doses. But i'm rambling now, so i'll just stop while i'm ahead.

Comment by Jude Johnson on January 20, 2009 at 3:24pm

I agree Pirate Bard. I'm a professional technical writer (and computer programmer) and I see serious issues with this all the time. I can understand why some people use text-speak when instant messaging at work because we're usually in a rush (I still don't like trying to decipher it).

When I really have a problem with this issue is when I all too frequently see coworkers (also tech writers) who consistently make mistakes when writing to our client. (Our QC process catches most of the actual technical document errors before the client sees them.) One of them never uses the word "their", but prefers "there" in every instance. Only a couple of us know that "a lot" is two words. Then there are miscellaneous other errors you'd never think of -- like saying "should of", instead of "should have". Using the word "ideal" instead of "idea" is another one. The list goes on and on. I find this phenomenon incredibly embarrassing for our company. Professional writers?! What are the criteria for the position if a basic grasp of English isn't included? Sorry -- slipped on my soapbox there.

Is grammar dead in the U.S.?

I tend to be more forgiving outside the office. I try to overlook the text-speak and grammar issues -- but I definitely notice (and am impressed) when I'm reading something without those issues.

Comment by Rickr0ll on January 20, 2009 at 2:58pm

hey now, hey now! I don't capitalize "i" becasue i think it's unnesecarry to intrinsically value yourself that much. After all, what good would we be if "i" was proper over "you" just becasue that was tradition? I always capitalize sentance begginings, and i use a lot of good punctuation. I just think that i prefer this one quirk among many to make a small statement (i guess that is a pun isn't it?) about myself and my veiws.