What do you think of the grammar and spelling of the average Y! answers user?
I mean, ocassionally spelling the word 'really' without the A, or leaving out a comma here and there, or forgetting to capitalize the beggining of a sentence, we all make those mistakes. But really, when the question is so poorly worded that one cannot understand it, isn't that pretty bad? I mean I, at age 13, find myself picking up spelling mistakes and incorrect grammar. Why do you think people are this way, just lazy or truly stupid?
sophicmuse2006-01-16T21:38:30Z
Favorite Answer
(x-posted from an answer to a similar question)
There are a few reasons why a question or answer may be poorly written: a) The person is not a native English speaker. b) The person is a native English speaker with a poor command of the language (i.e. they would write the same way on a homework assignment). c) The person is a native English speaker with adequate command of the language who doesn't care enough to apply the same patience to anything extracurricular (i.e. they would write a homework assignment just fine, but would rather "typ lik dis" without making an effort here). d) The person is a native English speaker with adequate command of the language but who thinks it looks 'cooler' to type illegibly (i.e. they would write a homework assignment just fine, but would rather "tYpE lYkEEE dIs" even though it takes longer). e) The person is on drugs.
I'm 16, so congratulations on being a teenager who actually cares about writing properly. There aren't enough of us out here.
I have already ranted on this topic (the question keeps popping up), so I’ll just add another consideration. I appreciate your love of the English language and it horrendous and archaic rules of spelling and grammar. Not everyone is gifted in these areas. Some of the people using the worst English on this site, however, can also give some of the best answers in other areas. Not everyone is great in every topic. You seek perfection in written word, especially when you are writing it. Everyone does not feel the need to do so. This is not a college class. Every-1 is welcum no mattr how gud r bad there spelin n grammr iss.
I was just going to ask that question myself! My theories are:
1. One answer might be that many of the participants are not native English speakers and either are doing their best in English or using a program to translate.
2. We have a bunch of people who are used to text messaging and chatting, and don't know how to write a real sentence.
3. It's a sort of cyber-grafitti, where the purpose is to deface the site.
I am pretty sure it's not because people are stupid.
Here's an interesting thing. A rocket costing millions which was supposed to circumnavigate Mars went terribly off course and was lost in space. Reason? The scientists who planned the mission worked it out in inches, and the scientists that programmed the onboard computer did it in centimetres!! These were highly paid NASA scientists. What do you suppose their combined IQ's were? 80-90?They should have used monkeys like the old days. Wouldn't have happened in China.
I personally don't have any problem with it .. because it is called "online slang" thing. I do use words like.. ne instead of any .. or coz' instead of because .. n etc. But I do hate grammar mistakes.. like c'mon u know english.. so type it correctly.
And about capitalizing the beggining of a sentence.. well now c'mon.. u r not doing some english essay.. ?