Punishing "grammar police

Interesting topic...
I try my best to be as grammatically correct as possible, though I’ll admit I don't always hit the mark perfectly 😬
That said, nothing grates on my nerves quite like seeing other people's blatant illiteracy. It’s especially grating when you see people failing at basic spelling, mixing up vowels, or using those weird linguistic quirks that just don't belong in standard American English ☕

I'm not suggesting we need a professional editor patrolling this forum, per se. It's more about everyone taking a little more pride in their writing and being mindful of the language they're actually using ☕

I honestly lost it when some user posted on that old thread asking, "Would you ever marry a Mexican?" and her response was just a flat, blunt: "NO WAY!"

🙏 🙏

It’s always hilarious seeing people brag about their intense patriotism while they can’t even manage to spell basic words correctly... making two mistakes in a four-letter word 🤣 makes me wonder if this level of ignorance is even possible... 😁

Ethan Martinez11 said:Everything you're saying makes perfect sense—just not on every single sub-forum. ☕

If you wander into the Social Science section intending to debate linguistics, yet you can't decide whether to spell a word correctly or incorrectly, or if it's an option or an objection—well, that lack of basic knowledge renders you incompetent for any serious discussion. It’s akin to someone attempting to lecture on mathematics without being able to solve a simple equation, or discussing medicine while insisting the human body consists of 237 bones.

And frankly, I will always call out such individuals, regardless of how you feel about it, the moment I spot them. It’s the sheer audacity of those who refuse to master the basics yet insist on acting like experts. Trying to compete with true scholars—that is the primary issue.

Secondly, this forum is a medium of the written word. In this space, your grammar serves as your personal ID card. It speaks volumes about your education and your level of culture. Therefore, it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more careful here and there. Because as much as being corrected might irritate you (not that I do it often myself!), it raises the blood pressure of others just as much when people stumble over basic spelling or punctuation rules and nuances (or whatever else), making themselves look ridiculous. Moreover, it shows a lack of respect for others. I have realized this countless times, and if you actually took a moment to reflect, you would see the truth in it. Communication is a two-way street; if you expect concessions from others, you must be willing to make them yourself. Let's flip the script: why should anyone here have to struggle through your sloppy, half-baked ramblings? Is it really too much to ask to think for a second or two before hitting a key? Are we on the same page, or what? 😉

Finally, it is telling that those who grumble most loudly against proper writing are exclusively the uneducated. For the learned—or at least those who actually bother to learn something on this forum—it is never an issue. On the contrary, they are grateful for every lesson.

Actually, Stich and I don't always see eye to eye, but if what you're saying is true, then it certainly is!

And let's not lose sight of the big picture: language is our very first line of defense against cultural assimilation! Spelling, grammar, and all those other things people love to dismiss as trivialities—they are the fundamental building blocks of a language. So, if you feel like your identity is being diluted, or if the influence of various foreign cultures is hitting too close to home for you, then please, do yourself a favor: learn your own language properly! And insist that the people around you hold themselves to that same standard!

If you do that, you won't have to worry about some shady characters trying to steal "your precious bodily fluids," nor will you be easily swayed by someone looking to exploit your lack of vigilance, because you'll have a firm grasp on exactly who you are and where you come from.

Oh, my dear, illiterate countrymen.

feralmaker7 said:I’m stepping up as the "intruder" here, using the post above to help clarify my point.
It doesn't bother me at all when people write with their local slang—like when folks from the South write exactly how they talk in real life—because I don't see that as a flaw. BUT, what really gets under my skin are posts like the one mentioned, where people try to write in formal, academic English but can't even spell basic words correctly. Honestly, I just can't wrap my head around how someone misses something so fundamental—it's a word used constantly, you see it everywhere, and I truly don't get how it can be unknown (and I'm sure this isn't just a typo from typing too fast). I've seen people write "receve" instead of "receive," or "definatly" instead of "definitely," and every single time, it makes my skin crawl to see how much literacy is slipping lately (speaking generally, of course). I'm not trying to insult anyone—I make mistakes too—and I'm not going around the internet correcting everyone because there's just too much of it. But if someone corrects me when I slip up, I don't mind it at all; in fact, I appreciate it because I actually care about communicating properly. It's especially grating when I see these kinds of errors in the newspapers or when highly educated professionals butcher the language. I don't get why people take offense—to me, it's perfectly logical that people would want to fix their mistakes (and stop repeating them) and learn something new (unless they're just boring). If they want to be wrong on purpose just because they can, fine. Just as some people hate being corrected, I hate it when people refuse to be corrected. Of course, I don't support insults like calling someone an "uneducated hillbilly"—because what good is knowing how to spell if you lack the decency to tell someone they're wrong in a polite way? (If you're going to say it, at least be civil).
P.S. The only thing that bugs me about regional dialects is when they add extra letters to verbs and turn them into something weird. Ugh!
So, that's my take. Try to see where I'm coming from.🙂

Either way works, depending on how you spell it. Just watch your hair. 😉

feralmaker7 said:I notice typos because—honestly, when I'm reading, things like a missing letter just jump out at me. If you want to call that "keeping tabs," fine, be my guest. On the flip side, I don't really care if someone forgets a space after a period, a comma, or a parenthesis. I'll never nitpick that—mostly because I make the same mistake myself since I rarely write on a desktop and I'm just not used to hitting those extra spacebar strokes. I don't see it as a spelling error or anything major, but hey, if you want to frame it as my own failing and lecture me about it, go ahead. Like I said, I'm not going around the forum calling people out on their typos, but the truth is, it does bug me when I see them. Why? I don't know—that's just how I am. When I'm typing, I'm not always thinking about perfect spelling (usually), but I *do* have to think about spacing, and I just don't have the bandwidth for it right now, as you can tell.
Btw, I don't mind the question, but I really don't like the tone you used.

It really bugs me when people just don't realize that... Does this bother you? It’s all about the dative case. (I don't even know where to start with this. Just one more thing to deal with....instead of using the accusative case.meAnd man, it really gets under my skin when someone just doesn't know that... Notice. It’s a long haul. I end up writing a whole damn essay just because of one thing he said. The solution.Then you're just gonna screw up the exact same thing again... It's a little inconsistent, honestly. 😁

There’s zero point in trying to correct someone else when you don't even know what you're talking about. It honestly drives my blood pressure through the roof—and that's coming from me, a linguist, an editor, and a total bitch. 😍Suddenly everyone thinks they’re an expert capable of correcting everyone else. I only step in when steelskipper5 points something out; otherwise, I just watch. Why would I waste my time and energy on people? It makes zero sense. If they were paying me, maybe, but otherwise... not happening. 😁