Strands #269 “Come Fly With...
Quizzes & Puzzles2 mins ago
There has been much said on here about correct grammar. Two points need to be made.
1. Some people's grammar is so bad that they display a complete ignorance of the English language. It has been said that it is more important what a person says, rather than how they write it. WRONG.
If you post an answer on this forum that is riddled with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, then you are obviously not an intelligent person. How, therefore, can I expect your answer to be accurate.
2. There is a certain amount of divine intervention in the English language. Certain words have similar spellings but have very different meanings. Examples include, stationary and stationery, their, there and they're, principal and principle. I firmly believe that these words were sent to sort out the idiots from the intelligent.
No best answer has yet been selected by rogerthomas. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.First paragraph, shouldn't there be a colon at the end signifying the forthcoming list?
Second paragraph, methinks the word "obviously" should be replaced with "clearly".
Overall, you appear to be addressing 'people' rather than a particular individual. Therefore, I believe you meant to write "answers" as opposed to a singular "answer" in your third paragraph.
I maybe wrong but am intrigued as to what exactly your point is. Life is two short too be bovered.
I'm having a little difficulty with the 'divine intervention' aspect of this (and of course the fact that you seem to be more than a little intolerant of people's shortcomings). When I initially came across AB, there was no mention of the fact that I had to be a certain intellect level to join and had there been, I probably would have steered clear because that kind of snobbery I can do without.
And why attack people's grammar? Mine's a lovely old dear who just likes to live a quiet and peaceful life with the occassional sherry. Durin' the war............
roger, I really do hope this is tongue in cheek, but having read your previous, somewhat retentive posts correcting language and grammar, I fear not. There is nothing more stupid than thinking a persons intellect depends on their ability to read and write to the level you seem to aim for (but fail to hit!). Talk about judging a book by it's cover!! I have a very close friend who has massive problems reading and writing well, due to a combination of dyslexia, and an oxygen shortage at birth. but you know what, she's got a first class honours degreee, an MSc, post doc qualifications and is now a professor at a UK Uni. Her answers, were she to post on this site, would be unacceptable to you, yet I have little doubt that she is the most intelligent person I know. Of course, you'd chose not to believe her posts due to her grammar and spelling, so that really does just prove your own ignorance.
I've just re-read your post and really cannot believe you're for real. It's just got to be a joke. People so blinkered and bigotted can't actually function in the 21st Century, can they????
I think good grammar and spelling is important; in particular good punctuation, which acts as a 'sign-post' for the reader. I think it's just polite to make your text as clear and easy to read as possible.
Why does it matter? Well, here's a simple example: "He was a west Indian" (i.e. from Asia) and "He was a West Indian" (i.e. from the Caribbean). Both are correct but mean very different things.
I've been taken to task by others for occasionally suggesting questioners on AB consult a dictionary when seeking meanings of words; I accept that this may not be appropriate for those learning/speaking English as a foreign language.
But, on Q&P, correct spelling and grammar is essential in order satisfactorily, and correctly, to complete the various crossword clues submitted.
End of rant (surely, "measured response"?,Ed).
Come on folks, there's a balance in this surely. Yes grammar and spelling are somewhat inportant to ensure that the meaning of what one writes or speaks is clear.
Is it a be-all and end-all? Of course not.
Is it a measure of intelligence? doubtful.
Does God care enough about how we write or speak to have "divinely intervened" in the evolution of English as it is written today? Well if She cares that much, why hasn't the question poster been struck by a bolt of lightning??
Myself I suspect we have a troll in our midst dear readers....
for anyone who hasn't come across the phenomenon of internet trolls
http://members.aol.com/intwg/trolls.htm