There their they're etc.

[It's Snake Pliskin]

I hate how un is used with a space when it should be attached to the word. An example of this would be 'unclear' which is correct and 'un clear' which isn't correct.

If we don't take care how can we be expected to subconsciously use the language?

 

[Whiskers]

I think if somebody is writing something professional or important, they would take care to use correct grammar (assuming they had actually been taught it in school and thus know correct grammar).
But when someone is smashing out a post/comment:

people often wants to stay in all lowercase, and tends to use your or even ur to mean your your or youre. they also dont pay much attention to speling errors. teh important thing is getting the message out in the least time.

No no, whatever you do... do not write in all lower case especially without puncuation, at least full stops... cos that often drives me nuts trying to figure out what is meant when there could be a couple of interpretations.

 

[Julia]

Showing results for people. Search instead for peope

Come in Ruby!

Burglar, that was obviously just a typo from Ruby.

No no, whatever you do... do not write in all lower case especially without puncuation, at least full stops... cos that often drives me nuts trying to figure out what is meant when there could be a couple of interpretations.

I so agree. It only takes a couple of seconds more to write it properly and proof read before you fire it off and we all benefit, including the writer imo.

If I might be forgiven for diverting the thread a bit, another thing I find irritating is the overuse of cliched phrases.

Today a radio journalist, when reporting on the senator seriously ill from gunshot attack in the US, said "people are trying to make sense of this".
We hear this all the time. It's a completely stupid thing to say in this context.
There is no sense in some nut case shooting a senator. The journalist should be able to fiind something more appropriate and evocative to say.

Another one is that people "will find closure", e.g. when a body is found.
What the hell is 'closure'?
If you have a grief and loss situation like someone you care for being murdered, I don't imagine there could ever be a complete closing off of the grief.

I hate cliches, especially on the part of journalists whose business is supposed to be the descriptive use of words.

And there are other overused words, actually misused in many instances:

eg. 'surreal' 'amazing' 'fantastic'
and then the ever present 'absolutely'

Usually the situation described is actually none of the above.

Others might have additional gripes along the same lines.

 

[burglar]

Burglar, that was obviously just a typo from Ruby.

Absolutely, I saw that immediately. So did Ruby!!

 

[Ruby]

Burglar, that was obviously just a typo from Ruby.


I so agree. It only takes a couple of seconds more to write it properly and proof read before you fire it off and we all benefit, including the writer imo.

If I might be forgiven for diverting the thread a bit, another thing I find irritating is the overuse of cliched phrases.

Today a radio journalist, when reporting on the senator seriously ill from gunshot attack in the US, said "people are trying to make sense of this".
We hear this all the time. It's a completely stupid thing to say in this context.
There is no sense in some nut case shooting a senator. The journalist should be able to fiind something more appropriate and evocative to say.

Another one is that people "will find closure", e.g. when a body is found.
What the hell is 'closure'?
If you have a grief and loss situation like someone you care for being murdered, I don't imagine there could ever be a complete closing off of the grief.

I hate cliches, especially on the part of journalists whose business is supposed to be the descriptive use of words.

And there are other overused words, actually misused in many instances:

eg. 'surreal' 'amazing' 'fantastic'
and then the ever present 'absolutely'

Usually the situation described is actually none of the above.

Others might have additional gripes along the same lines.

I agree. This is exactly why it is so advantageous to learn correct English. Only then can we express ourselves properly and use the right words and phrases to convey different shades of meaning. Many of today's journalists were educated during the "spelling-and-grammar-are-not-important" era, with the result that they have impoverished English expression.

As for my typos......... well, I make them often, unfortunately, and although I proof read I don't always pick them up!! I can only apologise.

 

[So_Cynical]

I hate spelling and grammar nazis and think there annoying, petty and should get a life.

Not directed towards anyone in particular.

 

[wayneL]

I hate spelling and grammar nazis and think there annoying, petty and should get a life.

Not directed towards anyone in particular.

I think anyone who equates correct English with Nazism should get a life; but not before giving themselves an uppercut.

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Cynical, think of it this way. If music is performed by a 4th grader, it's stilted, off-key and takes effort to just sit and listen to it. When performed by an accomplished musician, it's pleasant and easy to take in.

Do you like music? Well most people enjoy language when it's smooth, flowing and needs no special interpretation. It's not a matter of using big words or trying to sound intelligent.

Perhaps you like writing code. Some people can write in 10 lines what others will take 30 lines to write. Whenever i send some of my work to Marcin (Amibroker) for checking, I'm sure he wonders why on earth i wrote it in such an awkward and long-winded manner. Same thing. Sometimes I read stuff he or Tomasz has written and think 'wow, that's elegant'.

 

[wayneL]

Cynical, think of it this way. If music is performed by a 4th grader, it's stilted, off-key and takes effort to just sit and listen to it. When performed by an accomplished musician, it's pleasant and easy to take in.

Do you like music? Well most people enjoy language when it's smooth, flowing and needs no special interpretation. It's not a matter of using big words or trying to sound intelligent.

Perhaps you like writing code. Some people can write in 10 lines what others will take 30 lines to write. Whenever i send some of my work to Marcin (Amibroker) for checking, I'm sure he wonders why on earth i wrote it in such an awkward and long-winded manner. Same thing. Sometimes I read stuff he or Tomasz has written and think 'wow, that's elegant'.

Speaking of "elegant", that was a very elegant comeback. Very nicely put.

 

[So_Cynical]

Speaking of "elegant", that was a very elegant comeback. Very nicely put.

Indeed, very nicely put as i must admit that i do appreciate listening to people speak well...however forum nazis are forum nazis, and that's that.

 

[wayneL]

Indeed, very nicely put as i must admit that i do appreciate listening to people speak well...however forum nazis are forum nazis, and that's that.

Describe Nazi, in this context.

 

[So_Cynical]

Describe Nazi, in this context.

Along the lines of

In essence, in a chatroom context, a person who insists on rectifying the spelling errors of anyone by rephrasing the said line accordingly. To remain faithful to their cause, they must invariably make no spelling mistakes whatsoever of their own

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spelling nazi

Lots of google results.

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=...i&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g-v1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Nazi is a reasonably common online term used to describe someone obsessing or expressing horror etc at the spelling/grammar of others, however not just restricted to spelling/grammar of course...have you hear of the soup nazi?

 

[wayneL]

Along the lines of



http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spelling nazi

Lots of google results.

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=...i&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g-v1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Nazi is a reasonably common online term used to describe someone obsessing or expressing horror etc at the spelling/grammar of others, however not just restricted to spelling/grammar of course...have you hear of the soup nazi?

So those who request a better standard of written English from others in a forum (for better readability) is not a Nazi, only those who feel they must personally correct every spelling/grammar/punctuation mistake?

 

[Julia]

Speaking of "elegant", that was a very elegant comeback. Very nicely put.

Indeed it was. Beautiful response.

Nazi is a reasonably common online term used to describe someone obsessing or expressing horror etc at the spelling/grammar of others

I don't think you're being quite reasonable here. I've seen very few interjections where posters have - in the course of any thread - corrected spelling or grammar of others.

This current discussion is a thread about the subject, so surely it's reasonable for everyone to be able to express their view?

Every time we have a discussion along these lines, someone just has to pipe up and accuse anyone who values the good use of English of being Nazi or some other equally inappropriate term. Usually it's a defensive approach from people who are not especially comfortable with words but who are resistant to making any changes.

Not directing this comment at anyone in particular, of course.

So Cynical, you constantly strive to get better at your investing and have shown that you're doing a great job in this respect. Why not accord the English language the same worth, rather than slinging off at those who place a reasonable value on the enjoyment of the written and spoken word?

 

[burglar]

... As for my typos......... well, I make them often, unfortunately, and although I proof read I don't always pick them up!! I can only apologise.

Ruby,

Life is short. Get out of apologise mode.

It was a sitcom, you know, comedy arising from a situation. I was not 'aving a go at your typo as such, just that you did it in a most inopportune situation.

 

[white_crane]

Don't we have a 3493498347 page thread on this already?

 

[burglar]

Don't we have a 3493498347 page thread on this already?

I told you 3,493,498,347 times ... don't exaggerate.



(Ooo I nearly did a typo.)

 

[burglar]

... 'wow, that's elegant'.

Googled.> elegant code definition

http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/228701510

"However, I also realized that some of the other criteria I have for elegance were satisfied. This prompted me to summarize herewhat my criteria for elegant code:

* It is succinct
* It is easy to understand
* Each function does one well-defined task
* It conveys the programmer's intent
* It reflects the problem domain
* It is easy to modify and reuse
* If it fails, it is easy to identify that it is has failed, where it has failed, and why it has failed.
* Its behavior (in good and bad conditions) is easy to predict

So what is your definition of elegant code?"

Before reading this lot, I thought, "does all of what it supposed to ... and nothing else"

 

[Julia]

Googled.> elegant code definition

http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/228701510

"However, I also realized that some of the other criteria I have for elegance were satisfied. This prompted me to summarize herewhat

Herewhat?

 

[burglar]

Herewhat?

Yes, I did quote it, and note it. Because it is a quote, I did not correct it, if that's Ok !