Hello Arachnids:
Very recently Terri FitzSimons, Official Grammar Sheriff, and L.D.
Best engaged in a very interesting discussion on the subject of
grammar violations. I see some very good points being made on both
sides of this issue. Let us all take their arguments into careful
consideration whenever any of us should criticize a fellow list member
along these lines.
Let all our corrections be considerate and well intended and given in
proper measure.
All the best,
Sam Heywood
P.S. Quoted below is the discussion to which I refer:
-------------------------------------------------------
> L.D. Best wrote:
>> If someone had a question s/he were hesitant about asking,
> because it might be "a dumb question," chances of participation
> would be greatly lowered by hypercritical commentary and
> messaging. <
> I really don't think so. I think any individuals who are
> afraid of asking "dumb questions" would be rather more
> intimidated by the expertise of some on this list than because
> their grammatical errors could be highlighted.
>> To some it may be a joke, to some it may be essential, but
> language is - -- in fact -- worthless if people fear to use it
> because they might get jumped on. <
> The "jokey" approach softens the criticism, to an extent.
> It's far better to comment lightly about an error than to say,
> for example, something like this: "Hey, you moron! You stupid
> idiot! You blew it! This is how you should have written that,
> Dummy. Don't you know anything?"
>> I would, therefore, suggest that English lessons be made illegal
> on this list. Rather than citicizing for misuse of aposthrophes,
> or misspellings, or typos, or poor sentence structure, we should
> remember that many of the people who do -- or who would *like* to
> -- participate in this forum don't even speak English as their
> primary language. <
> I think most to whom English is not a native tongue would
> welcome the instruction -- so long as it is done tactfully.
> English does, after all, have some rather contradictory rules and
> awkward spellings -- all of which can be most confusing to ESL
> people.
> Even people to whom English IS a native tongue frequently
> misuse it, to judge by much of the writing posted on the web and
> many mailing lists. Somebody needs to tell them of their error,
> or they will continue repeating it time after time after time
> after time. Improper practice should not to be ignored.
> I scarcely think comments about correct language useage
> detract in any fashion from the primary focus of this list. I
> don't know why we can't do both here.
> Terri
> Official Grammar Sheriff
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