BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 11:45 AM

Surely a person who can spell 'journalist' knows better words than 'fuck up' to convey the idea of 'making an error.'

It's supposed to sound tough, but basically it's just being lazy. Also, I'm tired of hearing 'shit' and 'ass' used to convey any old kind of disapproval. And 'kick-butt.' What is it supposed to mean, actually?

These are the crutches once limited to dull people with no vocabulary.

I couldn't agree more. People who write this bollocks really annoy me too.


:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: John P
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 11:46 AM

Lizzie, you are committing a serious logical fallacy by implying that people who are interested in one thing are not also interested in another. And you are exhibiting a personality flaw by assuming that whatever is most important to you ought to be most important to others. It makes it difficult to take you seriously.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: mayomick
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 11:53 AM

Lizzie : I ordered coffee, not tea
Waiter : The corporate elite is about to launch the third world war and all you have to do is grumble about what sort of beverage you get served with.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 12:19 PM

Spelling errers?

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 01:42 PM

It's a bit of a laugh when someone posts to tell me that I've "mispelled" something. Has happened to me several times on other forums.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 02:26 PM

Steve, I've noticed that oftentimes when you're butting heads over some disagreement on a forum and you make a good point (irrefutable), the person you're butting heads with attacks your spelling or your grammar.

That's not a refutation, but it's all he's got.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 02:58 PM

well.
excuse me.
i've lurked around MudCat for a long ole while now. I think most of my posts have been thoughtful and considerate. Now I seem to have time to go to the threads with the BS prefix, which I have rarely done since they became separable. Seems my lexical choices raised some hackles...but to this old Canuck, the BS forum is waaaaaaay [sic] more like sitting around in a bar, where one can express things freely. For those who found the mangled grammar and the f-bomb offensive, I apologize. For those who assumed that my ability to spell journalist AND use the f-bomb indicate laziness: OK
But i can still spot a typo at a hundred yards, and btw, in the context "fuck up" is PRECISELY equal to " the idea of 'making an error.' " Says so in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Threads with the prefix BS, I had assumed, apparently wrongly, have a somewhat less   formal atmosphere.

So, in closing, I'd just like to say to leeneia {These are the crutches once limited to dull people with no vocabulary.} and Steve
{People who write this bollocks really annoy me too} sorry I irritated and annoyed.
& Eliza, I have Red Pen Syndrome too. I send all my Member of Parliament's packages of propaganda back with spelling and grammar errors highlighted.

thanks for the thread DMcG

Dennis Wood

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 03:41 PM

You got me wrong, Doc. My sentiments in posting that were not at all as you interpreted them.


And that would be [sic].

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 03:59 PM

"I couldn't agree more. People who write this bollocks really annoy me too." [sic] What then, were your sentiments? You said you were really annoyed, I apologized to you and the poster with whom you agreed. and yes, I do know how to html ~ just didn't want any spelling police pulling me over.

as ever
Dennis

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 05:31 PM

mayomick:

GOOD for your waiter!



john p:

Sorry, but we are seriously fecking up the planet right now and trust me, it won't hurt if people spoll uncorrectly!

This doesn't make me 'flawed', it merely makes me possianate!

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 05:56 PM

Flippin' 'eck, Doc, my post was a jovial and sympathetic wink at leeneia. Here we go. Us Brits having to explain our sense of humour again... Tsk.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 07:21 PM

Fair enough, Steve. When a Brit is being jovial s|he uses words like bollocks. Here's a sympathetic wink from a Canuck ~ I hugely enjoy the British sense of humour. [ Funny--this spellcheck just flagged humour! ]

Lizzie Cornish 1 ~ you are absolutely correct. I'm going to quit this timewasting BS and do some serious research. Errors of punctuation are clearly of no significance when compared to the serious[...] fecking up [of]the planet. And this is not a wink of sympathy--I sincerely couldn't agree more.

In fact, Lizzie, I think we should tie up the thread.

Cheers all,
dennis

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 07:30 PM

Fair enough, Steve. When a Brit is being jovial s|he uses words like bollocks.

And when an Aussie greets a dear friend he says "Hey, g'day, you old bastard!" and, when sympathising over a friend who's alighted on hard times he says "Hey, I wonder how the poor bastard's gettin' on..."

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 07:45 PM

And as to the comment about me speaking out about Education, yes I have, and I do and I will CONTINUE to do so until school TEACHES our children to Love Mother Earth FAR MORE than they love English Grammar

Schools can do both. And it isn't a competition between English grammar and Mother Earth.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 08:11 PM

I read an article once written by a psychologist who pointed out that some people tend to think mostly in pictures, and others think mostly in words. Interestingly, picture people and word people tend not to get along. They don't communicate well, and each type thinks the other type is stupid. Pinpointing and explaining the difference can help this situation.

Anyhow, I'm a picture person. If somebody says his guitar is crappy, I imagine soft, stinky brown material struck between the strings. This is really offensive when I'm eating or supposed to be in a pleasant situation such as a family party. And it's just lazy. He doesn't want to bother to use his brain and determine that the guitar doesn't stay in tune, is too big for him, rings too much or has too much yellow in the varnish.

I was gonna explain what happens when somebody is called an asshole, but I guess I won't. Again, it takes a little brain to say something accurate. Is the a-hole a liar, a bully, lazy, a thief, a deadbeat, a con man, a fake leveller? Use real language and give the listener a truly helpful heads-up.

It is true, however, that I wish people would stop using "alright" for "all right" and "most" when they mean "almost," (As in "Most everybody thinks spelling is important.")

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 04:24 AM

…….. until school TEACHES our children to Love Mother Earth FAR MORE than they love English Grammar


When graffiti is sprayed painted on the front door of a house by someone who doesn't know the difference between "paediatrician" and "paedophile" …..

…. or when a person's livelihood can be threatened because others are confused by the word "niggardly" ….

then I would put English grammar right up there with Mother Earth.


DC

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: DMcG
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 04:33 AM

I couldn't agree more, DC. And while no doubt there are those who think such people are so much the problem that can't be part of the solution, it is hard to think of how anyone can ever become a chemist without being alert to the difference between alkene and alkane, or a art historian who confuses Monet and Manet, or a lawyer who doesn't understand that the precise definition of every word in a law matters. Precision and accuracy does matter, and it matters more the more advanced the level of study of any subject is.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 05:03 AM

Dr. Word, if you need to do RESEARCH, then you may as well just carry on expleting over expletives, for the time for research is well and truly behind us.

This is due to the biggest ever Ice Melt in history which has taken even the Pedantic Scientists by surprise, causing them to start running in circles almost.

No, no need for research, but PLENTY of reason to stop twittering on about full stops and half stops, and spread the word instead, for whilst you agonize over commas the human species of the world is in a coma from which it urgently need to be awoken!

And now, back to trivia................

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 06:29 AM

It is true, however, that I wish people would stop using "alright" for "all right"

Alas, this is one of those fights we're losing: many "authorities" (don't you love that?) now accept "alright" on the grounds that words such as "already" came about in the same way. Having said that, there can't be much doubt that "alright" is still written mostly by people who are falling down a bit on their use of English rather than by evangelical modernisers.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 08:45 AM

Lizzie, why don't you start your own thread about whatever is important to you.

You'll get a lot more attention that way than by fouling up threads about other subjects and chiding grown men like a demented schoolteacher of the Victorian Era.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 10:49 AM

Some years ago, out with my 5 year old daughter, we passed some graffiti:
'FUK OFF'
"Daddy you'd think they would learn to spell properly before the wrote on walls".
"Er, um, well, yes"

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 01:02 PM

"Most for almost."
This argument was lost years ago, with major dictionaries accepting the usage.
Comment in Webster's Collegiate:
"Although considered by some to be unaceptable in all cases, "most" is often used to mean "almost" in both spoken and, to a lesser extent, written English to modify the adjectives all, every and any; the pronouns all, everyone, everybody, everything, anyone, anything and anybody; and the adverbs ererywhere, anywhere and always. Other uses of this sense are dialectal."

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 01:04 PM

ererywhere?

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 01:16 PM

Alright: 1887
Comment in Webster's Collegiate:
"The one word spelling "alright" appeared some 75 years after "all right" itself reappeared after a 400-year absence. Since the early 20th century some critics have insisted "alright" is wrong, but it has its defenders and its users. It is less frequent than "all right" but remains in common use esp. in journalistic and business publications. It is quite common in fictional dialogue and is used occas. in other writing (the first two years in medical school were "alright"- Gertrude Stein)."

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 01:28 PM

in an alternate reality

'FUK OFF'
"Daddy that is not the way you spell in the Mudcat.com".
"Er, um, well, yes"

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 03:27 PM

...a story:
I used to be a graduate teaching assistant (Philosophy) in one of those BIG classes in college,,(300+ students)...in order to expose them to a bit of what Philosophers did, we'd occasionally have visiting lecturers and offer extra credit points to students who'd attend and turn in a 1-2 page synosis of the lecture.

So..one day Prof. Roderick Chisholm was to speak. The subject revolved about Epistemology, and used Hericlitus' statement that "you can't step into the same river twice" as a theme...and a few days later I had about 100 little papers to grade,(about ½ of the submissions).

Here is a partial list of the Philosophers that my students told me that Prof. Chilson, Chissum, Chisom, Chisum, Chilsome...etc..referred to: ...Heraclitus, Ariolitus, Ariclides, Hericlides, Hericlydes, Periclitus, Pericles, Heroclitus, Heroclytus, Hera clites, Hariclidus, Heraklitos, Heraqitus, Hericlatus, Haricletes, Arclydas, Hericlytis, Haroclydas, Ericlidis, Airalidus, Erraclitus (I like that one!), Caraclitus, Peraclutus, Aeroclides, Procritic, St. Colitions, and....Aristotle!(spelled perfectly, and totally wrong!)

Professor Chisholm's name was freely available on flyers, and Hericlitus was in their textbook...they simply didn't LOOK!..and they didn't listen, and they guessed with no idea of what they were aiming for. Yep...some of those kids may well have had real problems, but many just did not care, and at that time I was not well equipped to teach 'caring'. Seems as though it is still a tricky thing to instill.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 04:53 PM

You were there Jack!!

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 12 - 05:40 PM

What, me worry?

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 05:37 AM

With regards the varying views of 'alright' and 'all right', I consider them both valid.
However, I don't view them as interchangeable. For me the following definitions occur:
All right: Fully correct, correct in every detail.
      "Did you pass that exam?" "Yes, I got it all right (100%)"
Alright: Acceptable
      "Did you get full marks on that exam?" "No, but I did alright."

Alright!: That's amazing
      "I passed my driving test, I can take you to that gig." "Alright!"


Just my view,

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 06:33 AM

Well, you may consider therm not interchangeable, but I never use "alright" in any circumstances (unless I'm writing to someone about the TV programme It'll Be Alright On The Night). By saying that they're not interchangeable you're telling me that my use of "all right" for everything may be incorrect in some circumstances. You may think that it's all right to say that to me but I don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 07:05 AM

By saying that they're not interchangeable you're telling me that my use of "all right" for everything may be incorrect in some circumstances.

No, I quite clearly stated that I don't consider them to be interchangeable.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 09:09 AM

I use both sides of the "alright/all right" coin when I trade in English.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 10:28 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siMFORx8uO8

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,Dr. Quelch
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:07 AM

Class,
       Not only am I appalled at examples of fundamental spelling errors to be found on this forum, certain contributors seem to have not an inkling of the use of capitals, proper nouns, full stops and commas, sentence construction and paragraphs. Now I have no wish to castigate these individuals since it could be the result of lax instruction on the part of their teachers, not bringing to the students attention the errors of their ways. It may be that those charged with teaching our youngsters are not best fitted to the post since their own knowledge of written English leaves much to be desired. Is it possible there is a school of thought in some of our educational establishments that considers punctuation and spelling irrelevant? Do they justify this by asserting that "texting" is the way forward?

       On the other hand the student also must be held to account as well as the family showing interest in his or her progress. We are still surrounded by excellent examples of the written word in books, newspapers and magazines and they are all at our disposal, free, gratis and for nothing. Surely if we can read then we can see how it`s done and learn by example.

       So let us help those, where we can, with our little knowledge by tactfully advising them of their mistakes and of how to correct them. Their futures and fortunes could enhanced by an ability to understand and communicate when they are subject to the maelstrom of adult life and it`s attendant problems.   

And remember the school motto. "COULD DO BETTER"

Dr.Quelch. (VD&Scar., BSA& Clips)

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:13 AM

the maelstrom of adult life and it`s attendant problems.

Could do better, DrQ.

DrW

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:20 AM

Touché.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:23 AM

lol

{apparently that's spelled incorrectly} cheers triple niner

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:25 AM

In the spirit of the good Dr Quelch's post, "it's" has two and ONLY two uses in English. It is a contraction for it is or it has. That's it, that's all.

LOL and back atcha, Dr Word.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,Dr. Quelch
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:42 AM

Ouch!, Yaroo! I`ve just administered six of the best

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 11:56 AM

Dr Q: I like a guy/gal who can dish it out and take it with a sense of humour. Good on yer!

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 12:00 PM

ALRIGHT ALREADY!!

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 12:06 PM

LOL, Mr Q. Good thing there's no Mr P posting, else we'd be minding our Ps and Qs.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 08:20 PM

I'm a little afraid to post to this thread as I feel that once I start there will be no stopping me.

That said, here's 3 items that I found amusing.

1. On Australias Biggest Loser, a contestant stated, "I just can't believe it. I trained harder than ever and ate all the right foods and still put on 3 kilos.... it just doesn't EQUIVELATE."

2. Another Contestant. "When we went into our last training session, I knew this would be the training session to end all training sessions."

3. I was following a car the other day and noticed a bumper sticker that read, "HONK IF YOUR IRISH". When I got home, I posted this on face book with the comment, "My Irish what?" No one seemed to get it. I've since explained this to several people of differing ages and the general feedback I get is "Who cares. You know what it means don't you?" The problem is I know what it's SUPPOSED to Mean butI don't know what it MEANS.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 08:40 PM

not bringing to the students attention the errors of their ways.

Touché feelé, Dr Quelch. I'll let you off the extraneous full stop after "Dr" this time, as, for all I know, you may be one o' them thar yanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Oct 12 - 09:26 PM

Dr no stop? Obviously from the old side of the water.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,Dr. Quelch
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 06:25 AM

Dear Steve Shaw,
                  I am most grateful for your observations but would point out that an apostophe after" students" is not necessary since it refers to a plural group and ends in "s". It may be modern convention to add it but the above form is still valid. if antiquated.(See The Oxford Companion to the English Language, Page 75)
                The same applies to the addition of the full stop to titles such as Dr., Mr. and Mrs. It may be increasingly omitted by writers of today but, nevertheless, it must still be regarded as valid. (See The O.C.to the E.L., Page 793)

Now, where was I?
Ah yes!
"Come in Bunter. I wish to discuss your dreadful prep."

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 07:09 AM

"...not bringing to the students' attention" does indeed require the apostrophe. "Students'" here is the possessive case. Omitting the apostrophe betrays nothing less than a tendency towards the illiterate.

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 07:16 AM

People who think they know it all really annoy we who do.

Lizzie, why do we have to choose between floods or grammar?

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 07:31 AM

People who think they know it all really annoy we who do.

Shouldn't that be "us what do?" :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Grumpy about Spelling Errors
From: mayomick
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 09:25 AM

I remember one good teacher played this one on our class .

Teacher : Which is the correct form to use:"do not" or "don't"? Would somebody in the class please put it into a simple sentence? For instance "I do not like chocolate" , or "I don't like chocolate?"

Pupil : I do not like chocolate

Teacher: Alright, you ain't fucking get any.