English (or lack thereof).

[Laager]

Why is it the case that large portions of information on the internet are almost unreadable? Here are just a few glaring errors that have the ability to turn a sentence into an arduous task of deduction to determine the intent of the author:

were ≠ we’re or where
dose ≠ does
there ≠ their or they’re
definately ≠ definitely
proberly ≠ probably
then ≠ than
dont ≠ don’t
u ≠ you
r ≠ are
ur ≠ your or you’re
cant ≠ can’t
ppl ≠ people
wont ≠ won’t
wich ≠ which
cheep ≠ cheap
loose ≠ lose
site ≠ sight
im ≠ I’m or I am
ive ≠ I have
whats ≠ what’s
to ≠ too
ware ≠ wear
sore ≠ soar
payed ≠ paid
peek ≠ peak
you ≠ your
could of ≠ could have
hung ≠ hanged
grammer ≠ grammar

A word that ends in ‘s’ is not automatically entitled to an apostrophe. It's not hard to use the apostrophe correctly. Here is a clue:

http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/

There is no such thing as ‘off of’. It is just ‘off’. Names are proper nouns. They are entitled to a capital. ‘Disorientated’ is wrong. It is simply ‘disoriented’. I don’t care what your teacher said. They were wrong. Plain and simple. Nuclear is not pronounced nuke-u-lar. It's new-clear.

Leave SMS shorthand on a telephone; where SMS can be turned off completely.

Sentences start with a capital letter. They conclude with a full stop (period). Punctuation is important.

There is only one group that can get away with borderline spelling and grammar. It’s those for whom English is not their first language. However, when the vast majority of spelling and grammar errors come from people that do not have any language other than English it is a pretty sad indictment of native speakers and their diligence.

It’s a written medium. At least get the written part correct. First impressions last and when there’s only the written word to present your ideas you are beholden to the structure of the written word.

[Uncle-AJ]

I always wondered why English is not spelt with an I.

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

I always wondered why English is not spelt with an I.

[sexner]

Almost all of what you so eloquently pointed out is directly due to the fact that society communicates with electronic gadgets.

All of which are making people lazy.

Writing letters is as lost an art as is using properly punctuated English.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by sexner

Almost all of what you so eloquently pointed out is directly due to the fact that society communicates with electronic gadgets.

All of which are making people lazy.

Writing letters is as lost an art as is using properly punctuated English.

U got th@ rite dude

[mfer]

I'd rather just make up words like...
Image deleted for prfanity


Watch it, Mik. I know you intended that to be funny, but it goes beyond what's acceptable.

[sexner]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

U got th@ rite dude

:r ofl:

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by sexner

:r ofl:

Have booze, will travel

[sexner]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

Have booze, will travel

You're cracking me up Frans

:r ofl:

[Goodwatch]

On a more serious note, the same is happening with my language and perhaps this is universal. There are even discussions about reforming all the spelling and grammar rules to make it more easy for the young generation. Duh? Take away the last bit of cerebral challenge by turning a beautiful language into a series of grunts? Know what, abolish mathematics and arithmetic as well, counting from 1 to 10 without an electronic calculator is enough of a challenge as it is

[sexner]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

On a more serious note, the same is happening with my language and perhaps this is universal. There are even discussions about reforming all the spelling and grammar rules to make it more easy for the young generation. Duh? Take away the last bit of cerebral challenge by turning a beautiful language into a series of grunts? Know what, abolish mathematics and arithmetic as well, counting from 1 to 10 without an electronic calculator is enough of a challenge as it is

I can certainly see it happening. Just look at all the new words creeping into everyday use (and even in some dictionaries) that aren't really words. Blog is a good example.

That's all society needs something to help dumb-up the youth.

[Mosco]

I had a potential client call me the other day. We spoke for a minute or so, then he went: 'Now let me axe you a question'... I swiftly hung up and went to the fridge to get a beer. Otherwise, someone was going to get hurt.

[HYDROMAROC]

These are the least of our worries.... Don't forget, languages evolve... Sometimes not for the better...

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by HYDROMAROC

These are the least of our worries....

I have to respectfully disagree... I didn't speak a word of English until I was 12 years old, and when I see some of the 'natives' butcher the language, it indicates to me the 'dummyfication' (how you like that one! ) of our youth. In order to remain a progressive society, we have to be challenged, we have to better ourselves. If not - we will regress drastically, and that's a scary thought...

[Tools]

...........

.. It's not always my fault......... Sometimes it's my spill chucker..

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Tools

...........

.. It's not always my fault......... Sometimes it's my spill chucker..

A good doctor can fix that problem Larry.

[mickyvee]

I'm 52, and I am finding it increasingly more difficult to hold a meaningful discussion, or conversation with any person under the age of 25! I certainly doubt I could read a letter from them, in the unlikely event that they would sit down and write one!

[Lion]

English is my native tongue but I do make mistakes so some of it is understandable but hardly acceptable. The reply that drives me up a wall is when people say "you welcome" instead of "you are welcome" or "you're welcome" .....

[abigsecret]

What IS the difference between THAN and THEN?? I always have a hard time knowing which one to use...

I too hate it that a lot of people can't write without spelling errors! It shows a lack of interest and respect to whom you're writing to! Especially when it's for a job application!

[Brunotheboxer]

Wait wut?

[ijen0311]

Originally Posted by abigsecret

What IS the difference between THAN and THEN?? I always have a hard time knowing which one to use...

I too hate it that a lot of people can't write without spelling errors! It shows a lack of interest and respect to whom you're writing to! Especially when it's for a job application!

Without looking it up or anything...

I'm going to Target then I'm going to wash my car.

I'd rather have fish than chicken.

So... I'd say "than" goes between two choices... and "then" relates to time frames... or something...

[Gerry]

Originally Posted by ijen0311

Without looking it up or anything...

I'm going to Target then I'm going to wash my car.

I'd rather have fish than chicken.

So... I'd say "than" goes between two choices... and "then" relates to time frames... or something...

I agree. "Than" is comparative. "Then" could be used in the way Jen describes above or also in an "if ..... then" type of statement, eg. if I buy another Rolex then my wife will divorce me.

[Rockrolex]

I thought this was a new thread - until I looked at the date on the first post and realized the thread is almost 5 years old.

Leo, do you have that much time on your hands that you go mucking around in the basement to dredge up old posts?

Actully, it is a worthwhile thread to exhume. I agree that native English speakers - and here I will limit myself to American English, since that's what I know best - are either lazy in their use of language or the quality of English teaching in our schools has deteriorated unconscionably. I suspect it is some of each.

Our SMS/Twitter/IM society lends itself to the bastardization of the English language. Even those people who merely use e-mail to communicate corrupt the language, the syntax and the spelling to a fare thee well.

Supposedly intelligent people send e-mails without spell checking or proofreading their work. It drives me up a tree when I see simple errors that could have been easily caught if the writer had stopped for a moment to look at his/her work before hitting the "send" button.

Ah, one of these days I will retire and not have to put up with this anymore.

What about those of you who live in other countries? Are these same problems endemic to France, Spain, Italy, and the other countries where we live? I'm curious.

[Mosco]

Ha! I didn't notice the age of the thread either! Dizem!

I agree, it was worth another look-see... How prophetic of the the OP - things just gone downhill since then. Bummer! Retiring won't help, either - you'll still have to deal with them!

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I thought this was a new thread - until I looked at the date on the first post and realized the thread is almost 5 years old.

Leo, do you have that much time on your hands that you go mucking around in the basement to dredge up old posts?

Sorry about that, I just wanted to satisfy my curiousity

It happens all the time in the GD forum but I didn't think it would pass here.

[sexner]

Leo,

As JJ has pointed out to me on several occasions I don't pay attention to the dates either. And like Rockrolex pointed out it is very much a current issue. Any of us that have tried to learn another language, and English, in school know how difficult a language English is to learn. I think it all boils down to laziness. My son sends me e-mails with absolutely no punctuation, capital letters starting sentences etc... all the time. It drives me nuts. There was a fellow soldier at work when I was in that actually used his spell check but his e-mails would still be sent riddled with mistakes. If the word is spelled correctly BUT is the wrong word it will pass sometimes. IE; going to their home (going to there home). I suppose a little education is needed as well?

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by sexner

Leo,

I suppose a little education is needed as well?

What makes you say that?

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

I always wondered why English is not spelt with an I.

Engels............might have something to do with it.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Mosco

then he went: 'Now let me axe you a question'...

Nyet, nyet !

"axe" is commonly used in the South (BELOW THE MASON DIXON LINE), more so by a certain race within the general population. It has become a staple in their lexicon, so I am used to hearing it. Move down South for 6 months........you'll either turn into a drunk (running to get a beer every time you hear it, or you'll become immune).

Spanish speaking youth use abbreviated letters for words.......I am positive this is a world wide problem, no one can stop them (the youth), it is what it is.

[shandy]

This is an interesting thread. I am from the Uk but now live in Canada. One of the many reasons I left was that the language is being dumbed down at an alarming rate.

Accents are being replaced by either a lazy south east/Cockney accent or some mishmash of a Derbyshire/Madchester accent that Middle class university students seem to have adopted.

I used to hate walking around Devon and slowly hearing the wonderful rich brogue being replaced by the southeast accents. Since when is think fink???