Whatever happened to grammar and spelling?

Can I ediit peroperly to properly ? maybe everyone can spell after all - they just cant type !

I think a lot of the problem is that everything is so PC in schools these days. They have to allow for the fact that English may not be the pupils first language. My grandaughter always said it didn't matter how she would spell a word as long as it could be understood. I guess thats why her Facebook the other day stated " I slepted in today ".
I cannot understand why people get such simple words as 'to' and 'too' mixed up - surely I knew that much when I was 4 years old. In fact i know I did.
Another one is 'lose' confused with 'loose' grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I hate someone to ask me if they can 'lend' an item - I always reply with " It depends on whom you want to lend it to!"
My daughter gets anoyed when someone speaks 'posh' ( meaning peroperly ).
I'm not one to judge, I was born in Essex, lived in Lancashire since I was 11 and have picked up the worst in both accents.
lol
( picked that up years ago on the tinternet )

Seems we thought alike, mamie. 'Sgood, that pish2the4 club, innit?

The point I was trying, and clearly failing to make, greatnan, is that good grammar and spelling ARE taught. Whether certain people learn them or not is an entirely different matter.

I agree that bad spelling or grammar on, for instance, a job application, is indicative of something. Fine. So be it. So it has always been. If grammar and good spelling matter in the job being applied for, you have a fine short-listing criterion right in front of you.

Text speak is not difficult. And it's not a question of getting "down there" with the kids. It's a question of using as few characters as possible because they are limited. Simple really. Same on Twitter. Ergo: textspeak is a useful tool.

That's not Gransnet saying that. It's the blog writers. And I can only see a typo.

Good spelling and grammar are still taught and taught much better than they have been for many years. Have a look at the literacy framework, I think you will be amazed.
Textspeak is different and used for a specific context, it doesn't make it inferior, just fit for purpose.
Of course there shouldn't be spelling mistakes on reports, that is formal writing.

I don't use text speak. I tend to include punctuation. Well, I do want them to be able to read it!

Did anyone else out there notice the error in Gransnet's own report on this subject?

"We should be proving that using good and clear English can be liberating and expressive, and that there is be more to life and literature than a rushed-off email and textspeak."

Oops!!!

My English teacher taught me perhaps a little too well and I have become quite the pedant on this subject - much to the irritation of some - and frequently have the urge to correct signs, etc. (much like salbristol)! Amongst my pet hates are: apostrophes in plurals and other places where they are not needed, spelling mistakes and something which is becoming more and more commonplace, (even with newsreaders) - the use of "of" instead of "have", for example, I could of (I could have). Grrr!

Oh yes. There's no excuse for teachers.

I have never corrected any member's grammar or spelling on any forum as I think it would be the height of bad manners. However, I still think that teachers should not make spelling mistakes on reports! If that makes me a pedant, so be it.
Surely there is no dichotomy between good creative writing and correct spelling? O.K. I know that many of our greatest writers were idiosyncratic spellers but many were writing at a time when spelling had not been formalised and many people were illiterate. I think bad grammar and spelling in letters of application could give prospective employers a bad impression. Children should be given the tools to demonstrate their understanding of their native tongue.

Of course I don't understand textspeak - why should I? I have managed to get through 72 years without it and I don't want to 'get down with the kids'.

I never compare today's students unfavourably with those of earlier generations - I think the quality of education has improved immeasurably and I don't think I could tackle some of the A-level papers that my grandchildren have shown me. I agree that many older people left school barely literate - I was a volunteer on the Adult Literacy Scheme in the 1970s when it was estimated that two million UK adults were functionally illiterate. However, I think it is unfair to accept poor spelling and grammar because it puts the students at a disadvantage in later life.

I am sticking to my guns - there is no place for criticism of other members on forums, but good spelling and grammar should still be taught - we all know how the people at the top of the pile look down on the 'plebs' and ungrammatical speech gives them a chance to sneer.

"the minister and me – or should that be I…?" That is unwarranted criticism. It can't be easy, when you are speaking publicy, to quickly sort out if it should be "I" or "me". That is unnecessary pedantry.

I didn't read the rest of the blog. Too boring. And I don't like pedantry.

Sorry
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language

All hre 4 U no swet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language

The sign on the blog page.

Does it suggest the police might be just a little bit plebby?

DD says I don't say duh right. Not enough tone and attitude apparently. Sob.

Hang on. I need to look up prosody in the Dikshunry....

wot??duhhhhh! fink im 2 fik 4 ur gang : (

I pish on apostrophes. How elegant is your SMS prosody in Pedant's Corner?

That's or, natch. It's my computer wot cant spell 4 toffy.

Oe even Pish2the4th.

After consultations (yes! we did, mamie! ), we are amalgamating both gangs and their combined name is Pish to the Fourth.

U must B gr8 at this b4 U join..
Paralinguistic and prosodic features
Prosodic features in SMS language aim to provide added semantic and syntactic information and context from which recipients can use to deduce a more contextually-relevant and accurate interpretation. These may aim to convey the textual equivalent of verbal prosodic features such as facial expression and tone of voice. Indeed, even though SMS language exists in the format of written text, it closely resembles normal speech in that it does not have a complicated structure and that its meaning is greatly contextualised. (from wiki)

Both gangs

I agree. I think I have a good grasp of grammar and spelling which was drummed into me at an early age. I am very particular about my use of both when I am writing reports at work or important correspondence. However, I choose not to be pedantic on here because I see it as chatting with friends and I think it's what we say that matters, not how we say it.

Can't write a song I'm afraid but I would like to join the gang

i'm most definitely joining both gangs. Hurrah!