Grammar and spelling

The “does it really matter?”attitude is one reason why we have so many people with poor spelling and grammar. Yes, it does matter if we want to be part of an educated society. It matters to the Asian children mentioned by luzdoh earlier, but for some reason it doesn’t to a large number of English people. I think it’s something to do with the class system and the chip-on-shoulder attitude it engenders in some. I have no proof of this, but I feel it’s connected - some sort of feeling that the privileged few will always be on top, so let’s pretend we don’t care and make no effort to improve purselves.

I posted that when I meant to preview it, in order to check whether it made sense. Oh well, too late.

I’ve managed 68 years, honours and masters degree without knowing until recently - don’t think it’s going to change my life!

Mind you, I agree with nearly all the other comments on here!

I agree with Bathsheba. It doesn’t rile me, particularly, to hear incorrect grammar as long as what I’m hearing makes sense. I certainly wouldn’t “cringe”. However, I will correct my gc when they are older as I personally like good grammar but don’t have an issue with that of others.

Yes, I'm like you Bellanonna, in that good grammar is important to me personally. I will always correct my grandchildren, because having a proper understanding of the language and its semantics will stand them in good stead for the future. But it doesn't 'drive me insane' or make me 'want to scream' when I see bad grammar online. There can be all sorts of reasons for someone's lack of knowledge or understanding, and I am not going to judge someone without knowing the background. They may be dyslexic; they may have struggled with ill health in their early years and missed a lot of schooling; they may simply have not had the advantages that many of us have had. If they are posting online and I can understand what they are saying, then I'll happily engage in conversation with them without feeling the need to tear my hair out

Well put!?

I work with young people in a school where 80% are non - verbal . I would cry with joy if 'my boys' could say a single word . They could say ' should of or F off ' all day long as far as I'm concerned and I would be overjoyed as I'm sure their parents would .

Oh and Grandma70 last time I looked I couldn't see a chip on either of my shoulders . I was lucky enough to go to a very good school, which gave me a thorough grounding in all major subjects, including English Lang. and Lit., so I don't have to 'pretend I don't care', and while there is always room for improvement in each and every one of us, I don't particularly feel the need to make an effort to improve my English.

NotAGran

CAYGU 123 .... Please don not start a sentence with 'And'. Honestly... some people's grammar!!?

I trust you’re joking Saggi ?

But I fear she's not OldMeg (see what I did there? )

My DiL is a stickler for good grammar - she's a mathematician - with the result that I have a teenage grandson who is quite prepared to query MY grammar if he thinks it's questionable, which it isn't!

I find grammatical mistakes annoying, and some of them can be blocks to communication, as they can make it difficult to understand what actually the speaker or writer meant.

Considering the amount of public money that is spent on education, I do feel that some basic standards of education should be adhered to, and that no child should go to school for upward of ten years and still be unable to write and speak their native language correctly. Having mastered basic arithmetic too should be considered a necessity.

But this is what is taught in all state schools! It's in the national curriculu
m. They get grammar and punctuation drummed into them till it's coming out of their ears! Admittedly grammar was not taught in the 70s and 80s which is why some young teachers are not good at it.

Also although it annoys me when people get grammar and punctuation wrong and I comment on it to DH and shout at TV sometimes I wouldn't dream of correcting an adult as I think that's rude and patronising.

I wouldn't dream of correcting an adult as I think that's rude and patronising.
Totally agree pp

GrandtanteJE65, I agree about no child going to school for so long and not having basic skills. Unfortunately some children don’t see the benefit of this, and see their role in school as class clown, lesson disrupter and injured party if a teacher dares complain. Not conducive to a productive learning environment for them or the other unfortunate class members.
Add to that the ever increasing plethora of diagnosed reasons why a child is unable to read, write or do basic maths without one to one support which is not properly funded and you can see why the ideal becomes more and more remote. Ah well.

I did Bathsheba - lots of misinformation around!

While we’re on the subject of misinformation/a little learning, I remember someone trying to convince me thar the TV programme ‘You and Me’ was grammatically incorrect. She insisted it ought always to be ‘you and I’ because ‘that’s what I was taught at school’ ???

Well that's not what they taught I at school

Or myself

Hence why we don't know about it..

I think that most of the time I only use correct grammar but I have been told off by my OH for saying "he told my sister and I" when, of course as you all know, it should be "my sister and me".