Dumbing down of America

[Wolfwoman]

Why not? Nothing untrue or mean or really nasty has been said

If we can't talk about ourselves and our country very frankly, then we sure can't talk about others!

Personally I think the whole abbreviation thing has gotten way out of hand too. I understand the LOL and LMAO and ROFL and such, but is it REALLY that much harder to type 'wife' or 'hubby' or 'son' or 'daughter' or 'girlfriend', etc etc. To me it's a bit of laziness. I would guess that this doesn't just apply to American tho!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

It's bad in the South...the twang gets folks. Our preacher said 'warsh' instead of wash

My DH says 'the mainest thing' instead of the main thing..he got that from his daddy. I CONSTANTLY correct my kids! If you can't speak, you can't spell!! Pronunciation and enunciation is key...which leads me to the one that grates on my nerves the WORST...DD18 says pro-noun-ciation

SPELL THAT PLEASE!!!! I hate the there, their, they're and to, too, and two thing too(ALSO)!!! GRRR! Being a Southern native, I am so ashamed at all of the people here who can't speak ENGLISH! I say y'all simply to distinguish myself as Southern, but not warsh...please people, my ears bleed just listening to some of you! I count a point off for misspellings in my kids homeschool work and on tests, although the school does NOT hold me to such standards. I don't want my kids to sound like a couple of uneducated hicks! Southern drawl is quaint as long as it can be understood!

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
That is what I was just thinking and then saw this . . .although I do know that when I was in school, there was always a kid or two who just didn't get it, at all. . . .but when my kids was in school sometimes ten or more kids didn't get it, and I think that is the teacher. But I do agree with that "cartoon."

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:

I can laugh, I'm married to someone from LA... (Lower Alabama). Mobile!

 

[JetBlack]

Quote:
On FaceBook, I am a fan of both "Use correct spelling when texting" and "I correct your grammar in my head while you are talking". People always say they just don't bother to go back and correct, but that is obviously not the case. They can't spell or they wouldn't make the mistakes in the first place.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
Yes, because there is a difference between spelling mistakes and typos. I make LOTS of typos, spelling mistakes, not so much.

 

[MaggieRae]

Let's eat Grandma!

Let's eat, Grandma!

Punctuation saves lives.

I usually don't mind grammar mistakes or lack of punctuation because I know that some people just don't bother learning or utilizing (and I make my share of mistakes as well). If I can help them, but choose to ignore them because of their inability or choice not to convey their message according to the rules of language, I'll feel guilty later. My attempt at reasonable writing is based on my principles and I don't expect others to follow my beliefs. (It helps that I know if we both applied to the same job and they didn't do some serious editing, I would get the job.

What boss wants to read e-mails or letters like that all day? Let alone send them out to his or her clients? )

 

[babylady4]

My kids call me the grammar and spelling Queen. I correct improper grammar, spelling and punctuation all the time on their papers, facebook, computer assignments.....

even their friends!


Yes I make mistakes, yes the keys stick at times so what I am typing does not match what I am trying to say but I do my best and I try to correct mistakes when I find them.

WOW love that cartoon, very realistic! I must be an abnormal parent who holds the child responsible for the grades given.

 

[Zahboo]

I think it's okay to use informal language. I say ain't and ya'll all the time, at home, in school in public. Do I use it in my formal writing? at a job interview? Heck no. That's what we need to learn. There's a time and a place for everything. Parents aren't teaching their kids or are trying and just don't enforce it. I think physical punishment should be allowed, it'd do some people good to get a whack against the head.

 

[dancingbear]

Bad spelling drives me crazy. Bad grammar bugs me almost as much. One of the things that really gets me, is the lack of command of the language displayed by NEWSCASTERS, JOURNALISTS, and ADVERTISERS! It's bad enough when the folks on a forum can't spell, punctuate, or use the right words, but you'd think people who use language for a living would have a clue.

I don't think spell-check has caused this, I wish more people would actually bother to use the spell-check. I set mine so that it underlines misspelled words as I type. It helps me a lot, especially since my typing leaves somewhat to be desired. I still miss a few typos, but it helps me catch most of them.

Using the wrong word makes me want to scream. I hate it when people say "ideal" when they mean "idea".
"went" does not have an 'h' in it. "Whent" is not a word.

"Where" and "were" are not interchangeable. For anybody who doesn't know the difference, try this: "Where were you on the night of..."

And the other usual suspects, to, too, two, their, they're, there.
Don't you just want to sit people down and show them how to write it correctly?
"Ok Bob, it's like this, "They're building their house over there."

I don't mind colorful colloquialisms. They're fun. It's the level of downright ignorance, and apathy about being ignorant that gets to me.

My grandmother was a school teacher, back when standards were still enforced. It got passed along to me, I call it "my inner English teacher."