It seems that for some posters on DU, they think it is their duty to call others lazy, or trumpers ,(OMG),

[debm55]

Last edited Fri Aug 15, 2025, 08:41 PM - Edit history (8)

less educated, or less intelligent because posters are not able to correctly write a message, A message with grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes makes one stupid? I don't understand. Some of us are disabled, on meds, or elderly. Language has different words that are regional. Growing up in a rich , well educated community does not make one a person of character. When I see certain posters make spelling mistakes I do no correct them, I go with the flow. I am one of the posters that makes frequent spelling errors' .Hell do we belong to a different political because those of us that have "less" skills ? JC. As a 3 year old I was pushed against the wall by my Mother for having an earache. I lost my sense of hearing in right ear. My Parents were to take me down to Children's Hospital in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh to begin sessions a Speech Pathologist. They did not---too far-20 miles. So until I reached 3 grade I read lips and sat in front of the classroom right in front of the teacher's desk. In 4th grade I saw a Speech Pathologist at the Public school in town. I was bullied, made fun of the way I spoke, but it did improve. Havin a post about Pet Peeves is one thing, but name calling is and should not be. Thank you for listening. I waited all day to think and rethink about posting this. I just want the joy, fun and community to return. Thank you. Love, Debbie Please include people who use English as their second language.in this post.

[msongs]

1. bad grammar can make one president of usa lol nt

[debm55]

2. That's true.

[GP6971]

3. Best to post this in DU Community Help.

That way EarlG has a better chance of seeing it.

[debm55]

5. Thank you very much GP6971. I will have to wait until tomorrow as I just took my meds.

[GP6971]

8. Forgot to add...include those members for which english is a second language.

My wife is ESL...although very fluent verbally, but she struggles with written English.

[Polly Hennessey]

4. Some people just need to correct others. They like their

universe precise and orderly. They remind me of my high school English teacher, Mrs. Hobgood. Stand up straight, speak precisely, and wear a cardigan (we don’t want to catch a chill). Oh, me, oh, my! Pay the Mrs. Hobgoods of the world no mind. Some of us are messy and imprecise but still manage to communicate effectively. 😇🤓🫢🤗

[debm55]

6. Thank you Polly Hennessey. I tried to ignore as it wasn't directly aimed at me. But I feel we at DU need to show love

and empathy toward others.

[Polly Hennessey]

26. Most of us do. We need to ignore the few who do not.

[True Dough]

19. Tell me

her nickname was Mrs. Hobgoblin!

[Polly Hennessey]

28. We wouldn't dare give Mrs. Hobgood a nickname.

If she found out our very existence would be questionable. 😰😱

[Marie Marie]

7. I agree. Sometimes people are rushed in typing, big fingers on little phone keys, maybe English is not their first

language, not catching an autocorrect that selects the wrong word, etc etc. Many reasons for errors in a message and yes, sometimes I do detect an air of smug impatience in calling out other's mistakes. As long as their point is understood, I find it unnecessary to grammar shame the poster. JMHO.

[elleng]

9. Sounds like a BAD idea to me;

lots of other things about which to complain.

[The Roux Comes First]

10. I Definitely Have Some Skills at Grammar and Language Curmudgeonry

But I do try to curtail them upon entry to DU. Thank you Debm55 for helping me remember why that is important and telling us of yourself!

[Srkdqltr]

11. I figure there is something for everyone here, even for those who love to find fault.

It's more their problem.

[OldBaldy1701E]

23. Hear Hear! (n/t)

[electric_blue68]

12. Tiny phone keys, fast typing etc

Sometimes I rush to get something out, and miss mistakes. I see them, then go back to correct them.

Other times slower, and i try to catch them. Usually much better, but still miss one at times.

Nighty night 👍

[JoseBalow]

13. DU does have a "Languages and Linguistics" forum

though I don't know if that would be appropriate for this particular topic.

Statement of Purpose

Discuss foreign languages, language learning and linguistic studies, including linguistic history, generative phonology, semantics, philology and language creation.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1165

[mvd]

14. Good thread, Deb

I often won’t even correct spelling unless it is important to the post and then I do so nicely. Sorry I haven’t been posting much. My life hasn’t been very good right now.

[Gaugamela]

15. Thank you, Deb.

[SheltieLover]

16. So sorry to learn of your experience, Deb, but I applaud you speaking out

on behalf of all of us who make errors & those who struggle with language skills.

Wait, doesn't that make us human?

[BWdem4life]

17. It's biological, according to some research

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communications-that-matter/202312/bad-grammer-study-links-errors-to-fight-or-flight

[cayugafalls]

33. Nice article, thanks for the link.

I believe, all language creates a visceral response due to neurological triggers in the listener/reader.

Words are like 2 edged swords, they can cut both ways, good or evil.

That visceral response is why advertising works.

Our use / mis-use of language is what curtails the human race from achieving balance, imho.

Just my 2 ducats

[True Dough]

20. deb, deb, deb

You bring much fun and joy to the Lounge.

Once in a blue moon, you choose to speak out on a topic like this. I respect you for it. I hope everyone thinks twice before chastising others over their grammar on this discussion forum. It is not an English classroom.

Hope you had a good night's rest!

[zanana1]

21. I learned a lesson from a retail store worker.

I was managing a department at a large retail store. There was one sales associate who was always getting things wrong. I confronted her on her poor performance and she started crying. She said "You always use these big words and I don't understand.. " I felt two inches tall.. I realized that I didn't have to sound like a Rhodes Scholar when talking to people. I learned a valuable lesson that day.

[beemerphill]

22. Deb

I agree with you. As long as I can understand what a person is trying to convey, it is OK with me. We all speak and understand differently. That's the way it is, and we might as well learn to live with it. We are all different-enjoy it.
Mark Twain was right: Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.

[AllaN01Bear]

24. ding. this

x 1000000000 . this is good . esp those so called grammer cops who make it hteir business to rip apart every post . this isn 4 year coollege english. hem,. im typingg on a crappy external keyboard that the keys are too close etc . i blew when i reported that the lheap was disbanded . thanks again dbm. i type in lower caps because of this ,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fernscheiber_01.jpg remember these ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinter many all lower case .
i was also in some early groups on line that yelled at ya if u used mixed caps and lowercase . others it was the soft ware.
yes , i sometimes dont hitt the space bar because i am going at 60 words a minute .

[PennRalphie]

25. All forms of social media

Have turned way too many people into bullies and know it alls. Correcting grammar or a typo does not make the person doing the correcting a better person. But, many think it does.

I’m sorry that your childhood wasn’t the best.

[Clouds Passing]

27. I'm sorry you endured such ugly neglect, abuse and physical damage, Debbie...

Nah ahm gonna do awl the turrble grahma a cann Just to be an hornery shit.

I support you, debm55

[murielm99]

29. I send private messages to people

sometimes, when I see their mistakes. Sometimes there are typos. I make typos, too. I am not trying to embarrass anyone. I think most people just want their posts to seem polished and intelligent. Some people here have thanked me after I pmed them.

[some_of_us_are_sane]

30. Thank you for bringing this up, debm55

This is a LOUNGE not a classroom.

This is a place to relax and get to know one another and readers IMMEDIATELY pick up on a different vibe when topics don't fit the bill in this particular space.

I'm GLAD you spoke up, gal.

[marble falls]

31. Correcting spelling instead of responding to the argument, is the last refuge for the anal retentive.

[AloeVera]

32. I am so sorry for what you endured Debm55...

Life just isn't fair to far too many.

Calling out grammar mistakes is a type of OCD imo. Some people just can't help themselves. Others do it for more obvious, less excusable reasons.

The conflation of "lose" and "loose" is my Pet Peeve. It's the only thing that bothers me because it's prevalent across all skill sets. I see it with the younger folks especially so I think it's a recent gap in the school curriculum and that's the part that bothers me. But to call anybody out specifically? Nah. Far bigger things to worry about and I'm pretty sure I'm not perfect either.

[IA8IT]

34. God for you posting this!! We need everyone together to win

[1WorldHope]

35. Well Deb, I spent 35 years with the most wonderful

Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. I was so lucky to be an ASL interpreter. I've absolutely come to love deaf speech and writing. If I hear a person speaking at the store who sounds like they might be deaf or hard of hearing I get so excited because I miss those friends so much.
Deb, you have survived some really tough barriers in your life and come out the other side as a good and emotionally intelligent human being. Thanks for reminding everyone that diversity has many forms. 🤟🏼

[Harker]

36. You're a delight, debm55, and admirably diplomatic.

My late beloved first wife was born in Mexico to a Spanish speaking mother and an Irish/Cherokee orphan. My dear present wife was brought up by German parents, for whom English is still somewhat difficult.

I love them for who and what they are (were), not for their syntax or vocabulary.

Stay sweet!

[Grim Chieftain]

37. I am so very sorry for what you have gone through, debm55

I'm sure a lot of us here have stories of pain and suffering. I grew up with a mother who was unhinged. She could be the good, the bad, and the ugly. It was difficult and still, at this point of my life, it haunts me. I am a true believer in the adage that the best revenge is living well.

I hope you know how much you are valued and appreciated here on DU. Your posts always bring a bit of light into my day and I always search out your posts. Take care, dear Deb. You are among the best of us.

[intheflow]

38. And have you tried posting using your phone?

Those tiny little buttons and autocorrect play havoc on anything I type on my phone.

I'll admit I used to be a grammar Nazi, but then I realized the purpose of language is to communicate. Has the posted gotten their message across despite typos and misspellings? Their mission was accomplished and calling folks out for how they communicate is just a weird flex.

[justaprogressive]

39. There's only a very limited need

for picture-straighteners here.

[ProfessorGAC]

40. While I Tend To Agree...

...that picture on the wall behind you is crooked!

[snot]

41. Unsolicited correction or advice are rarely welcomed about anything -

understandably so, since they are sometimes a means of covertly undermining or devaluing the person corrected/advised, even when the corrector's conscious intentions were to be helpful.

On the other hand, the purpose of language is communication, which is among the most important sources of human empowerment – arguably perhaps even the most important source. Diction and grammar, evolved over eons of continual use, can when skillfully deployed be incredibly efficient and effective means not only for communicating and storing precise information (or alternatively, for deception), but even for thinking.

I often hear or see people confusing themselves or others through an imprecise use of language, sometimes unwittingly and sometimes willfully.

All of that said, I absolutely agree that it's a speaker's intent that matters.

[subterranean]

42. For what it's worth...

I haven't noticed many spelling or grammatical mistakes in your posts. I just enjoy the fun questions you come up with!

[eppur_se_muova]

43. Your post has me thinking of the late, great Monkey Man. I really thought he was crazy or something at first.

Turns out he was a Vietnam-era vet who had suffered a bit of trauma, but still knew how to communicate, in his own way. I never sent him a correction or anything, and I would be embarrassed if I had. RIP, MM.

I try to make *helpful* corrections, where they might serve a purpose, but generally don't care too much if they're ignored. I'm just trying to keep the confusion levels low, if I can, and I believe others do too. We're not trying to be MIRT.

Besides, when a misspelling provides a perfect setup for a joke (or worse -- a pun ! ) I can't resist.