A Call To Better Spelling

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by doug86

Ok, this is really dumb, but....

Are the CF moderators able to correct the typos in thread titles? For instance, this one:

Good loking Hard dodger / binimi ?

If not, why the *^%# not?

Lets take a stand for good spelling and grammar! Please!!

You mean "let's", right?

Sorry, man: I've been an editor, writer and publisher on and off for nearly 30 years, and I freak out when I see the "it's/its" mistake in my morning paper.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by four winds

I just skip the ones with no punctuation, caps, or paragraphs, passing no judgement in the process. I really don't care to decipher the message.

I proofread my post, submit, and inevitably hit edit to fix something. And I still make mistakes that I hope can be forgiven by the grammar nazis. English class was my worst subject, but I would like to be understood when I have something to say or ask for help.

I'm surprised anyone here would get too worked up about it.

Being from Alabama, (with a banjo on my knee, right?) I'm used to being judged ignorant based solely on my accent which I have refused to knowingly modify. It serves as a good filter to identify intolerance in those I meet.

I'm sure there is a mistake in here somewhere, but I do my best.

skiPPing ones without caps AND NO PUNCTUATION IS A WAY TO MISS OUT ON THE BEST PART OF LIFE ..lol

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by four winds

I just skip the ones with no punctuation, caps, or paragraphs, passing no judgement in the process. I really don't care to decipher the message.

(snip)

I'm sure there is a mistake in here somewhere, but I do my best.

That's all we can do. Everyone makes mistakes...even sticklers. Some posts, however, are so incoherent that, like you, I just stop trying. We have encountered a failure to communicate: I'm not a decoder nor do I read minds, so I decline to participate.

As for those whose first language is not English, I frequently have found they have better language skills, spelling and grammar than "the natives", because they come from schools with a more rigorous methodology than the failed school systems prevalent in so much of North America, where taking pride in one's ignorance is more important than try to remedy it.

[doug86]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

You mean "let's", right?

Sorry, man: I've been an editor, writer and publisher on and off for nearly 30 years, and I freak out when I see the "it's/its" mistake in my morning paper.

I was wondering if anyone would catch that...

[four winds]

Yes, I should say I start reading those posts, but if I have to go back and read again the same line (not sentence) three times my brain hurts and I move on.

To those folks I would suggest hitting enter with each new thought.

I have noticed posting while feeling emotional about the subject leads to this phenomenon as well. Trying to quickly get the thoughts out I suppose.

I know that last sentence has no subject, but I don't care because the meaning isn't cryptic.

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by doug86

Ok, this is really dumb, but....

Are the CF moderators able to correct the typos in thread titles? For instance, this one:

Good loking Hard dodger / binimi ?

If not, why the *^%# not?

Let's take a stand for good spelling and grammar! Please!!

Sure we can. We can even correct punctuation, as in your original post ; -)

But honestly... if we were the spelling police on top of the spam police and the commercial vendor police , the generally offensive police, the gun and anchor and political thread police, the help with finding lost posts in plain sight and other sundry issues police.. well. I can't wear that many hats, myself. ; -)

Sorta have to pick your battles around here and while I think it would be a fine idea for the level of writing to rise a bit around here, in general it's pretty good. (After all, we do all manage to read it!)

When there are really egregious errors, particularly ones that make it difficult to follow the line of thought, I do take a whack at it. But in general the mod team is way out numbered around here and we just don't have time.

[catty]

Geeze, show some tolerance. Is this just a North American" bee in the bonnet thingy?". (just checking out where most of the grizzling posters herald from).

I'm sure most of us do our best. This is" cruisers forum".

Take your gripes to "Queens English literature forum"

[Lucky Larry]

I thought the title of this thread was a typo that was meant to read "A Call To Better Sailing." I've clearly stumbled into the wrong crowd here at CF. But that's okay because I've found a different place that runs a lot closer to my tastes.

Ciao! (did I spell that right?)

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by catty

Geeze, show some tolerance. Is this just a North American" bee in the bonnet thingy?". (just checking out where most of the grizzling posters herald from).

I'm sure most of us do our best. This is" cruisers forum".

Take your gripes to "Queens English literature forum"

Get a funny bone Catty and it will all make sense ; -)

[doug86]

You know, I wasn't asking to take anyone to task, or even point out their mistake.

All I was asking was if the Mods could correct the TITLE of a thread. Not even the body of the text, just the title.

And, the answer was YES. And they did correct it. I don't know if the OP even knows if it happened. But, I know my eyes are happier when I scroll the "new threads" page.

thanks moderators.

[four winds]

catty, I hope I'm not grizzling as well. Didn't intend to.

I don't even catch the picky mistakes it's just the huge run on sentence paragraphs that have no cadence or rhythm and go from thought to thought without punctuation chance to catch my breath or can be interpreted to mean three different things depending depending on where I choose to pause based on what I think is trying to be conveyed as it's amazing how that can influence the meaning of what's being said since I don't know the person personally I'm left with an incomplete understanding of where they may be coming from based in my own preconceived notions as it's natural to project ones on beliefs on others with nothing else to go on like a break in the words every once in a while.

If you catch my drift. I just don't want to miss any good info since I'm here to learn. So I actually hate to skip one, but if my head starts hurting I must move on.

[doug86]

without punctuation chance

exactly.

[Lancerbye]

Is this another April fool's day thread coming in late? If we are worried about the spelling and punctuation of stuff written on the internet causing social degredation, I have to say we are too late. That ship has already sailed. Now that chat and texting abreviations are being added to the english dictionaries, I think the door is way past being opened. I don't think it affects sailing.

[sarafina]

heh.

I don't think it sailed... It sank.
At the dock
; -D

[enovillo]

English is a spelling nightmare. It's also my second language, and because I learned to read it and write it before I could speak it (or even understand it when spoken directly to me), I still have trouble understanding why some of the most common mistakes are made (e.g., lot's, let's/lets, there/their/they're, its/it's).

My 5-year-old daughter is learning to read/write it in school. She was born in Canada and English is begining to come easier to her than Spanish (which my wife and I speak at home). We've always taught her to ask why and try to understand the reasons behind everything. Now we're trying to teach her not to ask why when it comes to spelling English