<p>I try very hard not to be a grammar stickler when conversing in commonplace, everyday situations but I mostly censor my corrections due to the fact that in spoken dialogue, the rules of written grammar are nearly obsolete. Even in an online format like College Confidential, I am not one to make use of "lol" or "ur" and I never subscribed to text lingo, either; even then, though, I can understand why others choose the convenience of such abbreviations over the annoyance (I suppose) of typing out the proper sentence contruction.</p>
<p>However, the errors in diction, punctuation, syntax, spelling, and grammar on this site abound and I find myself staring at threads that proclaim:</p>
<p>"Chance me for UC BEREKLEY" (response: "your looking good for Berkley")
"Columba ED"</p>
<p>...and so many more. This brings me to my question: is it or is it not important to employ proper language usage online?</p>
<p>Should aspiring Ivy Leaguers be held to a higher standard? (No, I don't think you'll be getting into Columbia if you spelled it like that on your application.)</p>
<p>I'm sure this is merely a personal idiosyncracy, but I would certainly love some feedback!</p>
<p>Grammar rules are evolving fast. I used to get upset that there seemed to be an unwritten rule to put an apostrophe any time a word ended with an “s”. I now realize this will be the norm for the coming generations. Besides, we’re in a world where we rarely proofread our writings the way we used to. In fact, this editorial probably has a couple of errors that would have bothered me previously, but now we’re more casual.</p>
<p>I really don’t care. I write for a living, I have terrific spelling and understanding of grammar, yet I can make all kinds of crazy dumb-ass errors on a forum. I’m writing fast and it’s just what comes out on the fly. </p>
<p>As I see it, so long as the <em>meaning</em> is not lost or confused, it does not matter. Sometimes an error in grammar can entirely change the meaning of a sentence but most of the time, such an error does not. Rules are arbitrary and ever-changing, and only matter if the create the wrong meaning. </p>
<p>There are much more important things in a forum, and in life in general, to focus on and worry about.</p>
<p>I think there needs to be a distinction between spelling and grammar. For spelling, I recognize that this is an online forum where people are writing fast and are apt to make simple orthographical mistakes. In most cases, meaning remains intact.</p>
<p>However, grammar problems truly irk me. With them, it’s not a matter of simply going too fast and making a silly mistake. Instead, it’s evidence of not knowing basic rules and true ignorance of the English language. In fact, in some cases, it actually <em>adds</em> to the amount of characters which need to be typed (ex. extra apostrophes).</p>
<p>
I don’t think this is true. There has always been lax grammar (look at 1920s personal letters), it’s just that informal communication is so much more readily accessible. In the past, informal communication was largely verbal, but with the proliferation of text-based tools (forums, cell phones, etc.) we’re seeing informal rules applied to written language. However, the rules for formal situations remain unchanged: I’d immediately reject an applicant who did that and I don’t expect The New York Times style guide to allow it any time soon.</p>
<p>I’m not particularly bothered by spelling errors. My typing speed is lacking and my accuracy is laughable - my ability to typo is commendable. I contribute many or most spelling errors to typos or thinking quickly but not typing quickly. As for grammar… there are some things that bother me, and some things that don’t. For example, I find it reasonable to write how I speak in an informal setting. This means that my punctuation isn’t perfect because it reflects how I speak, not textbook English. So I use ellipses and dashes and parenthesis where they may not necessarily belong. However, I am seriously bothered by a lack of basic grammar rules. I’m not talking about not ending a sentence with a preposition. I’m talking about apostrophe usage, double negatives, improper capitalization, extremely poor punctuation, etc. Those things really irk me. I trudge away at only 45 wpm and I still manage to type in decent sentences in a fair amount of time. It just isn’t rocket science.</p>
<p>I really don’t care about grammar too much (unless someone is TAlKiNG LiEk DiSZZZZ). The only time it really matters to me is during arguments or debates. I have a hard time taking someone seriously when every other word is misspelled and all of his/her sentences are run-ons.</p>
<p>There is definite validity to the argument that spelling errors are more the result of fast pace than ignorance, and I will concede that grammar is the more irksome of the two issues! Also- to starbright- I don’t dwell on grammatical mistakes in my leisure time, I was merely interested to see whether the general consensus was for or against more formal language online- and I must say that the contributors to this thread have refreshingly well-contructed posts! I think my main issue with typos and punctuation mistakes on College Confidential in particular is that such errors show a lack of pride in one’s output which I think would be a disappointing quality in the future graduates of the Ivies (and possibly the future leaders of the world).</p>
<p>I type quite formally online. I punctuate all my IMs (but I don’t capitalise, at least). But in general I think I’ve gotten more open to laxness on the web, especially because it’s an instantaneous medium and also because I have encountered too many people for whom English was a second language, and I’d hate to berate the German student that’s braver than I am to venture into an English forum.</p>
<p>Misspellings irritate me where they should not exist (your example: “Chance me for UC BEREKLEY”, because if someone was really serious about it would they make that mistake?) and grammar mistakes irritate me if I have reasonable confidence that the person typing was born and raised in the US and allowed all opportunities our educational system presents.</p>
<p>It’s/its and they’re/their/they’re, and also more obscure ones like saying “free reign” instead of “free rein”. Unfortunately such mistakes are so prevalent on the internet that people will start recognising them as the right way. I know I was incredibly confused about the it’s/its thing because I’d see it both ways in all situations.</p>
<p>It drives me nuts. I’m lax myself in IM, but I just don’t see forums as “instantaneous” the way instant-messaging is. By all means punctuate as you speak, and spelling is no big deal… but the grammar usage is sometimes atrocious. It helps to avoid chance threads and HSL.</p>
<p>applicannot - You wrote: “I contribute many or most spelling errors to typos or thinking quickly but not typing quickly.” Did you mean to say ‘attribute’?</p>
<p>Well I think that the most important thing is that if you want to communicate (be it IMs, on forums etc), the whole point is to be understood. Some spelling errors are unnecessary, but not everyone has the time to peruse through their posts on forums to ensure impeccable English. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that ‘proper language use’ is as important on online forums. What’s more important would be one’s ability to code switch. obviously i wouldn’t neglect my punctuation like i do in this sentence, on my midterms.</p>
<p>For some of the writers English is a foreign language. It is for me. In my own language I’m able to employ proper language usage, in English it a lot harder. This doesn’t mean though that I’m not familiar with the educational system in the US. My S has always attented international schools and is completely bi-lingual. His choice to continue his education in a US college was the logic result of the curriculae used in elementary, middle and high school and of the US teachers and students surrounding him while attending these schools.</p>
<p>Grammar is something that can drive me crazy. My daughter actually corrected a sign in the J.C. Penney dressing room (with a sharpie no less)! My ALL TIME least favorite word usage error is when people confuse “loose” and “lose”. I swear I see that on a daily basis.</p>