Thread: Is Grammar Important Online?

Originally Posted by Sneakyheathen

I never said I blamed them, but why do I need to tolerate quality so low as to be impossible to understand? If you come to English sites, especially to do business with English speaking peoples, I strongly believe that you should know how to construct a readable sentence.

Fair enough.

Peoples is a word. As defined by the dictionary:

peo·ples A body of persons sharing a common religion, culture, language, or inherited condition of life.

Persons is also a word. And that sentence was perfectly readable.

Originally Posted by Sneakyheathen

If you come to English sites, especially to do business with English speaking peoples, I strongly believe that you should know how to construct a readable sentence.

I am constantly amazed at vendors who attempt to sell writing services with sales posts which contain poor spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

If they can't even bother to make the effort to edit their sales pitches, I can't believe they will make the effort to do a good job on my projects.

If you are talking about forum posts, then it's not so important as long as it's understandable.

But if it's going to published into something like an ebook, then it's definitely importantly.

Originally Posted by Sneakyheathen

Do you think grammar is important online? Why or why not?

Yes, proper grammar conveys a sense of professionalism. To be taken seriously, one should present a professional image. And one of the best ways to do that is through good grammar.

So long as someone is understandable, it is fine with me. Aren't we being a bit presumptuous in talking about expectations for others to be able to use proper English when it may not be their native language? Around on this forum there is a global audience and perhaps there are quite a few members who don't quite have a grasp on grammar, but many of them get the point across and leaps and (don't ya just hate that) bounds above what I can do in their native language.

In someways it is getting off the subject to constantly make reference to using the English language with regard 'to for' whom it is not a native language when a lot of problems on forums are lazy English speaking people who just don't care that they have crammed 5 paragraphs into one, and without one semblance of punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.

Here's a thought: require more from native English speakers.

If English is your native language, then capitalize the first letter of a sentence, use an occasional comma to break up a run-on sentence, use a period to indicate the end of a sentence, and, if you cannot paragraph, just start a new paragraph after 2 or 3 sentences.

That is obviously not perfect, and nobody can really be expected to be perfect (like...you know..other than me...ahem) or we'd just all be boring as hell talking like school teachers (no offense to school teachers...I've met several I'd do...if they would just keep their mouths shut...well...except for...uh...never mind...ahem).


You know, while I'm on the topic of school teachers, let's bring nurses into this as well.


Wait a minute, I'm getting off track.


If English speaking people want non-English speaking people to do a better job with English...here's an idea...present it to them...surround them with good habits in English. If someone does not have an environment which nourishes...well...do you really expect them to do any better if they aren't being given any better.


I once met this hot librarian...talk about some Dewey Decimal standout...oh hell...I'm getting off track again.


Anyway...

Well dammit...that was it.


P.S. I love peanut butter and chocolate and ice cream and whip cream and blondes and brunettes and redheads and strawberries and spinach (yes) and...and...and...and (just a few more to really irritate someone...hehehehehehehe).

i guess it should be. that is why i practice replying in forums to enhance my english skills. still not enough..

I think grammar is extremely important. Perhaps everything doesn't need to be perfect, and calling others out on it is extremely rude. For example, a common "comeback" when one person says something insulting is to criticize a small grammatical error. While I do try to make everything perfect, small errors do show when I'm typing fast or having a conversation. I made perfect grades in my English classes in both High School and College, and rarely had my papers and essay's corrected.

Obviously there is a time and place for impeccable grammar, and a time when you can just relax and use "casual" lingo/grammar.

Originally Posted by Menard

So long as someone is understandable, it is fine with me. Aren't we being a bit presumptuous in talking about expectations for others to be able to use proper English when it may not be their native language? Around on this forum there is a global audience and perhaps there are quite a few members who don't quite have a grasp on grammar, but many of them get the point across and leaps and (don't ya just hate that) bounds above what I can do in their native language.

In someways it is getting off the subject to constantly make reference to using the English language with regard 'to for' whom it is not a native language when a lot of problems on forums are lazy English speaking people who just don't care that they have crammed 5 paragraphs into one, and without one semblance of punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.

Here's a thought: require more from native English speakers.

If English is your native language, then capitalize the first letter of a sentence, use an occasional comma to break up a run-on sentence, use a period to indicate the end of a sentence, and, if you cannot paragraph, just start a new paragraph after 2 or 3 sentences.

That is obviously not perfect, and nobody can really be expected to be perfect (like...you know..other than me...ahem) or we'd just all be boring as hell talking like school teachers (no offense to school teachers...I've met several I'd do...if they would just keep their mouths shut...well...except for...uh...never mind...ahem).


You know, while I'm on the topic of school teachers, let's bring nurses into this as well.


Wait a minute, I'm getting off track.


If English speaking people want non-English speaking people to do a better job with English...here's an idea...present it to them...surround them with good habits in English. If someone does not have an environment which nourishes...well...do you really expect them to do any better if they aren't being given any better.


I once met this hot librarian...talk about some Dewey Decimal standout...oh hell...I'm getting off track again.


Anyway...

Well dammit...that was it.


P.S. I love peanut butter and chocolate and ice cream and whip cream and blondes and brunettes and redheads and strawberries and spinach (yes) and...and...and...and (just a few more to really irritate someone...hehehehehehehe).

Well said! I get sick of people complaining when they are NOT a good example themselves. I know many people who speak proper English better than Native English speakers!

Originally Posted by DotComBum

If you are talking about forum posts, then it's not so important as long as it's understandable.

But if it's going to published into something like an ebook, then it's definitely importantly.

I dunno about that one. Who would you rather communicate with? Someone you can just barely understand or someone who gets their point across well?

Originally Posted by Medrad

That is obviously not perfect, and nobody can really be expected to be perfect (like...you know..other than me...ahem) or we'd just all be boring as hell talking like school teachers (no offense to school teachers...I've met several I'd do...if they would just keep their mouths shut...well...except for...uh...never mind...ahem).

This statement that grammar limits style, and this is blatantly false. Novels are checked for spotless grammar, and yet a Douglass Adams book will read different from a Stephen King novel, no?

If English speaking people want non-English speaking people to do a better job with English...here's an idea...present it to them...surround them with good habits in English. If someone does not have an environment which nourishes...well...do you really expect them to do any better if they aren't being given any better.

Irritations aside, that is what I personally strive to do, as politely as possible. I have seen plenty of "native speakers" who can't form complete thoughts. And to be honest, nobody likes having their grammar corrected. I think the best idea is simply to lead by example...

If you're a fluent writer, Flaunt it. Be perfect, or as perfect as you can be. Others will follow when they see how well you can articulate your ideas, and the internet will have better grammar for it...

This discussion has so many sides to it, I love it!