- NEW!
Do you agree?
by Gideon on July 23rd, 2010
Selected by the asker, DA BEN DAN yanggui zi. (What's this?)
by The Anonymous Witch on July 23rd, 2010
by Brian I on July 23rd, 2010
by Mister_Bromyde on July 23rd, 2010
by Abbra gone Underground on July 23rd, 2010
by Tamilze on July 23rd, 2010
by PrivateGomerSpooner on July 23rd, 2010
by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on July 23rd, 2010
by celticmoonlight on July 23rd, 2010
by Slowlygoingcrazy on July 23rd, 2010
by gillaspy01 on July 23rd, 2010
by killdrphil - reasonable for a madman on July 23rd, 2010
by rbcca! on July 23rd, 2010
by Pleski on October 25th, 2010
by Rikstir on July 29th, 2010
by Draedin on July 23rd, 2010
by Fruitpunchsamurai on July 23rd, 2010
by Twisted Taco on July 23rd, 2010
by Tel UK- Licensed to fish! on July 23rd, 2010
by Retired From The Internet on July 23rd, 2010
Is personnel singular or plural?
by Answerbag Staff on July 4th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Do you never know when enough is enough?
by Want To Sleep With A Miner on November 4th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Why is bra singular and panties plural?
by mama cass :) on January 9th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
I read through many AB questions and I've noticed the astounding number of people that can't seem to string 2 legible sentences together
by der Bingle on February 6th, 2012
| 4 people like this
Right now, I can't read too good, don't send me no more letters, no. Who
is this, and what is this song all about?
by einsteinwasright0116 on January 26th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
You're reading I find it truly amazing and sad that so many people on AB cannot spell and have no concept of grammar.
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Comments
Well said.I think the main problem with the younger genration is text speak and unfortunately its here to stay.
by Tel UK- Licensed to fish! on July 23rd, 2010
It's not a problem with the younger generation, and I resent that. I ascribe it to stupidity.
by Fruitpunchsamurai on July 23rd, 2010
Hear, hear!
by Abbra gone Underground on July 23rd, 2010
@Fruitpunchsamurai: But it is a generational issue to some extent. Homework, research, social communication, even dating are done with computers and phones now. I'm not that old and I remember spending hours with handwriting exercises. I had to read books even on school break. If I wanted to know something, I had to know how to spell it and then go to the library to research it. The day we got encyclopedias in the house was like a new era. I'm only one generation removed from kids today. If I didn't know how to spell or use grammar, I didn't pass class. Now I even hear teachers use grammar blatantly incorrectly.
by Gideon on July 23rd, 2010
If society no longer places a value on proficiency in certain types of knowledge, who is to say they ought to still? You?
The question that should be asked is if or not people are able to communicate their ideas effectively to their peers? I doubt youd find a texting teen lacking for words to describe their experiences.
Language evolves, and every generation has regarded their particular familiarization with the dialect as being the most superior adaptation.
by gillaspy01 on July 23rd, 2010
Plus, add the misconception that there's some sort of Standard Dialect or method of writing that is 100% accepted. I can tell you as a professional linguist, this is just not so. We have prescriptive grammar and restrictive grammar, but it evolves with every 5 years.
by Fruitpunchsamurai on July 23rd, 2010
People who can't write -- and aren't making the effort -- are really hurting themselves. Communication is power, and being unable to do it effectively is to sacrifice power. That doesn't mean you enslave yourself to a set of fixed rules, but it does include being aware of the conventions so that when you're stepping on them, you're doing it intentionally rather than from sheer ignorance.
There's also a lot of "unspoken" communication that goes on -- and the way someone writes carries a lot of that. Some of the unintended messages that get delivered are "I don't care", "I lack education", "I'm lazy", "I'm so distracted that I can't focus on what I'm saying", etc.
It's not a matter of should. There's no Committee of Correctness here. But being able to communicate well and master this mode of expressing yourself is well worth the effort. It's not irrelevant.
by HasntBeen on July 23rd, 2010
It could easily be argues that our communication skills are the corner stone of our success as a species. I doubt you'll find anyone who would argue that the ability to communicate in written form is irrelevant.
Maybe now, the some old conventions, learning to write in cursive for example, no longer have practical value. Instead the ability to touch type has replaced it.
It is a culture war. The old generation is still trying to define the norms, while the new generation invariably grasps the reins in defining such matters.
by gillaspy01 on July 23rd, 2010
Well I can't write in cursive either... at least, not to be read. And I don't think we should be defending convention with great enthusiasm. But there's a difference between being educated and aware and *intentionally* diverging from convention, vs. being simply ignorant, lazy, or oblivious to the value of it.
by HasntBeen on July 23rd, 2010
To all,
It is the same with any art or skill. You cannot progress without learning the basics.
This means grammar and spelling,and something outdated these days, penmanship.
What you do after that is up to you,I myself use text speak,but only for quickness when texting.
by Tel UK- Licensed to fish! on July 30th, 2010
@HasntbBeen - I could not have expressed it better myself. Language is an art and can be used creatively. Yes, language evolves, but that was my point; it's no evolving but devolving through sheer laziness.
@Tel UK - You're right. You can do anything you like, but know the basics, have the foundation. Then one has room to roam.
@gillaspy: You have a point, but the electronic age is a precarious thing. If everything were to go down tomorrow, I still have communication skills. Unfortunately, that's not the case with a lot of kids.
by Gideon on July 30th, 2010
I think that people have it drilled into them as children that spelling and grammar are important. If you really pushed them to explain why it matters they cant come up with a good answer. It matters because someone told them its important.
Yes, people need to be able to communicate, and writing helps. But back to the point, people shouldnt nit pick over the littlest grammatical slip ups, it just makes them look petty. Especially when you consider that the grammar and spelling they worship will inevitably change with the passage of time.
by gillaspy01 on July 30th, 2010
Vocabulary changes, and slowly spelling and some grammar can change, but to say it's not important is to say ebonics is a suitable school subject. Grammar, spelling and writing fall into the same category as manners: What does someone care how I hold my fork? It's a calling card, it's a presentation of oneself and it shows civility and respect toward others. A properly spoken/written language unites a culture.
by Gideon on July 30th, 2010
@gillaspy,It is important because it is right....and the world would be in a sorry state if we all went around doing things the wrong way...mind you,having said that I do see so much of it.
by Tel UK- Licensed to fish! on July 31st, 2010