Comments on: Why So Much Anger Over Usage?

By: Rod

Rod — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:43:12 +0000

Language belongs to people; that’s something that languages which have an “academy”(unlike yours) had to accept in order to include slangs in their dictionaries You who are mostly teachers,writers or both are passionate readers; therefore the misuse of your native language offends you, it happens to everyone, so you should encourage debates upon these topics it’s entertaining that’s why I keep on visiting this site.
PS. I beg your pardon for any mistake you find.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:50:10 +0000

Oh yes, I know the angry ones well – they are the ones, fortunately few, who insist on pointing out every typo I make on my blog. Sometimes I have to walk away before I respond so I don’t start a flame war. But it always reminds me what a luxury good editing really is.

By: Matthew Conger-Eldeen

Matthew Conger-Eldeen — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:13:28 +0000

Cassie Tuttle, I agree with you completely. Taking a realistic (linguistic) look at language can be very eye opening. One book that I found very useful is Inventing English: A Portable History of the Language. It shows how the world of a “living language” really works.

By: Grace S.

Grace S. — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:30:33 +0000

Ruth, I sympathize (and empathize) with your complaint–I work as a proofreader for a commercial printer.

Generally, if I believe that clarity of meaning is compromised by the grammar, word order, choice of word used, spelling, or punctuation, I will continue to (gently and with an explanation) insist that it be changed. Usually I can offer an alternative wording to express what I believe the customer means–and often have been thanked.

Our sales personnel are, however, always willing to actually ask the customer; and sometimes the “mistake” remains after the questioning, because, as you said, the customer is always right.

HOW I approach the customer is usually the most important factor in whether that customer listens. This is the part of the equation I can control.

That being said, perception and self-concept plays a large part in receptiveness, and in answering Maeve’s title question: if I believe that you are correcting me to attack my ability and make me look foolish, I will probably be angry with you. If, on the other hand, I believe that I am human (i.e., I make mistakes), and you are correcting me so I will NOT look foolish to those who see my printed piece (i.e., you are helping me), I will probably thank you! This addresses the part of the equation I can’t control when I offer a correction.

It certainly makes life interesting at times!

By: Graham

Graham — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:16:21 +0000

Why do I think good spelling and grammar are important? Because when they’re done badly, clarity and meaning become confused, and in extreme cases lost altogether.

On a personal note, I read quite quickly; when reading poorly written prose, I find myself failing to recognise mis-spelt words fast enough to allow me to maintain my flow. This detracts from both the efficiency of the communication and from my enjoyment of it (unless, of course, the error changes the meaning in an amusing way).

Of course language has to evolve, but surely we can let it do so with some consistency?