Grammar

[c9]

Q. How does one correct spelling and grammar of friends without seeming like a total jerk? Is there a way? I have some friends who are quite dear, as they say, and yet the occasional (or teeth-grittingly-common) mistake will appear in their emails or whathaveyou.

Comments

[issokay.livejournal.com]

I just don't do it, there's not really a polite way in my opinion. I often intentionally misspell words to relay the way I think I would say it. But yeah I'm a stickler for that, too-sometimes. But I hate it when someone corrects me, I mean I am not turning in an essay to a teacher, I'm on LJ or aim or something.....
=my 2 cents.

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

You don't have any trouble correcting me! :-)

[c9.livejournal.com]

This is true. :-) But every relationship has its own rules and secret boundaries...

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

And besides, you know that if you ever *did* make a grammatical or spelling error, I'd correct you. Then again, I correct everyone. I just can't help it.

Nothing makes me crazier than people who are perfectly intelligent and can normally speak in a coherent and reasonable manner, but, for some reason, when faced with a computer, become sloppy and lazy. Punctuation, spelling, grammar -- heck, even plain old words -- go out the window, replaced by emoticons (don't get me started on those inscrutable graphical ones everyone uses these days!!!) and acronyms that bear no resemblance to anything anyone would ever use in real life! ARGH! I'm getting steamed just thinking about it.

[putaindemerde.livejournal.com]

Personally? I'd rather people correct me... of course, being a writer, there's the obvious explanation for that...

[mcmlxxiv.livejournal.com]

i also hate when when people write entire posts and dont use uppercase letters or punctuation and u wonder if there entire lives are nothing but one complete run-on sentence complete with grammatical errors oh well i guess some people just dont care how they come across online i always try to make sure i sound somewhat educated in my posts and whatnot thanks bye

[c9.livejournal.com]

No no, you forgot "kthxbye" !! :)

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

If I knew the right way to do this, I would have far fewer enemies.

[gotwoody.livejournal.com]

Maybe just comment on it 'generally' to him/her/me after he/she/I have done it. :)

For example, someone puts the phrase 'as well.' at the end of a sentence, and the next day or later you might comment directly (or in your journal) about the inappropriateness of it.

Then it won't seem as much like a directed comment, and instead will be a co-incidence that hopefully your friend picks up on.