Saturday, May 2, 2009

Are you a spelling and grammar snob?

mindbump suggested by Spelling Search

"How important are spelling and grammar in the world of blogging? Is it the thought that really counts, or does lack of formality destroy the message?"

I can't help but answer the question with a sheepish "yes". I admit that when I see misspellings on other people's blogs I tend to smirk a little inside.  And of course when I discover that I've published something with misspellings, I have to go in and fix them immediately. It really irks me that Blogger's spell check sometimes doesn't work or when it does it thinks things that are spelled correctly are wrong.  It's a lousy bit of script and I would complain to the Blogger folks but they don't really care. But that's an entire other topic to post about.

I do believe that improper spelling and grammar says something about you.  Maybe it's that you're posting so quickly that you're not taking the time to spell check.  That would mean you're impatient.  Maybe you simply don't recognize the error.  What does that make you? A best a bad typist.

It can be distracting when a post is filled with spelling errors and poor grammar.  I admit that I take liberties with grammar.  Sentence fragments are your friend sometimes, but I get a bit nuts when I see words like breath and breathe used interchangeably. And there are others.  Almost every writer has their own personal pet peeve in that respect. Mostly though, when I see a word spelled incorrectly that isn't an obvious typo (like teh. That's how that started.  People continuously mistyping "the" and finally just giving up. But that one works, somehow.) I can't help but think a little less of the writer. Or wonder how it got past the editor.

I do believe that using language well, with your i's dotted and your t's crossed is important.  If your message is important enough for you to write about then it's important that you don't distract from that message with misspelled words.  And if Blogger doesn't know the word you can always Google it. It's kind of amazing really when you think about it.  Blogger is owned by Google but their spell check isn't anywhere near as good as Google's.

So yes, a lack of formality can detract from your message.  If you're talking about politics or science or critiquing a film or novel, you need to make spell check your friend. There's nothing quite so lovely to read as a well crafted blog posting. Whether it be filled with snark or exposing a grave injustice, they can be a thing of beauty.

12 comments:

Fragrant Liar said...

I totally agree. Chek yer speling peeple!

ZIRGAR said...

I'm most unkind toward myself with my spelling and grammar, but I'm not as judgmental towards others in that regard. It's not that I hold myself to a higher standard, it's just that I've always been my own worst critic about, well, everything, so I make sure I do what I can to make sure it's as good as I can get it. Having said that, yes, if anyone's post is filled with errors it can be very distracting and annoying. A few errors are okay, but if it's a consistently persistent pattern, it's time to get a rules of grammar handbook. lol

Unknown said...

Blogger has spell check? Where?

Actually, you smirk and I cringe. It makes me feel that the people posting (anything) don't care enough to make it as right as they can. I'm bad about grammar too, but so much of this blogging is for fun, so don't worry about it.

The one word I see being used wrongly the most is your when they're saying you're! That drives me crazy!

Good post, kiddo.

Grandpa Eddie said...

I hear ya True Blue. I can't stand it when I post something that's spelled wrong (unless it was intentional) and have to edit it to fix the mistakes.

I have to chuckle sometimes when I read something from someone who thinks they are so "intelligent" (usually right-wingers) and they have numerous mistakes. Then there's the atrocious spelling of the trolls.

I just checked this twice to make sure I didn't screw up.

Grandpa Eddie said...

Trying to make sure I didn't screw up and forgot to click the "email follow-up."

Pseudo said...

Well, I think a huge purpose of having a blog is the ability to self publish. So, for me, I write most of my posts on word and edit them there. Plus, that gives me a chance to save them in my documents.

I do break grammar rules (I especially like a well placed sentence fragment and starting a sentence with And for emphasis). But I'd like to think when I do break rules it is on purpose.

I have to slow down in my commenting. I make tons of typos, which I catch in an edited post, but not my comments I leave all over the internet. I have gone back to comment threads, seen all my typos, and just cringed...

Anonymous said...

I am the first to admit that I am a horrible typist and always time crunched. I use spell check every time I post, but the one on Word Press is awful.

Maybe I should either reconsider blogging.

Sidhe said...

Yes! I'm in total agreement on this one (and going to obsessively check all my old posts to find the offending misspellatures that I've tried to pass off as total truths...oops that was one!)

Seriously, I agree, it's hard to take someone seriously when they don't even take the time to edit themselves (and I must admit sometimes I press post before I edit...guilty).

Stacy Hackenberg said...

@Pseudo- Oh, the times I have have mistyped something in a comment and hit the publish button without looking.

@Catherine- You may NOT stop blogging. Don't even think about it.

@Grandpa- Glad to know someone else corrects their posts. Misspelling, left out words, the wrong they're/their/there or your/you're or its/it's. You name it. I've done it and then had to go back and fix it. Embarrassing as hell, especially when numerous people have commented so I know they've seen it.

I think we've all hit the publish button too quickly at times. I almost never write my posts in Word first and generally use Blogger. That's why it's so annoying when they're spell check acts up. And I ask you, when will they put Obama in their dictionary? Seriously folks. It's the President of the United States. Some names should just be in the dictionary.

And to think I have a degree in Journalism. My parents wasted that chunk of change.

Lori ann said...

Oh dear, I'm in trouble then:) I am not a writer at all, so I'm sure my grammer is mostly incorrect, but I try to be careful with my spelling, that I can control! somewhat!
♥ lori

Anonymous said...

I should never comment when i am exhausted. i was trying to make a joke and didn't even finish the sentence. LOL!!! I guess that proves your point.

Aliceson said...

On the more casual blogs I don't think that grammar is as big of a deal as spelling. Spelling mistakes bug me, but they are just that, mistakes. We all make mistakes, right? I read a blog that is full of simple spelling errors and yes it drives me nuts.

I always use the spell check even if it is the crappy Blogger spellcheck that most often tells me I'm spelling Blogger wrong. Hello?