Why can't people use proper english anymore?

Question

The more I read in Yahoo Answers, the more I'm convinced that the majority of Americans are functionally illiterate. There are more spelling, grammar and punctionation errors on one page than I've ever made my entire life.

Do they not teach spelling and grammar in school anymore? And if it's related to the "chat speak" phenomenon, do people really not care that they look like uneducated fools when they write that way?

Sorry this is a huge pet peeve of mine ...

Ok one person got me on "English" needing to be capitalized (thanks!).

This may be the trend, and what's cool, and how English is evolving in our high-tech society, but that does not mean I cannot have a pet peeve about it. I used to be a teacher and poor spelling and grammer definitely bothers me. I just want to pull out my red pen and start making corrections!

Oops I did spell "punctuation" wrong - unfortunately they don't let me go back and edit my post!

However I do not agree that the word "in" is necessarily required in the one case pointed out. In either case I still don't resort to "chat speak" or misspell every other word. And most of my misspellings are often due to poor typing skills, rather than poor spelling skills.

Answer 1

English is properly written with a capital "E." Just FYI.

Answer 2

Well, the problem that you are pointing out is not really a problem. It is the way in which the English language has evolved online. You might say that it has mutated. The fact of the matter is, this isn't school. There is no grade system here (there is a point system, though).
I think that typong out things on the computer has made our want to communicate that much more urgent. So much so that people are not concerned about their spelling and sentence structure. We want to get our point across.
A well written (typed) sentence with proper grammar and spelling is nice, but a sentence written with spelling errors and poor grammar may still beat the first if the arguments are stronger.

BTW, Are you a teacher?

Answer 3

Dear Gabi! I don't think teachers are bad. It depends on people's wish. Many of them never mind what kind of writing they have. They are quick and don't care whether they have mistakes or not and I agree that it' s a kind of a slang sometimes to be short and understood here in the Internet . For me it' s really important because i am not English and feel shame when I make mistakes. Because I MUST respect the foreign language I use. But all the same I try to be correct when speaking Russian. It's my nature. I can't help. If I made some mistakes. ... sorry. Irene

Answer 4

"Punctionation"? My, that's new!
Sorry, before you openly criticize anybody or any group online, please determine whether you live up to your own expecations. As for me, I could not care less.
English, as we all know is a vibrant, living and dynamic language. Any changes or additions to it is fine by me, whether it be in style, form or substance (unless it goes against common decency). Besides, what matter is not the style or form, but whether we communicate and understand each other.
Believe me, "corrupting" the English language would not mean the end of the world. In fact, if we all understand each other pefectly whether it be in English or any universal language, then in the spirit of Louis Armstrong's song, " What a wonderful world it will be!"
Cheers!

P.S.
Your sentence.."There are more spelling, grammar and punctionation errors on one page than I've ever made my entire life."
Comment: (aside from punctionation)
You should have placed an "in" between "made" and "my".

Answer 5

Gabi,

To address your concerns about proper usage of grammar and the dis functional use of our language:

1. We often mimic things in this country and seldom see our language properly executed except for the evening newscasters.

2. I do agree with you about chat talk and the abbreviations for everything is somewhat annoying. Whether it is on line, email or text phone messages. Included is my sadness regarding the demise of using a pen and paper as communication.

In conclusion, I do not feel that "long winded" grammatically correct monologues will ever make a comeback.

With highest regards,

Denise

I only made a B and that was 25 years ago...so I"m sure I suck2!

PS. Very good question, pet peeve or not.

Answer 6

I feel your pain. Wow. I read an article on some news site recently that people somewhere were trying to push for the English language to be spelled how it sounds. They cited the chat speak phenomenon as evidence that the country was ready for the shift in spelling. They wrote most of the article with the newfangled idea of how words should be spelled. It was painful. I literally had to sound out each word to figure out what the article said.

I wonder if those who can't take the time to type out a word in completion think they look all snazzy with their truncated versions of language? I dislike being all judgmental, but I have to agree with you that chat speak creates an aura of ignorance for the writer. I tend to not bother reading stuff that isn't written with words.

Answer 7

I felt this way for awhile when I first started getting involved with this site. After time I came to realize that many people who use this site also use English as a second language. To be fair. I took forever to type this because i rarely use capitalization when typing anymore due to growing up in with IM being a major source of communication. Sure, I type fast. However I spell terribly, and am lucky to have graduated college already. It would prove to be difficult to go back and write a paper now, with the habits I have picked up.

Answer 8

I have learned while developing an educational model, that people are "uneducated fools" and are "functionally illiterate" because they were taught that spelling and grammar was more important than language and communication. Instead of learning how to use the typewriter, they should have been learning about what they might want to type about.

Answer 9

even as criticizing others try to be perfect, because there is continually someone who's conscious more beneficial than you... one million. "English" is continually capitalized. This sentence... "shall we face it, 1/2 the posts that flow up right here have negative English,".... must have resulted in a era, not a comma. Commas educate pause, not finished supply up. This sentence... "Do people only not hardship or are we genuinely dropping the ability to apply perfect grammar and spelling because of texting and such?".... ought to were written like this: {Do people only not hardship? Or are we genuinely dropping the ability to apply perfect grammar and spelling because of texting and such?} or you'll have inserted a comma between "hardship" and "or". So, write it good your self or close THE H.ELL UP.

Answer 10

I think it's because they are just plain lazy. They don't want to look it up to see how it is spelled properly or if it's used right in the sentence. Maybe it is also that they think it's a waste of time. Like they think that it is easier for them to write and for people to read if they just type "u" instead of "you". It's just the hot new trend going around or something.

Answer 11

I am with you here. I dread to think what English teachers go through trying to prevent "net speak" with the kids they teach. The internet has led to a serious destruction of the English language, and not just written.

I actually hear kids using it verbally, more and more now.

I don't think it's that they do not teach spelling & grammar, so much as kids don't care, and are used to typing net speak, and short cutting everything. It's horrible.