Why are people frequently so bad at spelling/grammar on the Internet, barring mistyping?

Question

Is this the effect computers have on our use of conventional language and our grammar/spelling skills?

Answer 1

I think most tend to not put too much thought into it before posting. (Assuming you are referring to blogs, yahoo answers, etc.) They want to get their thoughts out there and posted before someone else beats them to it and says the same thing. That's my guess, anyway. I hope it's not bad schooling. :(

Answer 2

Personally,I don't think the Internet has anything to do with this other than making it visible. Some folks have always been bad spellers, and the use of correct grammar hasn't been popular for over a hundred years. Many people feel that they should be 'allowed' to do things any which way they want to; this spills over into spelling and grammar. Others feel that if something takes work (in this case, learning good grammar and spelling) we should change it so it's easy. So they do. Society in general looks for the easiest way to do things. I know of people who've been taking college courses -- college English composition courses, no less -- where the teacher made it very clear that "the spelling and grammar don't count." If this is the case in our colleges, this is what we are going to get. Set a standard low enough and eventually almost everyone will sink to meet it.

Answer 3

Generally people are too lazy to check themselves when they are typing on the internet. They type like they speak and most people I know use poor grammar while speaking.

It comes down to laziness. It clearly takes too much effort to be correct. I don't think it is the effect of computers though, I simply think computers point out the glaring errors people make in conversation on a daily basis.

Answer 4

I would like to know that,too. Don't they proofread and spell check. What do they think spell check is there?
I have a pen pal of a decade. I use it as a chance to improve punctuation, use new words, but am still not that good with the body of paragraphs.
Whatever happen to improving skill? Did it go out with Leif Grant's car accident that paralyzed his buddy?

Answer 5

It can be due to carelessness or a language difference. If you have ever seen teens converse via the internet you will often see them use a "shorthand" to convey their thoughts.
e.g.

"Wats ^" meaning "What's up?"
"dat" meaning "that" etc...

Computers still require the input of a human and can't be blamed for everything.

Do you speak, read, and write in other languages? If so , how proficient at it are you? No one will earn points for spelling or grammar in this forum.

Answer 6

it the time constraints...
for one you are anonymous, so who cares about spelling and grammar, two it is just the net and or a forum, so once again no big deal, three since most answer more than just one question who wants to check grammar and or spelling errors

Answer 7

Why are so many people illiterate in America and the education is free?????? People are never interested in free unless the can see the end benefit and there are too many who don't. Why is etiquette a dying lifestyle? Just like treating each other with respect???? Computers have nothing to do with it, its cultural and political.

Answer 8

Because people on the internet already have two strikes against them: they are losers and idiots. Except me, of course haha.

Answer 9

The slept during English class.

Answer 10

Yeez, I've had ten years in college, and who has time to spell.?

anyway , there are people there that need to get their question out ,
or , to answer one that they feel passitae about........Hey! Why are there always people, out there like you too correct others?
where you a hall monitor at school...come on ...I bet u where!

ms.kate,
(not meant to offend)