Does anyone worry about the terrible English, atrocious spelling & bad grammar in the questions and answers?

Question

It seems to imply that a lot of people come out of our education systems without having been taught the most basic element of education, our language. This applies to both the UK and the USA. Should this be a cause for concern in both countries?

Hey folks, I assure you that I am NOT tearing my hair out about this. I have far more personal & serious things to think about. It's just a question, that's all! No need for anyone to get their knickers in a twist!

Answer 1

Yes, this is a concern to me. Especially when there is a perfectly good spell check available.

Also, please don't be offended by all the idiotic answers you will inevitably receive.

Answer 2

I had been thinking that the standard of English on here has improved over the past couple of months! If you're new, it was a lot worse last year, to the point where lots of answers were almost incomprehensible, written in text language, and I gave up trying to read them. There doesn't seem to be so much of that on here now.

Last year there were loads of questions similar to yours, with the general agreement being that it does matter. In my view, it's all about communication. People must be able to get their point across so that others can understand what they're trying to say. It's like being on the road - we all adhere to a system, and that's why it works. Texting is OK, but only in its place. The general level of bad English seems to be a fault of the education system: my children are way behind the level I was, at their age.

People will say that language is subject to change; true, but it's also subject to abuse.

Answer 3

Of course it is of concern. When I was younger if you did not know how to spell a word you looked through the dictionary until you found it and noted the correct spelling. Nowadays, you type in any old rubbish, hit spellcheck, and select the one that is nearest to what you thought of - and it is probably still wrong. Also by using a dictionary you were able to read the meaning of the word and get a better understanding of the language. I work in the college system and find it abysmal the standards that are being produced by our 16-18 year olds. Some of them can barely do 'joined-up writing', but then of course, in this country under Mr Blair - some of them even get paid for attending school - it is all a ploy just to keep the unemployment figures down, as is his next idea of raising the school leaving age to 18. As for the USA - they can't spell properly anyway and never have been able to!!!

Answer 4

yes. I have *tried* to answer questions on here as much as I can...but unfortunately there are some where I (as a semi-college educated individual) can't even figure out what the question is! Its a little alarming. The average level of intelligence astounds me. Not only the spelling and grammar,mind you, but the questions some people ask!!!
I recently read, and responded to, a question written by a 15 year old girl. A girl who I would assume has been to a health class or two in her years of education. The question she asked was about her "very active" sex life. She asked a number of questions, but I will highlight the best: (obviously I translated it into proper English.) "Does the 'ice cube trick' work for contraception?" and "My boyfriend doesn't believe in condoms, so how else can I prevent getting pregnant?" *NO mention of STDs.*
How are children like this getting through our educational system!?! Its scary! I'm only 24 and I fear for our youth!

Answer 5

It is quite concerning, but I don't think it's any worse than it's ever been. It's just that the internet is BIG and has shown up problems of grammar/spelling etc on sites like this. Also I think people are in a hurry and so don't bother about writing properly. They also use "text-speak" for the same reasons. I'm sure they wouldn't write in this way if they were writing a job application, for example. I try not to judge people who don't write acurately. Language is changing all the time, and the most important thing is to get your point across.

Answer 6

Of course it should but soon there will be no-one left who will be able to correct them. The Americans constantly use the most ungrammatical expressions e.g. referring to a plane as 'flyable' and this has spread into the UK. What is the worst one you have heard? Incidentally I have just noticed there is a spell check on this page so perhaps we are spared the worst inaccuracies.

Answer 7

I know some people who refuse to use their intelligence to write and to chat using correct grammar and spelling. I mean, they're actually brilliant but very lazy, opting to shorten their sentences with gibberish and an influx of exclamations points. Sheer laziness fuels chat speak.

I should know. I live in the Philippines, where everyone shortens words to maximize SMS powers.

Answer 8

it's not good but equally it does'nt mean that the content of someones answer is incorrect.. dyslexia is not too easy to cope with and many very brainy people cannot spell, I used to be really annoyed by it but my husband has really suffered because he cannot spell despite having a great vocabulary he can even pick out errors but he finds forms etc. really stressful, weird really.. My dad is similar to my husband and struggled with applying for jobs he feels people look down on him cos of the odd misspelt word.. yet he's always more than capable of doing the job he has applied for

Answer 9

It's the same in Australia - it drives me crazy!! Students writing papers at university level who can't spell, use grammar properly and don't even have the nouse to use the FREE spell checker on their WP programs.. Does it follow on that goverment papers and business reports are as bad, if not now but certainly in the future?? Some journalists are certainly woeful right now!

Answer 10

I find it somewhat irritating, as a linguist. It annoys me, but it doesn't worry me too much. A kid may not be bothered with using proper English here, but typing nonsense on Y!Answers is very different matter from writing essays and filling in application forms later on. The latter SHOULD be done in 'proper' English; whereas here it doesn't matter one iota.

A lot of people just can't be bothered using punctuation, capital letters, etc, on a site like this. I'm not one of them, but there you go. I think that with the upsurge in mobile phone usage over the past decade, people often use 'textspeak' on computers when they want to get their point across quickly. The elder generations didn't have this option, whereas today's kids have grown up with it.

Answer 11

It is a major concern and to say that life is too short to worry about it is very short-sighted.

I don't know whether the problem is with the education system of whether people just can't be bothered to get things right or check them. But either way I think it shows a lack of respect for the people you are asking to answer your question.