Is it wrong to corrrect people when the say a word that doesn't exist?

Question

For example, a lot of people use the word conversate, when really it should be converse and I am quick to correct someone. I don't do it to be rude, I correct them because I don't want them using a word that doesn't exist. What's your opinion?

I see a lot of people are pretty offended with this question. I do not go around and randomly correct complete stranger's grammar. I am talking about poeple in my life. I am just trying to do them a favor with not sounding ignorant to the next person using a word that doesn't exist.

Some of you need to calm the hell down. I am not arrogant nor consider myself perfect.

To set the record straight, I am always considerate when I correct someone.

Answer 1

Is it wrong to pick an elderly woman's purse and return it to her whe she drops it? Is it wrong to return a car you rented with a tank full of gas? Think of correcting people, as a favor. I've dealt with this problem many times and find that different people respond in different ways. So, I suggest that you simply find their good or happy side and try to be as sincere as possible. Anyway, good grammar is an excellent skill to study. Also think of it as a skill. Good luck to you. :)

Answer 2

Simple; it's called empathy. If you realize an action will hurt someone or yourself, don't do it. Would you like it if someone killed you? If not, don't kill anyone else. You don't need a higher power or a book of rules to tell you the difference between right and wrong. Religion or no religion, it's usually pretty obvious what will hurt someone and what won't. Even your average atheist doesn't go off on a killing spree. "If God doesn't exist then I'm simply not interested in sympathizing with anybody. Why should I be? What rule in nature says "do on to others as you'd have done onto yourself"? A stag kills other stags to get the female - does that mean he doesn't mind being killed himself? Of course he does. But still he kills: because he's purely selfish. Why shouldn't I be like that? Why should I "emphasize"?" So, I take it that you view yourself and a stag as being like-minded? If this is the case, I feel very sorry for you. If you can plainly see that an action will hurt someone else, why would you do it? Whenever I hurt someone or see someone in pain, I very often FEEL their pain. It emotionally (and sometimes physically) hurts me to hurt others, and I and many others who feel similarly don't have any belief in God whatsoever. I'm sorry you don't feel the same way. Also, are you saying that you do good deeds only out of fear of God and/or eternal retribution and not the good of your own heart? If so, I wish there was a way I could help you, but I'm not convinced you would accept my help even if I were able to offer it. Could you please tell me how killing someone would benefit you? If I know your reasoning, perhaps I can better answer your question.

Answer 3

I think there are a lot of interesting opinions/answers to your question. Each person no doubt is giving some good advice - in that they might think you were rude even when you never meant to be that way.

Using the word "correct" might have made them feel like you were being superior. It might have been better to say - how do I deal with it when someone misuses the word converse...

If you are truly confused - I would say to ask them if they meant converse. If you are trying to help them - understand that most people don't even care to be helped or that others misuse words.

It used to drive me nuts that professors in my bachelors business program would misspell words on the chalkboard. I thought - wow, you have a master's degree and you still don't know how to spell. I said something to classmates and found out that I was the only one who cared. It didn't bother anyone else. Then I realized I just had to relax and not be so critical of others.

You might not think you are being critical of others - but you put out the question. People are just giving you their honest answers of how they would feel.

Maybe next time you correct someone you might ask them if they think its wrong that you corrected them. Then you will have a more accurate in person response

Answer 4

I think it's very rude of you to do so. There is an old saying about being gracfeul means overlooking the flaws of others.
Although you say you do this correction in a "kind" way--the truth is that correcting someone in such a manner humiliates them and is very obnoxious, espcially since their mistakes are totally harmless. You doing so also reveals a lack of maturity on your part. Listen, obviously you are educated, as are many people, myself included. But no matter how many degrees you have, there is always someone with more degrees, more education, and a higher IQ than you. I can assure you that throughout your day, you make numerous, harmless mistakes that you would be embarassed about if someone with a PHd were there to correct you; like the fact that your question is a run-on sentence that should have a period or a comma after the word "converse".

Answer 5

no, as long as you don't do it all the time and say it in a "i think i am right all the time kinda way ,and the i know everything kinda way then you are fine.but if its like a slang word in my opinion it is not a good idea to always correct them because it could be offensive i have been offended by being corrected but yea so uh-mm if you do it toward one person more than others than it might be time to slow down.i do the same thing also but not that much.

Answer 6

My first impulse is almost always to correct the person. However, if you don't know them very well or don't think they will receive it well, it is best to let it go. I always hear people say "conversate" and I KNOW it's wrong, but I don't say anything. I may talk about them later with my mom, though. : )The other side of that is...if you correct people too much, they won't want to talk to you after a while.

Answer 7

No it is not wrong. And I only do it with people I know. I'm trying to help them out. I would hate for them to sound ignorant out there in the world with others! Most of the time it just makes me cringe! I have a friend who appreciates it because I don't do it in a mean way.

Answer 8

It is not what you do - it is how you do it and where.

To correct someone in public is appalling. Do not do it.
It does not make you look clever - it makes you look crude and ignorant.

If you are sure that the person that you intend to correct is willing to learn - and you are absolutely sure that you have the knowledge to make a correction - then to say at a date later something along the lines of "by the way - when you said .............., I wondered, I think that I would have said .............., would I be wrong?

At all times be aware that peoples feelings are on the line and never EVER forget this :

It is SO much better to have friends than to be right!

Answer 9

Depends if you come off as a know-it-all or are genuinely trying to improve or teach them something.Uneducated people tend to be very defensive because of their lack of vocabulary or correct way to express themselves.And then we wonder why the world is in the condition it has become when we allow and accept a lower standard of education that allows someone to graduate high school and cannot read,write,and have basic arithmetic skills.We are not doing them a favor by allowing them to not be able to provide for themselfs or protect themselves from others who would force them to become a lesser "slave" or unskilled laborer.Easier to pay out the $$$on saving the homeless, puting and purpetuating, over zealous control over the weakand less fortunate.Gotta have something to spend all those tax $$$ on!!HA!!DEDEDE

Answer 10

i have never in my life heard somone use 'conversate'. It doesn't even sound right! Unless it's obviously not a word ie not something that could be easily confused as being a word, then I won't correct. It also kind of depends on who the person is, as some people can see this as being snobby

Answer 11

I think it depends on who they are. If it's someone that you're familiar with or comfortable with, I see no reason to not correct them. Some people use words that aren't correct repeatedly as part of a style of speaking, I guess you could say. In that case, I wouldn't confront them. They most likely don't care that their grammar is incorrect.