Do you think it is patronising to correct folks questions? .. I think it is. Does it really serve a purpose?

Question

This grumpy middle aged woman has once again stepped out of the wrong side of the bed. When i read answers to other peoples questions or indeed my own and find that some smartie pants is telling you that your spelling or grammar are incorrect i want to see them face to face and tell them how clever they are . Usually errors are unintentional. I would not dream of correcting someone and that is not out of lack of confidence . I think it is courtesy. Amen Corner xx

Answer 1

Correcting other mistakes is not good enough. Correct first our self before we correct others. No man is an Island:))

Answer 2

Courtesy just to answer the question, yes.
But there is also a time when we have to draw the line between courtesy and bad grammar and bad spelling becoming a bad habit and a "don't care - no standard" attitude.

I certainly don't correct every question. It is more important to get the message of the serious question so to answer it well. Typos and misspelled words happens. I am not so pedantic that I will correct everyone of them. But it saddens me to see questions which COULD have been written a lot better but aren't.
Shouldn't we at least develop some pride in our ability to read and write well and the ability to communicate well?

Would you be proud if you see YOUR own children wrote a question using bad grammar and bad spelling after having spent so much effort and resources sending them to school?

"Usually errors are unintentional" - not so. Yes, some are but I see time after time words that are misspelled and they couldn't have been typos.

Answer 3

I think people do it when they themselves haven't got the intelligence to answer the question posed. It's easier for them to dismiss the question by saying "you're so bad at spelling and grammar", rather than having to think up a good answer.

I have mild dyslexia and love my computer cos it has a spell check. However, I have a degree and 2 masters degrees, so I know that spelling has nothing to do with intelligence.
My daughter has dyslexia too and she is so smart, I reckon she'll get into Oxford.
My Professor can't spell or write, but that doesn't stop him from being one of the worlds leading authorities on his subject.

Answer 4

I asked a question this morning with one word out of place and had some people point it out and correct me. I do agree proper grammar and spelling should be important but I don't see the thrill in making a poop over it. I will never have perfect grammar but I do try to get it right whenever possible. I guess it makes some people feel important correcting others when in fact they make themselves look small in the process. My opinion :)

Answer 5

We all make mistakes. Sometimes it's obvious that English is not the questioner's first language. The only thing that gets this middle aged woman grumpy is people who write in 'text' form. If I can't understand then how can I answer.
I wouldn't dare to criticise you.....can you imagine two middle aged gals slugging it out!?!
Mind you, cover us in mud and I bet a few on here would enjoy it!!!!

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Some are in here ,not for the banter,or the interacting,just to tell everyone else ,what better kind of human beings they really are.It is stropy/rude replies,that help everyone to make their own mind up tho !!!!
I replied to someone last night ,with a disagreeing view and strong language,but never rude or abusive,added in the end that any abusive comments would only show his education.....guess what?Abusive language was never used in his edit/reply to me,tho there was abusive language in the actual question !

Answer 8

Exactly. What is the need to correct someones grammar, especially when you can obviously read what the person is saying. It is patronising, and very annoying. Not everyone is gifted to spell as well as others, and who said this was a damn spelling test anyway? I give patronising a.holes a thumbs down. . .only wish I could give them more.

Answer 9

Patronising? well yes but I also think is quite rude and insensitive, being that many people write quite serious questions asking for help and on that basis grammar and spelling is irrelevant really.

Answer 10

I never correct people unless they ask me to.

Unless, of course, someone is making fun of someone elses spelling or grammar and they, themselves have made a mistake, I just can't resist!