Poll: When was the last time you corrected someone's grammar or spelling online? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When was the last time you corrected someone's grammar or spelling online?".
View the poll results »
| | | Other (yesterday) | Oct 24, 2018 |
It happens quite often with Kudoz questions. For the sake of the glossary, I either ask the asker to correct it before closing the question or I correct it myself. The last one was yesterday “cheking/checking)… P.S. The only people I occasionally correct offline are my children and a Bulgarian friend, but I’ve been asked to…
[Edited at 2018-10-24 12:23 GMT] | | | I voted "never" | Oct 24, 2018 |
I don't correct people's grammar. I'm more interested in what they have to say; their message is more important to me than whether they follow a given set of rules. I'm also aware that grammar evolves. It's not cast in concrete. Language is a living organism that is constantly changing. I studied linguistics for many years, and one of the things I learned is that today's "mistakes," if they gain enough currency, end up being "correct" sooner or later. Several years ago ... See more I don't correct people's grammar. I'm more interested in what they have to say; their message is more important to me than whether they follow a given set of rules. I'm also aware that grammar evolves. It's not cast in concrete. Language is a living organism that is constantly changing. I studied linguistics for many years, and one of the things I learned is that today's "mistakes," if they gain enough currency, end up being "correct" sooner or later. Several years ago I had a young tenant who was very ambitious about getting a good job (he later did) and moving up the corporate ladder. He would often say "Me and Suzy" [did such-and-such]. I gently pointed out to him that this construction would label him in the business world, and he was grateful for the heads-up. I think that's the only time I ever spoke to someone about their grammar. ▲ Collapse | | | Online, probably never | Oct 24, 2018 |
… Unless you mean just in my head, without actually making any impression, in which case I do it frequently. Off line, I have one or two regular clients who still send me editing jobs, and I explain grammar from my collection of styleguides, usage reference books and so on when asked. In private life I can be a pain in at least two languages… I know my Danish Retskrivningsordbogen and use it ... See more … Unless you mean just in my head, without actually making any impression, in which case I do it frequently. Off line, I have one or two regular clients who still send me editing jobs, and I explain grammar from my collection of styleguides, usage reference books and so on when asked. In private life I can be a pain in at least two languages… I know my Danish Retskrivningsordbogen and use it more than most natives. Take my advice, don't get me started!! Instead, buy RL Trask's Penguin Guide to Grammar, and use it. He gives advice for both US and UK English, and really knows what he is talking about. ▲ Collapse | |
|
|
I don't remember | Oct 24, 2018 |
I may do that, but not often. I noticed that when you do that, there's a big chance that you make a mistake yourself in your answer. | | | not online but... | Oct 24, 2018 |
I do complain about grammar mistakes in books if I review something on Amazon. E-books are particularly guilty, maybe they don't get properly proofread. As Muriel says, language changes ..... but it really makes me mad to see things like "he spoke to Mary and I". | | | neilmac Spain Local time: 22:50 Spanish to English + ... In the past few weeks | Oct 24, 2018 |
In fact, I was sorely tempted to correct a colleague's apostrophe misuse on the FB translators' page (Standing Up) today, but refrained due to professional courtesy, as it's a closed group, and anyway, I think minor mistakes are par for the course when posting comments on websites or blogs, etc.
[Edited at 2018-10-24 13:59 GMT] | | | Debora d'Amato (X) Italy Local time: 22:50 English to Italian + ... Last week for an email | Oct 24, 2018 |
Actually, I'm not used to correcting people's grammar. I do when they asked me and last week a friend of mine needed a kind of proofread for an email in his mother tongue. Sometimes I also need to be corrected when it comes with very formal mail. | |
|
|
Liena Vijupe Latvia Local time: 23:50 Member (2014) French to Latvian + ... I don't remember | Oct 24, 2018 |
In my head I do it all the time, but I almost never point it out, unless it's a friend or someone close to me who keeps making the same mistake every time or it can lead to confusion and needs correction for the sake of clarity. People (including me) don't always use their mother tongue, make typos and, like Muriel said, language evolves and, as long as I get the message easily, I don't really care. I do judge though when I see it in a professional setting. I take it as... See more In my head I do it all the time, but I almost never point it out, unless it's a friend or someone close to me who keeps making the same mistake every time or it can lead to confusion and needs correction for the sake of clarity. People (including me) don't always use their mother tongue, make typos and, like Muriel said, language evolves and, as long as I get the message easily, I don't really care. I do judge though when I see it in a professional setting. I take it as a sign that someone hasn't done their job well. I also don't share memes and social media posts that contain mistakes, even if I otherwise would. ▲ Collapse | | | 29 September | Oct 24, 2018 |
One of my children on Whatsapp (tu est). Mitigating circumstance: he left the French school to relocate in a Spanish environment when he was 5 years old. Philippe | | | Michele Fauble United States Local time: 14:50 Member (2006) Norwegian to English + ... Never, but ... | Oct 24, 2018 |
Please stop using 'beg the question' for 'raise the question'. I've seen it twice in the forums in the last week. 'Beg the question' doesn't mean what you think it does. | | | Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 18:50 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ... I don't remember | Oct 25, 2018 |
I'm resisting as much as I can, because 9 out of 10 times, the person feels offended and reacts almost violently, and most other users will defend them and accuse me of arrogance. So, let them be. I'll help those who ask for help. Period. | |
|
|
Ricki Farn Germany Local time: 22:50 English to German
Private internet use has its own spelling/grammar rule: As long as you can read it in at most three attempts (reading aloud to yourself included), it's spelled correctly. And if you can't, ask for clarification. | | | Kay Denney France Local time: 22:50 French to English
I try hard not to be that grammar nazi. As a matter of principile I only point out mistakes if they can lead to a misunderstanding, other than that I shut up. I also make mistakes on purpose to rile a grammar nazi on a chat forum I frequent. I think she's a retired schoolteacher, in which case I'm probably saving her from the onset of Alzheimer's | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: When was the last time you corrected someone's grammar or spelling online? Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |