The simple solution is to write your post in Word, spell check it and then copy and paste. One of the often overlooked advantages of using a spell checker is that it engages the user in correcting both grammar and spelling and improves the quality of their written English. (It keeps the spelling Nazis happy as well!).
coolnzmum,
Mar 1, 7:39am
The problem is the more we accept bad spelling the worse the problem becomes.If you as a parent don't care about spelling mistakes how do you expect your kids to learn to spell.
Same as anything if we accept lower standards then the standards keep dropping.
budgel,
Mar 1, 7:40am
If you use a spell checker you have to make sure you are not using Amerikan [sic]english.
ofive,
Mar 1, 7:42am
The problem is this is a message board, most dont take their time trying to impress others with their spelling, as long as their point gets across who gives a flying fuuck
xacoon,
Mar 1, 7:44am
I like to make an effort with my spelling, but at the end of the day not everyone is a good speller, or good grammatically. My grammar sucks, as does a lot of peoples. But throwing a little hissy fit because someone used the word brought instead of bought though is just childish and wanky. (he knows who he is) The thing I find annoying is txt speak, Or ToSsErS ThAt TyPe LiKe ThIs. that actually do make it painful to read. a missing or mixed up letter here and there doesn't mean squat, if you can understand it live with it.
sifty,
Mar 1, 7:56am
Yeah, agree with coon. If the post is generally ok I don't care, but when it is put together like they don't give a rats it irks me a bit. My pet hate ismis-spellings on the likes of adverts, flyers, menus etc. If a company can't be bothered checking things before they are printed I assume they are just as slack with other aspects of their business, so prefer to look elsewhere. Same deal with CV's as mentioned above.
What I do enjoy though is when someone gleefully points out a mistake on the likes of here, and there are errors in their post too.
hijacka,
Mar 1, 8:07am
agreed. who cares about spelling and grammar on here as long as you understand it your sweet and if someone else corrects you then they understood it anyway so WTF.but must admit i hate auctions with spelling mistakes and grammar problems can be miss leading at the best of times especially when you ask questions and cant understand reply there english is that bad
socram,
Mar 1, 8:14am
Isn't it all about standards!There's a lot of hypocrisy in here when people are only to quick to point out someone's mechanical shortcomings, but can't take it when someone points out glaring spelling errors!
I'm with Clark, Boxy and Sifty on this.
If someone points out that I am writing "break" instead of "brake', then I'd appreciate the guidance, as I am keen to improve.
Its rather like the road rage brigade.They cut you up or drive through stop signs in front of you, then give YOU the fingers (or worse) when you hoot or flash your lights.
English is complex, but what is so wrong with trying to get it right!
Just for the record, I failed the equivalent of school C in English - and all other subjects except Art - and only just passed that, so I am no academic and I rarely use a spell checker.Occasional typos though.
cordia_4g63t,
Mar 1, 8:22am
The most common mistake I see people make is between "bought" and "brought". "Their" and "there" are at the top of the list too, same goes for "your" and "you're". This is the sort of stuff we were all taught in primary school, but for some people it never sunk in.
hijacka,
Mar 1, 8:28am
well that's kind of like putting a evo engine in a cordia now isn't it! and then naming yourself that is a mistake in its self!
purple666,
Mar 1, 8:33am
As for "txt speak" some of us will be computer users from way back before cell phones did txt when many shortened versions of words were used due to the lack of bandwidth available.
mrfxit,
Mar 1, 8:38am
Very specific words, YES
NOT whole sentences & conversations, (d0n'T gEt mE StaRtEd on DAT uDr cRaP)
cordia_4g63t,
Mar 1, 8:39am
That makes no sense at all.Your spelling is shocking by the way, 'itself' is one word.
hijacka,
Mar 1, 8:45am
see you understood it thou. *spins up 1 front wheel*
xacoon,
Mar 1, 10:22am
yep but everyones standards vary, and I find its not worth the hassle and fallout for trying to correct somebody that really doesn't care. I think its a shame the way the english language is falling into disarray, a lot of people really dont give a rats. joys of diversity in a public forum! I dont know, too many people just enjoy picking holes in others shortcomings to make it a worthwhile exersise correcting spelling and grammar. as long as they dont resort to txt speak and make an effort to be understandable, I'm fine with that
craigsmith,
Mar 1, 10:35am
They don't necessarily enjoy it, they're just being helpful. Or taking the opportunity to criticize/attack, if the other person is on the wrong side of an argument. Either way that person kind of has it coming.
If you're going to write content on a public forum, you are expecting others to read it. Cocking it up not only makes yourself look like an idiot, it's slightly rude to those people who then have to mentally correct your mistakes. If it's bad enough many will get pissed off half way through and simply skip your post - then you've wasted their time.
So it comes with the territory. If you don't like it, stick to phoning into ZB and stay away from a keyboard.
ofive,
Mar 1, 10:37am
There is a difference between the odd word wrong and every second word. JUmping on one or two words is just lame.
jsbike,
Mar 1, 10:52am
I dont see anyone taking the piss on here for bad spelling as such, if its a mistake or the poster is drunk (come one we all do that now and then!). No sympathy for anyone who asks questions in text speak and then gets shot down. Where is the McDuck (or Mc something) guy that used to be on here, he had bad spelling but no one really took the piss because he honestly had a hard time spelling.
rsr72,
Mar 1, 10:53am
The best Motoring thread in ages.
rob_man,
Mar 1, 11:24am
Guilty, I'm a bit of a spelling nazi but not because of the reasons most in here seem to think. My problem is that there's so much bad spelling that it's beginning to affect my own spelling and I now find myself having to stop and think about whether there's a d in privilege or some such. I can't understand how anybody who reads any published material can do so without picking up the basics of the language and the correct spelling of words such astheir/there/they're etc.
socram,
Mar 1, 11:26am
McDuck is probably partially dyslexic and we can accept that so having put up his hand that he had a problem, we generally ignored the errors in his posts and he did try.
Reading through my earlier post, I also put 'to', instead of 'too'.Typo, not ignorance.At least these days if you are quick, you can now correct your post, something you couldn't do not so long ago!
I suppose that having a dad who read through all my homework and then merely said "There are three spelling mistakes, correct them", made me more aware than most.Add time as a printer where I naturally proof read stuff before it was too late and I suppose like one or two others on here, bad spelling starts to stick out like a sore thumb.
Mechanics or engineers tend to sneer at amateurs for missing off lock washers or reusing Nyloc nuts for example, but surely, at some stage, they learned and pass that info on and they do so willingly, hoping that the person who reads it will then make an attempt to improve their skills.
Being schooled at a time when there were between 46 and 52 kids in every primary and junior school class and yet every kid was pushed to spell correctly, learned mental arithmetic and had a good knowledge of punctuation before the age of 11, having had a mum who left school in a small mining village at 14 to go work to suppor the family, as her dad died, but could still write well, means we grew up with only good spelling.
Yes, this is a motoring message board but only text speak really brasses me off, as it is just not the place for it.
rsr72,
Mar 1, 11:42am
Right on !
johnf_456,
Mar 1, 11:46am
Agreed. ^^. Theres better things to worry about on this forum, than spelling and punctuation.
johnf_456,
Mar 1, 11:52am
Indeed it is.
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