Why do most people have a complete disregard for proper grammar?

1. 85

   BraidedZeroposted 11 years ago

   Why do most people have a complete disregard for proper grammar?
   
   I have found that so many people will publish articles without reading over them first for errors. Or maybe they just don't care. Why is it that most people now have no regard for proper grammar? They don't know how to use it and they don't care enough to learn...

   replyreport
2. 71

   ithabiseposted 11 years ago

   Hmm... I think the jury is out on the "most" part. I think many people care about their grammar, but they just don't know the rules well. Also, it is becoming too common to find conversation in the place of what should be well-written composition. (You cannot write how you speak!) And this often stems from time in social media. You're right on: People need to review their work carefully and even delay publishing it until they have done so.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      BraidedZeroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      True. I guess saying "most" was a little irrational. It just seems to be that way sometimes.

      replyreport
3. 61

   readwriteteachposted 11 years ago

   Ryan, my name is Johnna, and  I am a freshman composition teacher at a university. What I have learned from my students is that grammar is intimidating to most people. Many people are gifted writers who have suffered at the hand of teachers who did not look for meaning, but looked for errors, grammatical errors. Pointing out and marking errors is not the same as teaching writers how to recognize these errors and how to correct them. This type of assessment often makes individuals feel as if they cannot write even though they can. For those who are courageous enough to try writing again after being squashed by their writing teacher often do so very defensively, and they feel that what they write looks good the way it is, so they don't even worry about correcting grammar errors.
             To answer your question, I don't think, in most cases, that people don't care. In some cases, they don't know that they should read for errors before publishing. For some, they read through their writing, and don't recognize the errors, but for others, it is an act of rebellion against status quo. They want their work to be taken "as is" so to speak (or write). This is noble, but unless you are an extremely experienced writer, it's not a good move, in that meaning can be lost when good grammar, including correct spelling and word choice is not used.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      BraidedZeroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's a good way of looking at it. I can't follow someone's paper with a whole bunch of grammatical error. You could have an amazing point, but if you don't sound intelligent in the way you present it, people will overlook it.

      replyreport
4. 0

   RTalloniposted 11 years ago

   Looks like these answers will be worth following. Not much I can add to the good points ithabise and readwriteteach present.
   One fact they've not touched on is that even when proofreading we sometimes make honest mistakes.  It's best to give people the benefit of the doubt, as well as room to grow. 
   I know I appreciate that on this site.  Unlike teachers, we don't have to read poorly constructed posts that authors will not work to improve.  We can just let them die a natural death and get busy with our own work.

   replyreport
5. 59

   nightwork4posted 11 years ago

   i'm really bad for using proper grammar. i don't have a lot of education and as long as i can understand what someone is writing, i don't care if they're grammar is good either. i don't care enough to learn in the least bit. do you know how to build a house or do you care enough to learn?what's important for some, isn't always important to others.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      BraidedZeroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's a good point! I guess what some people view as important, others don't. My only argument is that if you're writing for the world to see, make it acceptable. It only looks bad on you.
      p.s. I actually use to build houses with my Dad!!

      replyreport
   2. 59

      nightwork4posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      i understand what you're saying but my point is that some people haven't been able to get a good education but they have amazing things to say. i would never hold bad grammar against them.

      replyreport
6. 0

   ivadeposted 11 years ago

   Maybe those are the reasons behind it for some people, but you also have to consider the fact that no all people on hubspage are coming from uk, us or any other countries that are using english as their primary language. Me, for example, I am coming from Malaysia, and english is not my primary language, to tell the truth. Malay is the official language of the country, but since I am a chinese, my primary language is chinese. Among friends, we use chinese to talk and chat, but when I am at home with my family, we are using another chinese dialect.
   
   There is also another reason behind it, maybe the person in which you are referring to knows a few languages and then he got mixed them all up when he is writing? That is just my guess, since it always happens to me. Right now, I know 5 different languages and I can speak them quite fluently, but the problem is, when it comes to writing, I will tend to mix all the spellings up. I am having the same problem as well when I am speaking, sometimes I will hesitate about the pronunciation of some specify words. That is just my opinion towards your question, hope that no harm has been done.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      ithabiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very cogent. I envy your knowing five languages. I wish I knew two! But for the three I can use fairly well or often, I understand what confusing them is like. Great answer!

      replyreport