To the teachers of America: Has spelling and grammar really become as awful as what I see at Yahoo Answers?
346891
you shouldn't say what or at in the above sentence, it should read ...as awful as that which I see on Yahoo Answers\n\nActually i'm from Ireland. Canadian indeed!
1056987
Sometimes I wonder about people who post here who say the are going to attend a university, yet they misspell words and their grammar is simply awful.  Makes me wonder what kind of university they will be attending.  Some questions posted are almost incomprehensible, what with poor spelling, and bad sentence structure.  Sometimes, I know very literate people will misspell on purpose... but I don't do that myself. I like to see words written correctly.  I try to correct my own sentences, most of the time. I don't know, is it that people want to sound/look dumb so they "fit in"?  \n\nI do realize that this site has people from all around the world, and for many, English is probably not  their native language, so grammar and spelling may be difficult for them.  I'm not frustrated, but I do censor what I read at times, based on the type question, and the literacy of it too.   I figure, if someone cannot write pretty much correctly, they will probably be clueless as to what I write in my replies.  Maybe that is presumptuous on my part, but I do like to use words that a barely literate person probably won't be able to read or understand.  \n\nThen again, spelling doesn't always affect my replies, especially with kids.
204867
In the past I have been asked to proof read papers people are writing for a college class.  Their grammar and spelling were so bad I just had to tell them to type it in Word and use its spelling and grammar tools to proof it.  Being obsessive compulsive, I just couldn't deal with the thought of it. \n\nI'm not perfect but the lack of grammatical skills most people possess amazes me.  What amazes me even more are the grades college students are getting turning in papers like that.  I imagine there is some point the teachers just throw up their hands and say, "f-ck it!"  \n\nApathy seems to be the root of the problem for both teachers and students; they just don't care.
366401
You are at a university, and my English is better than yours???? WOW. I know I type bad sometimes, but if students in universities type or communicate as bad as you, then our country is in deep troubvle. And I only have a high school diploma.
20759
I agree with you, but some people are just too lazy or type too fast (and don't realize their mistakes). Unless Yahoo! was to add a spellchecker that checks the spelling of all posts, I don't see these people improving their spelling and grammar.\n\nAlso, there are people on this website that haven't learned correct grammar or spelling (because they are new to the English language).
825870
I think it's an example of everyone's growing laziness. I'm sure that I'm not the only who's noticing an epidemic of doing the minimum, not just with spelling. Especially with kids, though adults are also at fault, there is the rush to do the the smallest amount of required work in the smallest amount of time. And spelling is one of the places where it's worst. Most sites that I surf for info are published and spell checked, but forums drive me nuts. They're a great way to get answers, but I get pissed off because some many people have so many useful things to say, but their spelling is terrible. It's not too hard to decode some basic mistakes, but there are many large errors that compromise the meaning of a sentence (or should I say fragment).\nI find it very, very, annoying, but I don't see anything that can be done about it. Apparently the auto spell check that places a squiggly line under misspelled words and obvious check spelling button aren't enough. But at least there still are some who use the built-in spell check features.
625899
Mistakes!  I write terribly, and sometimes don't notice how dumb the question/grammar/spelling is until after the question is posted. \n\nThen I try to delete it and re-write it. \n\nI apologise since I have been guilty of that. It is a lesson learned. I'll be more careful in the future.\nThanks for the question. It has been helpful.
285777
I'm glad you and the 2 answerer's above me are in the same boat.  I find it quite appalling the butchery of basic English grammar, spelling, and syntax on YA.  This is stuff you learn in elementary school.  Many of the questions and answers need a CIA or NSA code breaker to figure out what the hell they're trying to say.
435713
Just read, "Does it matter?" as a response.. No, I'm not surprised. You don't have to be an elitest or an English major to speak and spell properly.  Maybe it's just me, but I feel it's a "respect" for others, again sorely lacking on this site.  Watch the nasty responses to this.  Love to mix it up!
373422
they have become too dependent on spell checkers and calculators..\n\nI usually give them this like to go play at...\n\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revisewise/english/spelling/
628913
I think that there is an increased tolerance for poor grammar and spelling in our junior high schools and high schools. I think that students have gotten lazy using the computer with spell check and no longer take the time to be certain that their language usage is correct.\n\nI also think that text messaging and chat rooms help the notion that poor spelling and typing skills are okay. In fact I think that their peers encourage poor writing skills with the use of "u" or "dat" in online communication.\n\nI also think that our children don't read enough and that schools don't do enough to encourage reading as a pleasureable passtime and to instill a love of learning, language, and literature into children.
828112
Absolutely. I may only be 16, but I detest incorrect grammar. Why must anyone have an excuse for it? How can anyone misuse a little mark (the apostrophe)? Are they so stupid as to be outsmarted by the apostrophe and the simple rules that come with its use? I must admit that correct grammar is not taught properly (in my school, at least) at GCSE level. The only time I have come across a grammar lesson was for coursework requiring it! It isn't just you; I have noticed the decline in the use of the apostrophe, the semicolon, the colon and even the full stop! It's time we put an end to this and stand up against poor punctuation, grim grammar and substandard spelling. One area of debate, however, is that of the serial comma. . . I don't use it. . .
400153
I have often seen these mistakes go unchecked by the teachers at my daughter's school. When I asked why, I was told that the thoughts and emotions being expressed were more important than the manner in which they were expressed. I disagree. I cannot take a person seriously if they cannot spell and punctuate. I'm afraid I automatically assume they are stupid. Sorry!
1109347
I wholeheartedly agree with your statements and thank you for expressing them here. \nWith respect to your question, I don't think that the overall quality has deteriorated, because it was never good to begin with. It's just that the population sample is getting larger and therefore the absolute amount of gibberish is also larger, and more noticeable. \nDiscouraging indeed... but I'm still holding on.\n\nLike other users, I support the idea of a Mandatory Tutorial that all users should take _at least_ once, to make explanations, suggestions and rules clear. This MT would include real examples of Dos and Don'ts. \nYou're welcome to the Forum to discuss these ideas and (maybe, sometimes, perhaps) engaging the actual Yamsters in our discussions--> link at the upper right corner
713859
I am convinced it is.  Such a sad state of affairs.  It seems like half the people on here are illiterate.  \nUnfortunately it isn't just on here.  I have corrected my kids teachers! My daughters kindergarten teacher had two misspelled words on the board: 'Wheelbarrell' instead of wheelbarrow and 'busses' instead of buses.  \nMy sons teacher wrote 'hassel free' instead of hassle free. \nI give up.......
202552
I have the same concerns and not just here in Yahoo Answers.  Certainly we all make mistakes in spelling from time to time. We sometimes transpose words and letters.  Some here obviously do not have a familiarity with English due to culture or age.  I do not believe that it is just a matter of this being an informal format.  Part of being in this Yahoo Answers is to communication with others.  \n\nThe numbers of questions which I have seen asked that are simply not clear is astounding.  It’s not a matter of just misspelling or using the shorthand methodology of writing, these are bad enough on their own, but the inability to structure a clear sentence is as startling as a bright sunset.  To me this represents either a lack of education or a disrespect for the people who attempt to read these questions.  More over, the answers often follow the same pattern of inability to communicate.  \n\nIf we were all together in a room we would have additional tools to facilitate clear communication, such as tonal inflection, facial expression, body language, the context of a specific subject under discussion and possibly even knowledge of those speaking.  All of this contributes to clear communication. \n\nHere in Yahoo Answers (as with nearly all internet exchanges) we are limited to the written language.  Maybe the use of the term “limited” is in error because the English language is a strong and vigorous tool to accomplish communication, if and when we use it.\n\nNothing is unusual with groups who develop a language variation centered around their association.  Those in the computer field do it as do those in the medical field or the police field or those in mathematics or those of specific geographical areas and many other fields, but when they talk with or write for the general public they use standard English. \n\nOf course it maybe simply a matter of education.  I believe few learn the art of parsing a sentence or the ability to comprehend the reading of classical literature, or any literature for that matter and that seems to extend into comprehending current writings.  For all of the technical advances in our times literacy seems to be decreasing and comprehension seems to be dropping along with it.  In the source link here one can find the Eighth Grade Graduation Test for Salinas, Kansas 1895.  I think even today’s teachers would find it challenging.  For fun, go there and try only the Grammar section.
474630
Galin, you are so right!! I am a stickler for correct spelling,punctuation,etc. Makes you wonder sometimes how much these people actually listen and retain what they hear in school. I am proud that you {a smart person} are on answers. Keep the comments coming!!