Spelling and grammer

[Edbear]

You missed the point - I was complementing you and giving credit for the effort you have obviously made to improve the grammar in your post.

Perhaps you are gun shy from some of my other post about you - but I was being genuine and honest in the praise about how you have improved (not that I think praise from me means anything - but hey take it when its offered).

It's "complimenting"...

Yes, because I think rudeness is uncalled for... simple.

Depends on the situation...

Main Entry: rude
Pronunciation: \ˈrüd\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): rud·er; rud·est
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin rudis; probably akin to Latin rudus rubble
Date: 14th century
1 a : being in a rough or unfinished state : crude b : natural, raw c : primitive, undeveloped d : simple, elemental
2 : lacking refinement or delicacy: a : ignorant, unlearned b : inelegant, uncouth c : offensive in manner or action : discourteous d : uncivilized, savage e : coarse, vulgar
3 : marked by or suggestive of lack of training or skill : inexperienced
4 : robust, sturdy
5 : occurring abruptly and disconcertingly

— rude·ly adverb

synonyms rude, rough, crude, raw mean lacking in social refinement. rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy . rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness . crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive . raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished .

Well normajeane is still with me.....does that count?

She's an amazing woman...

[Genie]

While I understand Rocketgal68's point, there really is no excuse for poor spelling on KB as there is a spell check option provided when posting. (See attached pic, it's circled in red) It's a one time download of a small program, and it makes your post easier to understand (and perhaps shows you the correct spelling). I just can't understand why people don't use this option if they have difficulties with spelling.
Grammar isn't quite so easily fixed, but at least if people can understand the words it's a step in the right direction!

thanks....i wondered where one of those thingy whatsit might be.....ah the joy of spellcheck....hahaha......

[Genie]

To those who question the value of proper English. Look at these two sentences:

1. I helped my uncle Jack off the horse
2. I helped my uncle jack off the horse

The use of a capital letter really changes the meaning here.

Jrandom, that weird daze-thing that stupid people get, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning...3Kruger_effect It's a quick, interesting read. I think we're probably all afflicted by this to some degree.

I'm blonde and had to read this twice before I "clicked".

Very amusing. Laugh Out Loud!

[Naki Rat]

I understand now and will tell you this because I dont think I had told you this in the past.

When I first joined Kiwi Biker I had no clue with English at school, the grades were failing far from other learners. Wbks can recall when I didn't even know basic Grammar (mostly because there were some pitfalls in earlier life).

Through help from Hitcher, Wbks, you and at general reading people's posts I had got better and more I think the word is 'eloquent'. I had some of the best scores in my class, Excellence in extended written text and Merit in visual oral text! Who would of thought Kiwi Biker could have such a profound impact. So I thankyou all.

I am definitely grateful I think for the most part my 'creative writing' far excels other learners because *snicker* I'm known to tell tales on here but good ones. And yes I actually got Excellence in Drama too, the teacher told me I have a natural talent with devising Drama, Comedy and Improvisation so now the kettle can finally call the pot black! Maybe Kiwi Biker taught me some of that too, really I think the teacher was saying im a successful troll on stage and off.

So a big hug to you all, despite our differences, shortcomings, Ignores I will share this one moment in peace.

Very well (and eloquently) put. My thought is this: Was your improvement due to those on KB kicking your (virtual) arse in ways that the education system failed to?

[Dean]

Very well (and eloquently) put. My thought is this: Was your improvement due to those on KB kicking your (virtual) arse in ways that the education system failed to?

Yes I do believe so, members kicked me into gear (virtually) way more then Teachers at school could. The power of peer pressure to reform.

[Tink]

Yes I do believe so, members kicked me into gear (virtually) way more then Teachers at school could. The power of peer pressure to reform.

Not everyone is as brave as you, so it seems! Good on you for changing for the good, and braving the grammar police, to improve yourself.

But once again those grammar police don't get my point. ah sigh as she slips into oblivion... TUI!!! lol

[wbks]

Not everyone is as brave as you, so it seems! Good on you for changing for the good, and braving the grammar police, to improve yourself.

But once again those grammar police don't get my point. ah sigh as she slips into oblivion... TUI!!! lol

What is your point?

[Naki Rat]

Not everyone is as brave as you, so it seems! Good on you for changing for the good, and braving the grammar police, to improve yourself.

But once again those grammar police don't get my point. ah sigh as she slips into oblivion... TUI!!! lol

What is your point?

At the risk of firing up a slanging match, the point is that the current education system is selling its students short by allowing them to be wrapped in cotton wool rather than be exposed to the realities of the big wide world. Rocketgal68's attitudes are just an expression of the education system she is part of.

[Ixion]

There are two spelling exceptions which are embraced by all - gargre and sprotsbike. These are iconic.

You have omitted prak, crusier (and , debateably, tourier), and worngA . We owe much to Mr Sk8r-Boi.

I had some of the best scores in my class, Excellence in extended written text and Merit in visual oral text

Well done. But, WTF is "visual oral text". It sounds a contradiction in terms. How can 'text' be 'oral' ?

Personally I have no problem with how anyone spells . Or grams. Or puncts. The meaning is usually clear enough (and the whole point of txt is that it IS understandable). The innernettubes are not , by and large, a formal place. There is a time for strict formality and a time for colloquialism. Both are acceptable, in their own place. And da England is a flexible thing.

[Tink]

At the risk of firing up a slanging match, the point is that the current education system is selling its students short by allowing them to be wrapped in cotton wool rather than be exposed to the realities of the big wide world. Rocketgal68's attitudes are just an expression of the education system she is part of.

I was going to hide in a corner and watch, but thought I might mention that I work under the Cambridge Education system.. not the NZ one.

[Tink]

What is your point?

My point has been pointed out I don't know how many times on this thread... shall I point it out again... don't blame you if you have not read the whole thread, its getting rather long... can we kill it please.

peace love & mungbeans to Hitcher Naki rat & whomever else does not understand that we are all not the same... and I will admit the typing skills were a a bit under the weather last night, I can contribute wine to that!

[Dean]

Well done. But, WTF is "visual oral text". It sounds a contradiction in terms. How can 'text' be 'oral' ?

Visual oral text: Is a movie we studied in class, we do a formal essay on it mentioning the use of soundtracks, lighting etc. Hence 'visual' and 'oral'.

Extended written text is a Novel we studied in class in which we write a formal essay about it and the use of etc etc.

[MikeL]

Amazing that a discussion of language can bring out such a slew of insecurities, prejudices and mindless mud-slinging. At least it shows that language matters. FWIW (as someone who has spent a lifetime studying and teaching language and languages) here are some random observations:
1. Language is a processs of two-way communication. Any "noise" in the message means that the recipient has to work harder to decode it. At worst, faulty pronunciation, spelling, grammar, vocabulary or punctuation can render the message ambiguous or incomprehensible, but even less serious errors increase the processing required in the listener or reader's brain. I used to work with Asian students and doing four speaking tests in an hour invariably left me with a headache, such was the intense concentration needed to understand them. To ease the burden on the recipient of your communication is common courtesy; to do otherwise, when you have the opportunity to make the effort, is laziness or arrogance.
2. Blame for the "dumbing down" that has incontestably occurred in the teaching of English over the last thirty years needs to be shared between the education system itself and society in general (there is a very clear "chicken and egg" situation here). Schools no longer teach grammar, spelling and punctuation seriously because the teachers don't have the knowledge or skills themselves to do so. A generation or so ago there was a radical change in the approach to language teaching that was effectively a reaction to what was seen as a narrow, prescriptive and tedious teaching programme which stifled children's creativity. At the time there was a very clear message from the theorists that teaching "correct" spelling and grammar was simply a means of social control. We are now reaping what those educational theorists of the 60s and 70s sowed.
3. Knowledge is power. The ability to use language effectively is of immense importance politically and economically. Look at the advertising industry or political spin doctors. A society with a high level of literacy (not measured by a crude yardstick of "who can read and who can't", but by ability to understand complex language) is less easy to manipulate. It is frightening to contemplate the future when you know that a large proportion of Form 7 students are unable to follow a sentence that runs to any more than about two lines, because they have forgotten the beginning by the time they arrive at the end.

[Grahameeboy]

At the risk of firing up a slanging match, the point is that the current education system is selling its students short by allowing them to be wrapped in cotton wool rather than be exposed to the realities of the big wide world. Rocketgal68's attitudes are just an expression of the education system she is part of.

And how does Grammar expose kids to the big wide world??...don't you have to go out into the big wide world to be exposed.....take Richard Branson....he was no good at school yet has businesses in the big wide world and is the 261st richest person in the world.

Sorry but what you say just does not add up

[Ixion]

Things have indeed changed since my day.

Writing a critical essay on a novel we called English Literature. But movies are now part of the English curriculum? Tempora mutantur, I guess.