Comments on: Correcting People’s Grammar

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:33:03 +0000

My boyfriend and I got into a fight last night about my habit of correcting his (and anyone else’s) grammar and usage mistakes. I appreciate when someone tells me I am pronouncing a word incorrectly or if I make a spelling error, and my mother corrected me also. I know it’s a nasty trait and I would like to stop, but I don’t know how to change my perspective and behavior. Suggestions greatly appreciated!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:55:41 +0000

Ugh, I think it’s obnoxious. My sister does this all the time and it’s just plain rude, and like Ashley mentioned in her video, it puts a damper on the rest of the conversation!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:09:33 +0000

I totally agree with you, Ashley. I think grammar is important, but not so important that it should be corrected in everyday conversation or informal types of writing. Let people express themselves however they want regardless of whether or not they’re following all the rules. There is, however, a place and time for grammar correction. Nothing bugs me more than reading a book with grammatical errors in it. Copyeditors are supposed to catch those mistakes and there’s no excuse for that.

By: phampants

phampants — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:58:21 +0000

Though I’ll admit this. I know how to properly use “who”, “of whom”, “to whom”, “whom”, “abl. whom”

By: phampants

phampants — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:56:23 +0000

I know I’m bad. I may get frustrated at times because I would debate in my head of what would be grammatically correct and then choose the wrong one. But that’s directed towards me. For me, it’s more important that people tell me I’m wrong so I can recognize it in the future. Maybe one day I’ll see my mistakes. I hope

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:49:50 +0000

Well, I’m all about correcting people who want to be corrected. I often enjoy talking about grammar and there aren’t a lot of outlets for that!

But, I’ve had a few people tell me they want to be corrected, and then clearly don’t like it when I do. I’ve also had people hand me their papers and say to correct whatever I see, but then when I hand back a fully marked up page, they don’t look so happy!

I admire people who can take that kind of criticism constructively, though.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:46:41 +0000

When it’s work, then sometimes you have to say something. I agree. In that case, it’s not just picking.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:45:38 +0000

I think once you ease up and stop correcting people, the need to do so slowly passes away. You don’t stop seeing the mistakes, but you stop letting them bother you. That happened for me, anyway.

This might be counterproductive, but aside from things like “your awesome,” I absolutely hate to see my adult friends write sentences with zero punctuation. It’s hard for me not to say something then.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:42:36 +0000

My friend Lisa and I make fun of each other all the time for grammar mistakes, but it’s definitely understood that we’re joking and they are usually slips and not a matter of one of us not knowing the proper grammar. We’ve invented all kinds of new words and phrases with our mistakes!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:40:07 +0000

That’s a really interesting approach to take in a class. I’ll have to keep that in mind.