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[Aileen]

What are your pet hates, and is "text speak" killing off correct spelling?

Mine - writing "would of" instead of "would have, and hearing people say somebody "has just went out".  With spelling it's the difference between "practice" (the noun) and "practise" (the verb), common when writing about tennis!

[Grabcopy]

I started a similar thread, which I'll now delete. Here's what I asked:

On another thread, we've had a bit of a debate going about sloppy written English. I'm a professional writer and I have a few bugbears, like sat/sitting (aaagh) and novel new words, like expecially. I was just wondering:

1) What bad examples get YOUR goat?

2) Were you taught grammar and correct punctuation at school? (I wasn't, and this is back in the 70s and 80s.) What type of school did you go to, and when?

3) Is txt-spk ruining the language?

4) How important do you think correctly written English is?

5) Do you automatically think people are 'thick' if they make basic language mistakes, even if they're, say, a doctor or lawyer?

[Joe]

I started a similar thread, which I'll now delete. Here's what I asked:

On another thread, we've had a bit of a debate going about sloppy written English. I'm a professional writer and I have a few bugbears, like sat/sitting (aaagh) and novel new words, like expecially. I was just wondering:

1) What bad examples get YOUR goat?

2) Were you taught grammar and correct punctuation at school? (I wasn't, and this is back in the 70s and 80s.) What type of school did you go to, and when?

3) Is txt-spk ruining the language?

4) How important do you think correctly written English is?

5) Do you automatically think people are 'thick' if they make basic language mistakes, even if they're, say, a doctor or lawyer?

Point 5: of course I don't genuinely think people are thick. Despite my occasional wind-up persona on here, I'm not a heartless snob. Basic grammar ought to be a key understanding for the likes of a doctor/lawyer, however. Simple ignorance in that sort of profession would be disturbing.

[Joe]

I think this level of ignorance on this subject is fairly acceptable in my profession, I make and develop websites. However, I'm well aware that basic mistakes like "would of" can make you look less intelligent even though I believe ignorance of something has no association to intelligence. Therefore, I do try and learn from these mistakes and write/type better online.

Agreed, seeing a heart surgeon incorrectly spelling simple words (and I have seen it in my job) doesn't exactly inspire confidence!

[Mark]

Talking of thick, Julia asked me today who our current prime minister was.

With some of the policies at the moment, it's Nick Clegg right? Ah.... you see, her ignorance is understandable.

[Mark]

No but seriously, Ed is not the most interesting prime minister we've had.

[colin]

1) What bad examples get YOUR goat?

Plenty, such as the use of the word less when fewer is more appropriate Writing 'your' instead of 'you're' and generally the wrong, or non, use of apostrophes.

2) Were you taught grammar and correct punctuation at school? (I wasn't, and this is back in the 70s and 80s.) What type of school did you go to, and when?

Yes, well it was a grammar school, in the 40s

3) Is txt-spk ruining the language?

I hope not. It might be appropriate for texting but not generally. It tends to restrict the vocabulary of those who use it too much.

4) How important do you think correctly written English is?

Very important, especially if you are trying to convey an exact meaning.

5) Do you automatically think people are 'thick' if they make basic language mistakes, even if they're, say, a doctor or lawyer?

I would expect doctors and lawyers to have a good use of the language

[Hazybear]

On my claims statement that was sent out to me for me to check over, the guy who had filled it in over the phone decided I had completed a MLitt in Medevil studies
I wasn't taught much beyond the basic grammar at primary school, and I think that my education in grammar at high school was better was more to do with the specific teacher than school policy.

I think the standards of English as a written language has dropped, though I wouldn't attribute complete blame to text speak, although it has a part to play. I shorten words etc when I am texting to fit everything into the text, but it doesn't effect the way I write the rest of the time.

Doctors be able to spell or write properly I think Doctors sit a special exam in scribble that they have to pass before they are allowed to practise.