General Chat

What time would you do that then?

swearing in a public place is a criminal offence...

swearing on tv,films, should be banned. and the offenders prosecuted......

Bob

I don't have an issue with Jamie Oliver swearing but last night really set my teeth on edge.

He said that his event was going to be held at 12 pm.
THIS TIME DOES NOT EXIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is no 12pm or 12am.Twelve o'clock is the meridian.

is that the undertaking, cutting the corner,and T- boning the other driver?


wooops!
no sorry, thats the Massa Manouvre!

Bob

I think Athena put it very well. All of the spelling. grammatical etc criticisms on here get to me too. But on the message boards i accept that people (myself included) write quickly and as they are speaking. I know I am guilty of over use of ??? and !!! and even.... but that is because i am in a rush to get my thoughts down, I would never use them in essays or written work of any sort.

Nobody should be afraid to state their opinions when a question such as this is asked and nobody should be constrained to write perfect English on chat/message boards.

I really dislike the use of of for have too. (should of, would of really grate), but I would rather see it than have nobody posting for fear of criticism.

Ann
Glos

The question was asked about gripes at the beginning of the thread, I simply answered.

Sorry to anyone offended, ask, and I'll delete.

I also think that being overly critical about someone's opinions, when a question has been asked within the forums, could, in effect, make them feel so inferior that they are nervous about joining in on the forums in future, for fear of being criticised.

This has happened to me on several occasions, hence I don't post much.

These are some of my (now not-so-personal as I've now said them public) thoughts on the subject.

Best wishes
Heidi

Well said Athena.

I don't mind how the words on these boards are spelt as long as they aren't rude or aggressive:))

In the real world it's different, but we can't all be good at spelling and grammer.

xx

Using 'amount' instead of 'number' AAAAGGHHH!

eg. 'the amount of people' instead of 'the number of people'. The supermarkets do it as well when they say '5 items or less' instead of '5 items or fewer'.

Using ect for etcetera is another one!

The other one that really gets me has already been mentioned: 'could of' instead of could've or could have.

Oh, forgot using commas for apostrophes - why?

Bear in mind that when people write in online forums it is done in a very informal way. That is the nature of it. People will write the way they speak, usually, because they are having conversations, not writing essays or manuscripts that need to be word perfect. Also, we are all educated to different levels but despite this we are still capable of having conversations and making ourselves understood.

Certain abbreviations, such as "LOL", are used to portray to the reader that a comment has been said in a lighthearted manner and not to be taken the wrong way. It is very easy for comments to be misconstrued online in forums, emails and in mobile texting because you are, in effect, having a conversation without the ability to see facial expressions and tone of voice.

How many times have we seen online arguments ensue over something that was misunderstood by a reader? Tongue-in-cheek humour is the usual culprit, where the reader hasn't "got it" and feels offended by the comment. A simple "LOL" at the end of the sentence would indicate to the reader that the comment is to be taken with humour because the author is Laughing Out Loud.

As for extensive use of question marks/exclamation marks - this is done for added emphasis. The writer is not just asking a question or making a statement - they want you to understand that they are in total confusion over something or totally baffled.

So, please don't be too critical of all the little abbreviations because sometimes they are very much needed - as are the smilies we so often see e.g. :) happy, :(sad etc.

I also think that being overly critical about literacy within the forums could, in effect, hurt the feelings of some who may enjoy the friendly contact on the boards but who may, for whatever reason, not have had the best education or have learning difficulties. It could even make them feel so inferior that they are nervous about joining in on the forums in future, for fear of being criticised.

Of course, my comments are directed solely at online forum conversations and texting. I don't like to see school work written in Forum or Text Speak. That is a very bad habit that some youngsters are slipping into, unfortunately.

Anyway, just some of my thoughts on this topic.

Athena :)

My particular gripe is people who write 'should of' instead of 'should have' and pronounce the word 'etcetera' as 'exetra'..... :)

Rose xx

Misspelling words, poor grammar, TYPING IN CAPITALS, using .......instead of a new paragraphs and what is with the !!! and ??? They are all as bad in my opinion.

However, for people that can't spell or suffer from dyslexia txt language can be a god send, and typing in CAPTIALS in a forum can be handy for persons whose vision is poor.

I cant think of an excuse for the .... and ???? or !!!

Yes Sarah.......a lady called Ruth Miskin is going around the country with her R.W.I. project where the children learn how to use Fred fingers for spelling and oh don't forget the splitt e'sss...lol

And because of her, children are allowed to spell words as they sound, I just hope that by the time they reach yr 11 they know how to spell the words correctly.

No way

Something that I believe originated in Formula one
"Foreign drivers' speak."

" For Sure" instead of certain/ certainly.

Your/you're.

Their/there/they're.

Txt spk of any kind on an internet forum - including, but not exclusively - LOL

and finally.....

CAPITAL LETTERS FOR EVERYTHING.

pmsl... Maybe that should be your new board name lol Sounds as tho you need stronger sunlotion lol

I am glad you had a good time, and hope your skin isn't too sore.
It's good to be 'in the pink' but not with sunburn lol

take care,
Lizxxx

just call me Pink Mamma - just back from Mexico and the shop keepers call you to come into their shops - hey Mamma - one shouted to me and I ignored him so he shouted again "Hey, Pink Mamma" - I was - and still am - very pink - my friend and I collapsed laughing

Hello Ann, where have you appeared from? Nice to see you here

Lizxx

"at this moment in time" - what's that all about? Why not just say "now", and "absolutely" instead of just "Yes" very irritating indeed

Hi all

Most of the time the odd spelling or grammatical error does not bother me but no and know are completely different words so know what you mean!!

I agree Liz - don't mind text speak on my phone but on here or other sites I find it irritating and it always seems to me that the poster just can't be arsed to speak properly!

Kaz :o)))