Spelling, punctuation & grammar - important?

[Elphaba]

I am sure this will annoy a few people, but I hate reading badly written, poorly punctuated posts with spelling mistakes. More than that I loathe people using 'text speak' - writing u instead of you, that kind of thing. Makes me disinclined to answer when I struggle to understand what people are saying.

This is not a criticism of anyone for whom English is a second language, but more a plea for nicely written posts that are easy to read and follow.

[Hurricane]

I no wot u meen.

[STD MATTY]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I am sure this will annoy a few people, but I hate reading badly written, poorly punctuated posts with spelling mistakes. More than that I loathe people using 'text speak' - writing u instead of you, that kind of thing. Makes me disinclined to answer when I struggle to understand what people are saying.

This is not a criticism of anyone for whom English is a second language, but more a plea for nicely written posts that are easy to read and follow.

Is that a witch in your avatar?

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I am sure this will annoy a few people, but I hate reading badly written, poorly punctuated posts with spelling mistakes. More than that I loathe people using 'text speak' - writing u instead of you, that kind of thing. Makes me disinclined to answer when I struggle to understand what people are saying.

This is not a criticism of anyone for whom English is a second language, but more a plea for nicely written posts that are easy to read and follow.

It is true that it can be annoying, but the trouble is that not everyone has the same level of literacy, and therefire I tend to just ignore it rather than correct people. However with text speak I almost always ask them not to do it as it is totally unecessary

[kingwilly]

Yes, yes, one cannot be changing the way English is written now.

[kingwilly]

this is an internet forum, not a job application letter or doctoral thesis.

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

It is true that it can be annoying, but the trouble is that not everyone has the same level of literacy, and therefire I tend to just ignore it rather than correct people. However with text speak I almost always ask them not to do it as it is totally unecessary

Tsk - I haven't corrected anyone.

I just find text speak hard to follow & I fail to see why it should be used on a forum such as this. This is a place for adults to communicate , so surely adult language (no, not that type!) should be used.

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by kingwilly

this is an internet forum, not a job application letter or doctoral thesis.

Don't be silly.

As I have said above - this is a place for adults to communicate, so they should do it in an adult manner.

In fact, I have seen numerous posts asking for job advice and contacts, but as a prospective employer I would not follow up anything that was poorly written.

Presentation matters.

-

[kingwilly]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I just find text speak hard to follow & I fail to see .........

So explain to me the difference between '&' symbol and a txt speak 'u' instead of 'you'?

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

Tsk - I haven't corrected anyone.
I just find text speak hard to follow & I fail to see why it should be used on a forum such as this. This is a place for adults to communicate , so surely adult language (no, not that type!) should be used.

Err .... I didn't say you had .... and I was agreeing with you about text speak. I was merely putting my point of view and stating how I deal with it. All I was saying is that as far as "adult language" is concerned, not everyone is educated to the same standard and therefore not everyone is going to get their punctuation and spelling right.