On Saturday 02 August 2003 15:43, Mike Singer scribbled:
> OK, Neil, but what's wrong with "regular grammar police on this
> list"? Anybody could benefit of this.

There are 2 basic types of mistakes I see with the text on this (and othe=
r)=20
forums ... grammatical/usage errors, and "fat-fingered" mistakes (slang t=
erm=20
meaning typograpical errors).

For grammatical errors, it's sometimes obvious that people don't know the=
=20
proper form, and sometimes it's obvious that that is because they are not=
=20
native English speakers.  And only in that case, would I bother to correc=
t=20
anyone, but I do so in private -- sending only the poster an email polite=
ly=20
explaining the term.  I have done this 3 or 4 times to date on this list.

*I* define "grammar police" as someone who has to scold the poster public=
ly on=20
the list, for a mistake, and there is no need for that.  Sure, others can=
=20
benefit from it, but this it not an English-grammar forum, so touch luck.=
 =20
Scolding someone publicly on the list for a typo is even worse I think. =20
People make mistakes, and it gets annoying when people the grammar police=
=20
attack every little typo.  If the intent of the original message is=20
understood, then what's the problem?

On the other hand, if a typo or grammatical error changes the statement t=
o=20
something funny, I have no problem sharing a good laugh with the rest of =
the=20
list. :-)

Cheers,
-Neil.

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