Spelling @ punctuation.

[Scud]

Shouldn't the subject be, "Spelling & punctuation"? 

You correctly omitted the period from the title, because it is not a complete sentence.

The written language changes, along with the spoken language. It is now even possible for people to write about their emotional states without using words. 

[oldbike54]

 Ya'll ah buncha picky old ficks , sheesh 

 Dusty

[donn]

That doesn't mean it's a lost art or that the general public is less literate (hell, if anything the public being more exposed to written word SHOULD mean they are more literate).

The problem is that the written word we're exposed to is our own careless jotting.  Not books, newspapers, and other such relics of a forgotten past.  So how do we learn to spell?  Poorly, that's how.  It doesn't take long to "loose" the ability, when you're constantly exposed to misspelled words.

[Kev m]

The problem is that the written word we're exposed to is our own careless jotting.  Not books, newspapers, and other such relics of a forgotten past.  So how do we learn to spell?  Poorly, that's how.  It doesn't take long to "loose" the ability, when you're constantly exposed to misspelled words.

Well hopefully anyone here has ALREADY LEARNED to spell.

I believe you're asking how to do be prevent the loss of the ability?

"Constant Vigilance" - J.K. Rowling

[Triple Jim]

As long as everyone remembers it's RIDE SAFELY, not ride safe, I'll be happy.

Is your Guzzi a lock box for money or a condom?  C'mon folks, don't ignore the adverb.

Nick

A lot of that kind of thing goes much deeper than it seems at first.  "Ride safe" contains a flat adverb.  These were commonly used before the 18th century, even by famous authors, and deemed improper by 18th century grammarians (language police?) who thought that English should more closely follow the rules of Latin.  When I read about this a few years ago, I found that I was much less irritated when I read them.

I do still get irritated when I receive an email that was obviously thumb-typed, with excessive abbreviations, no capitals, and no punctuation.  And I can usually tell when the recipient of email I send has read it on his phone.  I take the time to type a complete and thoughtful message, but receive a reply that shows the guy read only the first few sentences.

Could it be that Twitter has taught a generation of users to limit their communications to 140 characters?

[PJPR01]

I remember getting text messages for my youngest son when he was in college that required me to find someone his age to decipher.
However one message I would receive required no help understanding.

snd mo money:-)

 

Ha ha...not even a Pls attached...Daddy ATM!

[nick949]

A lot of that kind of thing goes much deeper than it seems at first.  "Ride safe" contains a flat adverb.  These were commonly used before the 18th century, even by famous authors, and deemed improper by 18th century grammarians (language police?) who thought that English should more closely follow the rules of Latin.  When I read about this a few years ago, I found that I was much less irritated when I read them.

You learn something every day - thanks TJ.  My complaint isn't so much about its correctness, but rather its ugliness. It has no style, no flow and no elegance.  Adverbs can be awkward, but not in this case.

N

[Triple Jim]

Understood, Nick.  And as in some cases above, no offense meant, but "it's" is a contraction of "it is".   

[nick949]

Understood, Nick.  And as in some cases above, no offense meant, but "it's" is a contraction of "it is".   

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgggggg gggggggh......(fixed).....   Thanks.

Stick a neck out, it's going to get chopped orft. 

[Triple Jim]

Ha, it's almost impossible to learn and correctly practice all the rules of this language.  I know for sure that you can find plenty of mistakes if you go through my posts.  What's really bad is finding mistakes in things written by English teachers.

[nick949]

Ha, it's almost impossible to learn and correctly practice all the rules of this language.  I know for sure that you can find plenty of mistakes if you go through my posts.  What's really bad is finding mistakes in things written by English teachers.

I just checked through the piece I'm currently writing and in 50,000 words, I'd used 'it's' about 40 times and roughly 30% of them were wrong - so many thanks for helping me pull up my socks.

N

[Penderic]

Me flunk spelling?

Unpossible!

 

[Kev m]

I just checked through the piece I'm currently writing and in 50,000 words, I'd used 'it's' about 40 times and roughly 30% of them were wrong - so many thanks for helping me pull up my socks.

N

I literally do that ALL THE TIME.

Professionally I write about one LARGE book per year and have for about 2 decades give or take. I can't imagine how many of those probably made it into print!

[oldbike54]

 I posit that most people develop their facility with language before the age of ten . The speech patterns of our parents are passed down and , combined with the reading material we come in contact during those all important formative years shapes and informs our usage and spelling . Despite the best efforts of a certain high school English teacher , I have no idea how to diagram a sentence , or how to decipher Shakespeare in its original form . However , this hasn't overly limited some ability to construct a sentence that conveys at least some semblance of a rational and cognitive thought
process , disregarding the fact that many here would have grave doubts regarding my ability to execute even the most basic thought process 

 Of course at times something like "that ain't gonna happen there junior" expresses a sentiment much more eloquently than a well structured bit of long winded nonsense 

 Dusty

 Edit , apparently my computer has a will of its (it's ) own . HAL , is that you ?

[Texas Turnip]

When my cousin, Butt Crack, calls and says "he blowed the motor on his pickum up truck". I know what he means.

Tex

[donn]

Well hopefully anyone here has ALREADY LEARNED to spell.

Anyone here is likely an irrelevant geezer.  I didn't learn to spell by adopting the prescriptions of spelling books I was obliged to study in the 3rd grade.  If they still do that.  I learned spelling, like everyone else does, by reading.

Garbage in, garbage out.  Reading each other's junk doesn't make us illiterate, maybe the word should be sub-literate.

[Scud]

Re the use of language that has become part of this thread:

I think Ayn Rand's "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology" should be required reading in high school. She presented, with great clarity, the significance of concept formation and the importance of using the correct words to convey meaning. Not a direct quote, but she wrote something like: "Nothing is more stultifying that to 'kind-of' know what you mean."

Maybe this belongs in "favorite uncelebrated book" - or whatever that thread was called.