A Call To Better Spelling

[Blue Crab]

Perhaps this is time to remind a lot of people that "a lot" is two words.

[Auspicious]

Language is the only tool we have to communicate effectively, and its importance has increased in our Internet-powered world. It behooves us to use that tool properly and well.

Those who say "it doesn't matter" are only labeling their contributions as of lesser value.

[HRDC]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, HRDC.

Not THE HRDC*, I presume.
*Human Resources Development Canada

Like in Big Brother is always in the background... (!) No of course. They are initials to a complicated name.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Hud3

I think we've beat this one to death at this point.


Can we move on to split infinitives?

You wish to boldly go there?

[Blue Stocking]

Read Bill Bryson's "Mother Tongue", and you will probably find, that at some time in the English language's history, everyone of these spellings have (has) been correct.

Afterthought: I am amongst friends,so I don't mind in the fingers are ahead of the eyes, BUT I did re-read the post six times before hitting the blue box.

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Read Bill Bryson's "Mother Tongue", and you will probably find, that at some time in the English language's history, everyone of these spellings have (has) been correct.

Afterthought: I am amongst friends,so I don't mind in the fingers are ahead of the eyes, BUT I did re-read the post six times before hitting the blue box.

And you still forgot to add a space after your comma?

Target 7: Add a space after punctuation marks.
You may add two after full stops, questions marks and exclamation marks.

[cburger]

Originally Posted by Feral Cement

Doug --

The typos on this site are the result of carelessness of the posters. While it gripes my ass about like it does yours, I'm not inclined to add to the workload of the mods; they are already asking for a raise based on your suggestion!

So the plea becomes, "Please read your post before you hit 'Submit Reply' and we promise not to use you as an example". How 'bout a "DumbAss" sticker for repeat and flagrant offenders?

or maybe you could rail against the people who are above using caps and punctuation you know the type they expect us to figure out where one thing starts and another ends don't get me started on there their they're

Jhon

I laughed so hard with this post I almost choked on my morning coffee, any suggestions on who should get the first sticker?

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by cburger

[/COLOR]
I laughed so hard with this post I almost choked on my morning coffee, any suggestions on who should get the first sticker?

Sara beat ya to it - she sent me mine this morning, and now I'm gonna proudly display it:

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by GordMay

And, he was helpful!
Thanks for noticing, and for caring, At Sea.

Some More Tips for Proper English
1. Avoid alliteration. Always.
2. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
4. Employ the vernacular.
5. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
6. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
7. Remember to never split an infinitive.
8. Contractions aren't necessary.
9. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
10. One should never generalize.
11. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hatequotations. Tell me what you know."
12. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
13. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it'shighly superfluous.
14. Be more or less specific.
15. Understatement is always best.
16. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
17. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
18. The passive voice is to be avoided.
19. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
20. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
21. Who needs rhetorical questions?
22. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
23. Don't never use a double negation.
24. capitalize every sentence and remember always end it with point
25. Do not put statements in the negative form.
26. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
27. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
28. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal
of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
29. A writer must not shift your point of view.
30. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.(Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
31. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
32. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences,as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
33. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
34. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
35. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
36. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
37. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
38. Always pick on the correct idiom.
39. The adverb always follows the verb.
40. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague;They're old hat; seek viable alternatives.

Now that is seriously funny, and clever

[Artif]

I know much of this thread is in jest.

However some of the best, most skilled people I have met are barely literate, some have, according to this forum, poor language skills, yet they have more knowledge of their subject than many here could acquire in 10 lifetimes.
One of the best engineering machinists, my father served under during his apprenticeship, couldn't read a vernier or micrometer, yet could could produce clearance/interference fits as required.
Some of the best seamen I've met are barely literate, but I've yet to meet a "qualified" yachtie who I'd rather go to sea with.

Literacy is just one tool required in life, some need it more than others, to call someone lazy or ignorant for their limited literacy is exactly that, ignorant.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Artif

Literacy is just one tool required in life, some need it more than others, to call someone lazy or ignorant for their limited literacy is exactly that, ignorant.

And yet we aren't negotiating shoal water here, or hydroforming a stainless fitment. For better or worse, an internet forum consists of written posts, and just as I should know more than a bowline when underway, if one wishes to communicate, one should be able to write beyond the Grade Two level of competency.

Fixing lazy, on the other hand, is tougher. The urge to simplify is strong, even if "simple" is often restrictive of choice. Try hammering with a screwdriver.

I would also submit that while some people do have problems expressing themselves in writing, or even reading easily, others are in fact lazy. Being ignorant is a function of a poor education, and can be remedied through self-study. Most of us picked up the various registers of English through reading. If one doesn't read, or chooses not to read, I am not surprised that one's written English is substandard or just bafflingly constructed. Within a very few years, "texted English" will show up as a common idiom in places like this. It will not make it any easier to decipher, however, and like Orwell's "Newspeak", the compression of meaning and poverty of expression will tend to limit the quality of the ideas blurted out.

[Bill Burgette]

It's amazing how the punctuation, grammar and sentence structure has improved since this thread started. C'mon now folks, fess up. How many of you posters are now looking for errors, using Google and trying to be better linguists? I've noticed a bunch of improvement.

I don't believe any forum in the world has as many correct posts in a thread as this one.

[Artif]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Within a very few years, "texted English" will show up as a common idiom in places like this. It will not make it any easier to decipher, however, and like Orwell's "Newspeak", the compression of meaning and poverty of expression will tend to limit the quality of the ideas blurted out.

Texted English is just another evolution of the English language, much like modern English is an evolution of Shakespearian English.
The English language is constantly changing and is all the better for it, keep up or stagnate.

My work involves repairing boats, I don't call owners of boats who can't repair their own boat ignorant. People are naturally good at some things, and naturally bad at others.
One of the best most knowledgeable shipwrights I've ever met can barely speak, but you can bet I'll listen to his advice when he does.

[doug86]

Originally Posted by Artif

Texted English is just another evolution of the English language, much like modern English is an evolution of Shakespearian English.

"2 b r nt 2 b?"

"Bt Soft! ? lt thru yndr windr brks? .... Aris fr sun and kil th envius moon."


I don't think so.

[Janet H]

OK folks, we have berated our fellow cruisers enough. Let's move on.