# Do you correct people's grammar mistakes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142 "2009-12-05T23:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/41 "2009-12-06T19:50:13Z")
If someone mixes up “less” and “fewer”, I will say the correct one under my breath. It’s the only spoken grammatical error that really winds me up. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/42 "2009-12-06T19:56:21Z")
I don’t correct other people’s grammar. I used to be a know-it-all brat kid running around correcting people, and my parents told me I sounded like a stuck-up little snot. I had never realized, until it was pointed out to me, how arrogant it sounds to do that to people. Not everybody has, or even values, formal education. Later, when I got to college, I took an intro linguistics course and realized that all language serves a specific function and what we deem ‘‘correct’’ is actually rather arbitrary and class-biased. Personally, I can articulate myself in an enormous variety of ways, with many distinct [registers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Register_%28sociolinguistics%29). I love code-switching–what a beautiful, diverse, vibrant, fascinating, expressive language we’ve been blessed with. Why limit ourselves in how we use it? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/43 "2009-12-06T19:58:26Z")
I hate when people say things like “I’m thinking that …” instead of “I think that …” or “Are you wanting …” instead of “Do you want …” or “Was she saying …” instead of “Did she say …” It makes people sound like illiterate rubes, but it is _legion_ on this message board. Nevertheless, I bite my tongue. I am a saint. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/44 "2009-12-06T20:00:46Z")
> [@SecondJudith](#): > > If someone mixes up “less” and “fewer”, I will say the correct one under my breath. It’s the only spoken grammatical error that really winds me up. You are surely referring here to the common practice of using the word “less” with count nouns. And what makes you think there’s something wrong with this? Some collection of self-appointed busybodies told you not to do it? If I told you never to use two consecutive three-syllable words, flashing my homemade Language Police badge at you for good measure, would you spend the rest of your life worrying about it and “correcting” others when you heard them doing so? Incidentally, we know very well the history of this supposed “rule”, which makes it clear just how ridiculous its continued futile parroting is. I’ll [repost](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11226943&postcount=7) what I’ve said before about it: You have been taught, through presumably no fault of your own, an appallingly widespread but absolutely incorrect fact about the rules of English. Let me quote Merriam-Webster’s Concise Dictionary of English Usage ([link](http://www.ldc.upenn.edu//myl/llog/MW_LessFewer.pdf) to the relevant portion): > [@MWCDEU](#): > > Here is the rule as it is usually encountered: “fewer” refers to number among things that are counted, and “less” refers to quantity or amount among things that are measured. This rule is simple enough and easy enough to follow. It has only one fault – it is not accurate for all usage. If we were to write the rule from the observation of actual usage, it would be the same for “fewer”: “fewer” does refer to number among things that are counted. However, it would be different for “less”: “less” refers to quantity or amount among things that are measured **and to number among things that are counted. Our amended rule describes the actual usage of the past thousand years or so.** > > As far as we have been able to discover, the received rule originated in 1770 as a comment on “less”: > > “This Word is most commonly used in speaking of a Number; where I should think ‘Fewer’ would do better. ‘No Fewer than a Hundred’ appears to me not only more elegant than ‘No less than a Hundred’, but strictly proper.” --Baker 1770 > > Baker’s remarks about fewer express clearly and modestly – “I should think,” “appears to me” – his own taste and preference. > > … > > The OED shows that “less” has been used of countables since the time of King Alfred the Great – he used it that way in one of his own translations from Latin – more than a thousand years ago (in about 888). So essentially “less” has been used of countables in English for just about as long as there has been a written English language. After about 900 years Robert Baker opined that “fewer” might be more elegant and proper. Almost every usage writer since Baker has followed Baker’s lead, and generations of English teachers have swelled the chorus. The result seems to be a fairly large number of people who now believe “less” used of countables to be wrong, **though its standardness is easily demonstrated.** A lot of examples then follow to back up the assertion that “less” used with countables remains, as it always has been, a perfectly standard usage. So, basically, what we have here is a feature of English that has been thoroughly ordinary for more than a millenium. About two hundred years ago, some guy came along and expressed his own idiosyncratic preferences, but this never really took on with the English speaking public at large, and thus never really became a true rule of English grammar, though it ended up being codified nonetheless in an awful lot of wrongheaded usage guides, the sort which rarely bother to take a glance at reality. (Another choice quote from the excerpt: “This approach is quite common in handbooks and schoolbooks; many pedagogues seem reluctant to share the often complicated facts about English with their students.”) ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/45 "2009-12-06T21:26:48Z")
I’ve never corrected an adult’s grammar aloud. I’m always shocked when one of my very well educated coworkers asks, “Where’s the meeting at?” A couple of posts made me think of my mom. jali :“Can I go to the party tonight?” Mom:“You can if you may.” I finally use “may” instead of can when asking permission. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/46 "2009-12-06T21:37:32Z")
There’s nothing grammatically incorrect about “Where’s the meeting at?” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/47 "2009-12-06T21:43:11Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > There’s nothing grammatically incorrect about “Where’s the meeting at?” I think **jali** ’s objecting to the redundancy of the _at_. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/48 "2009-12-06T22:07:01Z")
I would never correct anyone’s grammar, except my daughter’s. If someone corrected mine, I would kindly thank them and correct myself. Inside, I would be thinking ‘wow, that was classless.’ ETA: It just occurred to me that my daughter corrects my grammar more than I correct her’s. Little low-class brat. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/49 "2009-12-06T22:10:04Z")
In writing. I have an urge to, anyway. Depending on the situation I may or may not write a nice polite post pointing out that “her’s” does not need that apostrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/50 "2009-12-06T22:22:11Z")
The problem with correcting grammar is there is no real right or wrong, at least in English. English has no authority or organization (such as the French have) to oversee such things. So grammar, spelling, and pronounciation come and go over the years. What is right today is wrong 25 years later. Usuage determains what is right or wrong in English, otherwise we’d be talking like in the “olden days” The thing people forget is grammar, like ettiquette and good manners, are NEVER to be used as a weapon. They are used to establish clear communication so mix ups are avoided. If the clerk got her message across clearly and with no misinterpretation than in reality there is no grammar error. Since English has no governing body, usage is correct, not some arbitrary rule your teacher made up or adhered to 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/51 "2009-12-06T22:30:09Z")
(Even in French, there’s no compelling reason for people to allow the Academy any authority over the way they speak [and, indeed, they generally don’t].) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/52 "2009-12-06T22:36:41Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > The problem with correcting grammar is there is no real right or wrong, at least in English. > > English has no authority or organization (such as the French have) to oversee such things. > > So grammar, spelling, and pronounciation come and go over the years. What is right today is wrong 25 years later. Usuage determains what is right or wrong in English, otherwise we’d be talking like in the “olden days” > > The thing people forget is grammar, like ettiquette and good manners, are NEVER to be used as a weapon. They are used to establish clear communication so mix ups are avoided. > > If the clerk got her message across clearly and with no misinterpretation than in reality there is no grammar error. > > Since English has no governing body, usage is correct, not some arbitrary rule your teacher made up or adhered to 20 years ago. I know that sentiment has been expressed on this board before, but still, I have to say, I find that well said. Now for a question. How do you feel about spelling? And pronounciations. Many of my customers from the south (mostly black, but many white) say ‘comprooter’ or ‘compooter’ when they mean computer. Is that correct? Because, I certainly understand what they mean. I’m even used to it now, although at first it sounded crazy as hell to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/53 "2009-12-06T22:47:07Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Now for a question. How do you feel about spelling? I’ve said it many times here. Spelling is an arbitrary, artificial construct designed to put speech into a visible medium. There _is_ only one right way to spell nuclear, even if the speaker says “nucular”. (Although with so many people spending so much of their time communicating with text these days, text _is_ starting to take on the properties of speech, particularly in netspeak. It makes my head hurt sometimes.) > [@](#): > > And pronounciations. > > Many of my customers from the south (mostly black, but many white) say ‘comprooter’ or ‘compooter’ when they mean computer. Is that correct? Because, I certainly understand what they mean. I’m even used to it now, although at first it sounded crazy as hell to me. As above, it’s really no different from when someone says “nucular” instead of nuclear, or “fahr” instead of fire, or what have you. There’s nothing inherently wrong with accents; _everyone_ puts their own spin on the pronunciation of a word. As long as it doesn’t impede communication, it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/54 "2009-12-06T23:32:24Z")
> [@dragoncat](#): > > But _I_ don’t spend all day using the same incorrect phrase that makes me sound like a cretin. Wow, man. I think you should consider yourself lucky that the cashier–who for all you know was a college professor or newspaper editor before the recession left him with a tedious, thankless job that forces him to interact with all types of unpleasant personalities for minimum wage salary–didn’t give you a humiliating, invective-filled tongue-lashing for your unsolicitied grammar lesson. It’s much better to look like a “cretin” over a slipup this minor than to look like a pretentious snob. ---
**Author:** ![YourAdHere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/65b543/32.png) [@YourAdHere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourAdHere)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/55 "2009-12-07T00:11:36Z")
I do it to my own students to tease them when they beg me for something, but that’s it. My own grammar has its share of mistakes. My favorite is the ‘if I was’ vs 'if I were" past contrary to fact subjunctive one. I guess ‘if I had been’ is also ok, but not as much fun. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/56 "2009-12-07T00:12:59Z")
I correct only my adult sons. They’ve come to expect it and would be shocked and disappointed were I to stop. If I do ever decide to correct another adult’s grammar, I think it might be over the excessive and incorrect use of ‘myself’, eg ‘please give it to Erin or myself’. So far, I’ve managed to swallow my replies and keep smiling. Just. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/57 "2009-12-07T01:18:53Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > John killed _who_? Whom. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/58 "2009-12-07T02:05:11Z")
Pronunciation doesn’t bother me in the slightest, as long as I can understand what’s being said. Spelling for me is mostly the same thing - as long as I can make out what the person is trying to say, I am not too bothered. The one exception is when whatever I’m reading is intended to be funny. Tripping over misspellings usually messes up the joke for me, much like when stand-up comedians fumble over a word in the middle of a joke. That may be just a personal quirk of mine, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/59 "2009-12-07T03:04:44Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > The one exception is when whatever I’m reading is intended to be funny. Tripping over misspellings usually messes up the joke for me, much like when stand-up comedians fumble over a word in the middle of a joke. That may be just a personal quirk of mine, though. Heh, I’m the same way, only usually I’m the one telling the joke and making a typo. I consider the joke ruined when it happens too. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142/60 "2009-12-07T04:40:59Z")
> [@YourAdHere](#): > > I do it to my own students to tease them when they beg me for something, but that’s it. My own grammar has its share of mistakes. > My favorite is the ‘if I was’ vs 'if I were" past contrary to fact subjunctive one. I guess ‘if I had been’ is also ok, but not as much fun. I once tried to correct an English major of this, as a joke. After telling me I was wrong, she actually made a point of telling me that I would have no friends if I went around correcting other people’s grammar. I to this day wish I’d had the guts to say “So it’s wrong for me to correct you, but it’s okay for you to correct me. Why would I want to be friends with a hypocritical English major who doesn’t know her own language?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-correct-peoples-grammar-mistakes/520142.md?page=4)