# Does Proper Grammer and Spelling Really Matter When It Comes to Debating? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 1, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708 "2000-09-01T22:29:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/21 "2000-09-01T23:55:50Z")
Well I wear blue jeans to church… _wuzzant that the question??_ ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/22 "2000-09-01T23:59:54Z")
If you don’t take or have the time to ensure that your own thoughts are clearly and correctly stated, then how in Hades can you hope that you or anyone else will actually comprehend them. A person that does not take the time to proof (Yes you, Satan), what they bring or show to the world is just plain lazy. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, you may actually have something to say. Yes, it might even be important. Yes, you might have a reduced command of what is admittedly difficult language. It is usually quite obvious when someone has made a common typo (hitting keys that are close together). It is also really clear when someone has not bothered to master their basic grammatical skills or taken the time to ensure that they have posted something remotely readable. If you want this little black duck’s respect, you’d better take the time to make sure that it makes any flaming sense. Capiche? ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/23 "2000-09-02T00:06:18Z")
> [@](#): > > We spell grammer with an “e” because that’s the way we er say it down here in this part of the country. Wull sheeee-iit fahr n save maahchuz. It comes down to whether your argument can be understood–for instance, did you mean to say “therapist” or “the rapist”? -David ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/24 "2000-09-02T00:08:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\* If you want this little black duck’s respect, you’d better take the time to make sure that it makes any flaming sense. Capiche? \*\* You mean like not misspelling foreign words? Yeah, I agree. I hate those people. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/25 "2000-09-02T00:15:30Z")
If you make a mistake in grammar or spelling that can be totally misconstrued if left standing, you should correct quickly with your next post. Otherwise, I say leave the msitake. We are not posting research papers or professional essays, although some posts have that quality. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/26 "2000-09-02T00:22:57Z")
You al hafe a pointt. I hat it when poeple criticice others for there inablility to right cohherant posts. I meen they are just tpyos. Sew from now on when people right run-on sentences with no punctutation and inncorract spelling with no capitalization at begging of sentences that are repetitive and redudnant i wont say anything cuz why does it matter People type like that. And I’m sick of it. And I’m not going to by shy about point it out. I don’t care if you did hate English, that doesn’t excuse coming to a board dedicated to fighting ignorance, and than typing like a 5 year old on crack. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/27 "2000-09-02T00:25:20Z")
pepper, I don’t think anyone is defending the case you made. instead we are defending those who make simple mistakes that leave the post intelligble and readable. God knows we have enough 5 years old on crack in real life, we don’t need more of them here. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/28 "2000-09-02T01:10:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by pepperlandgirl_ > \*\* > And I’m not going to by shy about point it out. I don’t care if you did hate English, that doesn’t excuse coming to a board dedicated to fighting ignorance, and than typing like a 5 year old on crack.\*\* And wouldn’t it be great if those of us who did hate it had the sense to cheir their posts for errors in spelling, grammar, semantics, punctuation, etc? I think that, to a point, spelling and grammatical errors are entirely forgivable. What irritates me is when I have to reread a post five or six times before I can understand someone who refuses to use punctuation. Damnit, if you’re going to debate, make yourself understandable. I refuse to translate when I have to think hard to understand that “than” is really “when”. It’s a matter of coherency. Nobody ever won a debate by being incoherent except a president:). ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/29 "2000-09-02T01:14:34Z")
check, not cheir. See, when you rectify the situation quickly, there’s less of a chance for people to jump on you:) ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/30 "2000-09-02T01:16:32Z")
Iampunha - what’s a 'cheir? Zenster - you have at least one question mark missing from your diatribe. It should be ’ “a” difficult language’. Try proofing it next time 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/31 "2000-09-02T01:17:47Z")
The grammar police are everywhere and hot damn, we are fast! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/32 "2000-09-02T01:29:39Z")
Hey! I’m lucky, I have my own personal moderater who checks all my posts for spelling. [See…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=35636) ---
**Author:** ![Lauralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lauralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lauralee)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/33 "2000-09-02T01:32:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Well I wear blue jeans to church… Me too! Preview Reply is my best friend… ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/34 "2000-09-02T02:19:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*check, not cheir. > \*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Primaflora_ > **Iampunha - what’s a 'cheir?** You may be a member of the grammar police, but you must work on your response time! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/35 "2000-09-02T02:21:20Z")
And by the way, Primaflora, you forgot the second single quotation mark in your response, if I’m not missing anything. [/anal mode] ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/36 "2000-09-02T02:27:36Z")
I wear jeans to church! But I’m a Unitarian, so that’s not shocking… 😃 * * * Yer pal, Satan _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Four months, three weeks, three days, 14 minutes and 17 seconds. 5840 cigarettes not smoked, saving $730.05. Extra time with Drain Bead: 2 weeks, 6 days, 6 hours, 40 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![Chewie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Chewie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chewie)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/37 "2000-09-02T02:37:29Z")
I’ve grown out of all my jeans, and can’t afford new clothes, so I tend to turn up in trackpants and jandals (flip-flops?) as often as not. But then I go to a church where open debate is encouraged with whoever preached that day. The threat of flames clarifies the mind wonderfully. Personally, I regard participating at this board as a significant part of my education. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/38 "2000-09-02T03:52:02Z")
Well, there’s a difference between a typo, and willful ignorance. Grammer? Cause that’s how we’all say it down here? Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/39 "2000-09-02T04:35:03Z")
People come to this board with different expectations and different desires. They stay for reasons just as diverse. I am one of the most egregious practitioners of typographic errors on the board. I also occasionally misspell words even when my fingers do not betray me. Outside of a periodic barb or two from Libertarian, I don’t think anyone has ever chastised me for it. I also sometimes stray from the rules of grammar in standard written English. Usually, though, I do that intentionally, either because I wish to reinforce a particular rhythm in a sentence or because I feel a thought parses more clearly with a nonstandard punctuation. I will always value clarity and communication over Fowler’s. Some here, apparently, would call me lazy or rude for not bothering to proofread. So be it. I do not come here to post resumes or to develop term papers or to show of my brilliance to the world. To me, each thread is a conversation. And I do not generally proof my sentences before speaking them. So, despite the advice of some (which is good advice, mind you) I do not compose my posts in a word processor. I do not proofread for typos or grammar. I just stick my cursor in the window and bang on them keys. I have been known to mispronounce words and fall prey to spoonerisms, too. Later, I shall certainly blush in shame. One caveat, though. I do make mistakes. I know I make mistakes. I know it is in my power to correct those mistakes before hitting “submit”. Therefore, if someone does choose to call me to the carpet for typing “teh” for the seven thousandth time, I will just have to take it. They would be correct. And perhaps, on that occasion, my misspellings and typos truly did interfere with the clarity of my communication. Or perhaps they would just be coprophagous little roaches hiding their revolting appetites behind a picayune sanctimony. that would be fun. Of course, I would still have to take what they were dishing out. I would just get to have some fun of my own afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708/40 "2000-09-02T14:51:51Z")
Sometimes spilling matters. It all deepens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-proper-grammer-and-spelling-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-debating/31708.md?page=3)