# Ever get in an argument because you correct people? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478 "2012-05-01T03:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478/41 "2012-05-02T20:28:22Z")
I used to argue with my wife about her choice of words. I try to be very specific with what I want, but she says something vague and expects the other person to fill in the blanks. There are several words she seems to be loathe to using- right/left (simply points ambiguously), outlet, faucet, on/off, etc. It got frustrating for me, because she’d say something like “The … Speaker isnt open, check the plug in hole” and i’ll ask for clarification, asking, “Did you mean the right speaker is off because its unplugged?” Which gets her really mad because she thinks I’m being condescending. I’ve since tried to ignore it because she gets so pissed off when I try to correct her. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478/42 "2012-05-04T14:23:10Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > At this stage of my life, they usually need to pay me to get me into these sorts of arguments. Hear! hear! I have a mild form of Aspberger’s Syndrome and one of the effects is that I feel strongly I should ‘correct’ things. This varies from adjusting ornaments to correcting people. I have learnt from experience that most people don’t like to be corrected and\*\* will not be happy \*\*even if you prove they are wrong. So now I think carefully before speaking… ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478/43 "2012-05-04T15:59:26Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I have learnt from experience that most people don’t like to be corrected and\*\* will not be happy \*\*even if you prove they are wrong. > So now I think carefully before speaking… Even? **Especially** if you prove they are wrong! ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478/44 "2012-05-04T16:15:00Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > I used to argue with my wife about her choice of words. I try to be very specific with what I want, but she says something vague and expects the other person to fill in the blanks. There are several words she seems to be loathe to using- right/left (simply points ambiguously), outlet, faucet, on/off, etc. It got frustrating for me, because she’d say something like “The … Speaker isnt open, check the plug in hole” and i’ll ask for clarification, asking, “Did you mean the right speaker is off because its unplugged?” Which gets her really mad because she thinks I’m being condescending. I’ve since tried to ignore it because she gets so pissed off when I try to correct her. My husband and I argue about my choice of words, too. Though in our situation it’s because we use language differently. He is _extremely_ precise in his communication, sometimes so much so that it creates a barrier. Having someone say, “No, that’s not it at all,” when you’re paraphrasing what they said to you is annoying as hell. Especially when I’ve got the important bits right, but the words I use to understand his point are just a nuance away from his. I’m sure it drives him equally batty with me. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478/45 "2012-05-04T17:51:33Z")
> [@grude](#): > > …She said her husband was from the US and I told her you can’t lose your US citizenship just by being outside the US, she insisted you can. I insisted you can’t, made me wish I had a smartphone to show her the US state department website… According to Miss Manners, the proper response should have been, “your husband is cheating on you, he told you that he has to go back to the US periodically so that he can carry on his affair. DUH!” Or he is a US Green Card holder, not a citizen, so he is required to return every 6 months. Potato, potahto. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-get-in-an-argument-because-you-correct-people/620478.md?page=2)