# For bitching about language pedantry, other posters' language, and language in general **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 16, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135 "2024-06-16T22:40:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 357
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/357 "2024-06-28T18:32:49Z")
Nice thread: thanks to the mods for splitting it off. Thanks to everyone for not completely melting down. As usual, best practice is a matter of weighing competing considerations. On the one hand, we’re here to fight ignorance, and supporting clear communication does so directly and indirectly. Also, bad grammar can be annoying. On the other hand, the corrections themselves can be annoying. Corrections also derail the thread. I have an imperfect proposal. We’re discussing the practice of inserting _tangential_ comments about grammar and usage. Why not create an omnibus language pedantry thread? The thread would link to posts whose language could be improved. Like so: > [@How Can Truth Social be worth $6 Billion? {Trump Media & Technology (DJT)}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-truth-social-be-worth-6-billion-trump-media-technology-djt/999202/511): > > You guys are operating under the assumption that DJT’s price should naturally gravitate towards the value of future cash flows to the investor. That kind of thinking is so 2019. Investors in DJT aren’t applying valuation analysis. They’re buying on the theory that daddy Trump will take care of them. Either Trump will become President and use the levers of power to something something or he won’t but he will sell to someone someone and everyone will make out well. Profit! It’s a fad. Like yo-yos… MFM: use of the word, “Guys” is wholly inappropriate in a mixed gender forum. Slang usage is unsuited for formal conversation. All technical terms should be defined when used on a general usage message board, etc. etc. The point is that Discourse automatically creates a note in the originating message when they are replied to in another thread. Click the link icon on the bottom of the message, hit copy, then paste the link in the referring thread. Where should such an omnibus thread go? I seriously think it belongs in the pit, because that permits posters to counter-attack overly pedantic criticisms. Putting it in IMHO would invite a ~~tidal wave~~ tsunami of trivial corrections by those with insufficient emotional intelligence. Don’t make it this thread though: general conversations about the practice of language pedantry belong here. 99%+ of the posts on this message board contain language imperfections: writing is hard, editing is an vocation. So excessive focus on grammar is problematic, as is insufficient focus. As is typical it’s a matter of calibration. ETA1: There is still scope for inthread grammatical jokes. ETA2: Prescriptivism is more intuitive than descriptivism. Wolfpup has presented prescriptive-adjacent arguments and I think LHoD underestimates their effectiveness and utility. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135)._