# Proper grammar, punctuation and capitalization **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079 "2011-10-18T23:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/21 "2011-10-19T11:23:40Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I voted for the first choice, although I sometimes do read them. (Well, mostly skim them unless they are very short.) > > It’s not so much that they are annoying, since they can be skipped. It’s that posters who use that style rarely have anything interesting to say. Such posts are almost invariably either vapid, incoherent, stupid, or insane (sometimes all of the above). Signal to noise is so low that they usually aren’t worth the effort. This exactly. I just might skim a short post. I absolutely won’t bother with a wall o’ text if it’s written in “txt speak” or so riddled with errors that it makes my teeth itch. My assumption is that the poster is not very intelligent and doesn’t have anything of interest to say. It’s different if I know someone doesn’t speak English as their first language. Or, on anyther board, a regular poster was legally blind and used one of the speak-to-type programs. Her posts were often amusingly garbled, but that was because of the program. ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/22 "2011-10-19T14:51:18Z")
I voted for “Annoying, but I still read the post”, but it depends on how bad it is. If the writing is especially terrible, or the post is too long, I skip over it. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/23 "2011-10-19T15:14:17Z")
Depends on how badly clarity is mangled. If I can’t make sense of the writer’s intent within a sentence or two, I just skip the post. I also assume the poster is an idiot. If it’s simply a typo, spelling error, homophone issue, or usage problem, but the meaning and intent is still clear, I’m annoyed, but do not assume the person is an idiot. I assume they have a learning disability, are a “math person” and not a “word person”, or simply do not care if their communication is clear and understandable. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/24 "2011-10-19T20:26:27Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I voted for the first choice, although I sometimes do read them. (Well, mostly skim them unless they are very short.) > > It’s not so much that they are annoying, since they can be skipped. It’s that posters who use that style rarely have anything interesting to say. Such posts are almost invariably either vapid, incoherent, stupid, or insane (sometimes all of the above). Signal to noise is so low that they usually aren’t worth the effort. I agree with this. The longer the post the less likely I am to read it. It reminds me of those people who speak in an obviously affected manner. I can’t hear the message through the screaming fakery. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/25 "2011-10-19T20:56:14Z")
If it’s a subject I’m really interested in, I’ll make the effort to slog thru. Minor typos and easily understood abbreviations don’t put me over the edge, but the use of u, r, 2, and similar chat/text speak will immediately trigger my internal “Ignore” switch. Lack of punctuation or obvious lack of grammar kills any credibility the poster may have. I read here for pleasure, entertainment, relaxation, and occasionally information. I don’t have time to deal with non-standard language. Life’s too short. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/26 "2011-10-20T17:39:19Z")
Just yesterday I read an OP that contained the word “it’s” many times. Every one of them was a possessive, and should have been “its.” Once or twice is a minor annoyance, but this was so irritating that I gave up and left the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/27 "2011-10-20T19:53:51Z")
Mostly I won’t bother reading a post that is too badly mangled. I expect some typos, heck, fixing mine would be a full time job, but if the poster can’t be bothered to write for clarity, I can’t be bothered to read it. ---
**Author:** ![geneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e4f/32.png) [@geneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geneb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/28 "2011-10-20T20:20:03Z")
I find them very annoying. I try to read them, but my eyes glaze over. At that point I read the end of the post and close the window. No chance of a reply. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/29 "2011-10-20T21:26:13Z")
As an English teacher, they make my correcting hand itch! If someone’s dyslexic or makes a couple of errors, or is obviously posting in a hurry or from their phone, I’ll try to read it if it’s interesting. But as others have said, if it’s just an affectation or laziness, I don’t bother because it tends to suggest a lack of intelligent thought as well as an arrogant disregard for the reader. If it was important enough for someone else to read, it was important enough for you to type it properly. A certain poster… recently arrived… I’ll read her contributions to threads, if they’re short, but I don’t open her (many) threads. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/30 "2011-10-20T21:34:16Z")
Don’t judge a book by its grammar, punctuation and capitalization. I don’t get the nit-pickiness of form over content. But since y’all complain a lot, I make an attempt to use the rules. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/31 "2011-10-20T21:37:26Z")
I voted for the first option but the extent of my reaction really does depend on how bad the post is. If it’s a giant wall of text, I won’t bother and will hope that later posts (hopefully from other users) will let me infer some of its meaning. If it’s short or I have some reason to really care what it said, I’ll probably skim it. I’m also a little more likely to give a post a look if it appears that the user who made it just made a few honest mistakes than if it looks like they just couldn’t be bothered to make their post legible. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/32 "2011-10-20T21:43:14Z")
Sorry for the double-post; I missed my edit window. > [@TriPolar](#): > > Don’t judge a book by its grammar, punctuation and capitalization. I don’t get the nit-pickiness of form over content. But since y’all complain a lot, I make an attempt to use the rules. You’re welcome. Presentation is important. If it looks like what you have to say wasn’t important enough for you to take a few extra moments to make it legible, many will assume it isn’t important enough to take their time to decypher it. It isn’t a matter of form-over-content; it’s a matter of form-obscuring-content. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/33 "2011-10-21T00:30:15Z")
I have several posters who refuse to use capitalization on ignore. I get irrationally irritated by it, and ignoring them solves the problem. There are thousands of other posters who manage to communicate in unique ways without wearing the internet equivalent of a lampshade on their head for me to pay attention to and correspond with. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/34 "2011-10-21T00:37:39Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > \ or is obviously posting in a hurry or from their phone, I’ll try to read it if it’s interesting.\ The phone thing is starting to get on my nerves. The problem there is (I believe) auto-correct - it’s not typos or transpositions that you can figure out, but random words that just don’t make any damned sense. > [@TriPolar](#): > > \ But since y’all complain a lot, I make an attempt to use the rules. \ It’s true; we do complain a lot. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/35 "2011-10-21T05:29:28Z")
Too irritating to bother reading. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/36 "2011-10-21T12:39:13Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > You know, I voted for the first option, but now that I post from my phone a lot, I hope I haven’t set myself up as “one of those people.” Auto-correct does some weird stuff sometimes, and other times I’m just not patient enough to format via Droid. This is why I really don’t mind reading posts with not much formatting, and lack of capital letters rarely makes a difference. You can generally tell if an odd word choice is due to phone typing. Qwerty keyboards with normal typing instead of predictive text are improving this a lot. Completely leaving out punctuation makes reading the post a real effort. Looong paragraphs are almost impossible to read. Those I ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/37 "2011-10-21T17:51:40Z")
i confess. i’m one of the ones who often types in the dope without using capitals - mostly because i’m lazy about capping. 😃 That said, I do work hard to make sure that my punctuation, sentence structure, use of commas, italics, colons, apostrophes, quote marks, semicolons AND spelling are correct. I also will not string more than a couple of sentences together in a paragraph, otherwise the whole things is too hard to read. I don’t want to read it in other peoples’ posts. Who would want to read it in mine? ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/38 "2011-10-21T18:08:27Z")
I’m a big fan of “know thy enemy” which means I feel obligated to read the poorly written posts, so I know I’m dealing with someone who would happily participate on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance while writing in a manner that weakens or obscures their point. It makes it much easier to mock those people if I’ve seen the transgressions than it would be if I just ignored them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/39 "2011-10-21T18:13:21Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Don’t judge a book by its grammar, punctuation and capitalization. I don’t get the nit-pickiness of form over content. But since y’all complain a lot, I make an attempt to use the rules. You’re welcome. Nitpick is one word and does not require a hyphen, but aside from that, good job! You even used “y’all” correctly. :: golf clap :: ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079/40 "2011-10-21T19:08:21Z")
I won’t read 'em - UNLESS I happen to know that the OP’s mother tongue is not English, in which case they get a pass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-grammar-punctuation-and-capitalization/600079.md?page=3)