Does Grammar Really Matter?
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Hmmmm. I think grammar is only strictly applied on paper. But speech is another thing. Speaking of anything in many different ways is different cause you can convey them in the form of emotion and tone of speech, while writing....well you get my point. I say grammar is still important nonetheless cause without it,...................things would be pretty much messed up.
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Yes I don't wanna hear people say "Hey yall I's has been goins to duh bafrooms fo duh past 10 minuts." That sounds retarded.
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As much as some grammar-related annoyance is ingrained in me, no.
The English language is constantly changing and evolving - look at Engrish, look at the way words have changed over the ages (even the alterations made in American English), slang, so-called 'greengrocers' apostrophes'. An Anglo-Saxon would struggle to understand English as it is today, and you would expect the same for us of the English language hundreds of years from now. Language is situational - people use different language with friends than with business associates, it varies between different social classes, and by locations; ultimately, we adapt the language, around its basic principles, to suit us. Also as you said, meaning can be conveyed regardless of the correct form of a word, and by this we might end up dropping apostrophes from certain words altogether. The sorts of people who complain about the improper use of words or punctuation, far from enjoying the language, seem to believe they are its guardians; the idea that the language is set in stone, that there is 'correct' and 'incorrect' English, runs converse to the definition of language itself: the communication of information and meaning. So long as a word holds meaning, whether the meaning of the word has changed or the word is brand new, it is valid as a part of the language.
The English language is constantly changing and evolving - look at Engrish, look at the way words have changed over the ages (even the alterations made in American English), slang, so-called 'greengrocers' apostrophes'. An Anglo-Saxon would struggle to understand English as it is today, and you would expect the same for us of the English language hundreds of years from now. Language is situational - people use different language with friends than with business associates, it varies between different social classes, and by locations; ultimately, we adapt the language, around its basic principles, to suit us. Also as you said, meaning can be conveyed regardless of the correct form of a word, and by this we might end up dropping apostrophes from certain words altogether. The sorts of people who complain about the improper use of words or punctuation, far from enjoying the language, seem to believe they are its guardians; the idea that the language is set in stone, that there is 'correct' and 'incorrect' English, runs converse to the definition of language itself: the communication of information and meaning. So long as a word holds meaning, whether the meaning of the word has changed or the word is brand new, it is valid as a part of the language.
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It depends. If someone can understand what it is you are saying/writing/typing I don't think it matters that much. If however people cannot understand you or you are in a formal/professional environment of some kind it does matter.
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Tegumi
"im always cute"
Does using a method of communication the way it is supposed to be used matter?
Gee, I dunno.
Gee, I dunno.
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Grammar... I don't mind bad grammar in texts or internet shorthand. Same with spelling.
Just don't try and use it in your job, writing stories and arguments. (I've read some bad fan-fiction.)
If they really make it difficult to understand, then I just tend to ignore the person.
Just don't try and use it in your job, writing stories and arguments. (I've read some bad fan-fiction.)
If they really make it difficult to understand, then I just tend to ignore the person.
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ThorW wrote...
Grammar is important, as without it we lack the necessary rules for sentence structure and proper syntax. Since grammar defines how a sentence is written, ie: Subject location, verb location, object location; and how to use the proper words it's necessary to be able to convey what you're trying to say clearly.For example, a foreigner with improper grammar knowledge could change a sentence such as this:
"Excuse me, can you help me find my way to Third street?"
To this:
"Excuse, Third Street, where?"
Like that, asking for directions suddenly becomes harder because of poor grammar. And that's just something as simple as asking for directions, imagine if that same person was trying to explain something complicated.
As for what you were directly referring to though, small mistakes such as ain't, using then instead of than, a misplaced or missing comma, and should of instead of should have are all overlookable since the message is still able to be conveyed.
Grammar is important, but small mistakes and the occasional use of slang isn't something to obsess over. Only when your sentences become hard to understand or indecipherable do you need to improve your grammar.
EDIT: @Uzumaki101: That's a great example of why grammar is important. That letter is difficult to understand.
Agrees with this^
Grammar should be taken serious, but I don't think People should stress over small mistakes.
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ShaggyJebus wrote...
Kind of Important wrote...
All of this dumbing down of the language really is pathetic. All the stupid fucking slang and so forth make us all seem stupider from having listened.But that's the thing - who says that it makes us seem dumber? An intimate knowledge of grammar does not mean that the person is smart. It's simply knowing something very well. I know a lot about The Simpsons, but I wouldn't use that as an example of how I am intelligent. I think just about everyone has the ability to know something very well.
But that leads us into a conversation about intelligence and what exactly it is and how it can be measured (if at all). That would be a little off-topic, but I'd still like to hear anything anyone has to say on the subject.
First off, my opinion on this subject is that grammar is not always important. I say this because I use texting lingo and online abbreviations all the time. However that does not mean I am dumb in any way, I am trying to be a writer and so I am used to using proper grammar. However, when talking to friends or on a website such as this if it is allowed I like to use the abbreviations to type quicker.
On another note, what you said about being intelligence. I agree that just because someone knows a lot about a specific subject that doesn't make them intelligent. Intellect in my personal opinion should be broken down into the category of life lessons. Because I think that an intellectual person should be able to break down the situation and see the lesson from what happened. If a person can break it down just the right way they will realize what the lesson behind it was. If they are able to see the lesson and accept it, then they can also help others with their own knowledge. But again that is just my opinion.
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Brittany
Director of Production
The panda eats shoots and leaves.
The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
Grammar is very important because it can significantly change the meaning of your sentence if you leave out things, even if it's just punctuation.
The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
Grammar is very important because it can significantly change the meaning of your sentence if you leave out things, even if it's just punctuation.
A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and proceeds to fire it at the other patrons.
'Why?' asks the confused, surviving waiter amidst the carnage, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
'Well, I'm a panda', he says, at the door. 'Look it up.'
The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. 'Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots, and leaves.'
'Why?' asks the confused, surviving waiter amidst the carnage, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
'Well, I'm a panda', he says, at the door. 'Look it up.'
The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. 'Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots, and leaves.'
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There are things you are taught like "context" that allow to to understand poor grammar, but I view grammar as very important. I hate English class, but I'm damn good at it (not the essay or vocabulary part).
The English language is one of those few languages, if not the only, that can be spoken so poorly, yet understandably. It's why it's a bitch to learn.
The English language is one of those few languages, if not the only, that can be spoken so poorly, yet understandably. It's why it's a bitch to learn.
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It depends. If your chatting with a friend and are just having a smalltalk - I don't think it matters too much, as long as it understandable what the person wants from you. In some cases it can even be funny.
It might be due to me being the German and the German language having the 8738479347 grammar reform in the last 10 years, so it is not that uncommon for even teachers here to think: "Is that the correct way of writing / spelling it?"
What is way worse are syntax problems when people are messing around with the basic sentence structure and / or adding interjections after every second word. In a seminar at the university one of the professors said with dripping irony: "I wouldn't be surprised if we'd have a new period - the post modern German - in the history of German at some point and it would state 'the typical sentence structure of that period was interjection - comma - subject - finite verb - interjection - object - infinite verb - comma - insult'"
It might be due to me being the German and the German language having the 8738479347 grammar reform in the last 10 years, so it is not that uncommon for even teachers here to think: "Is that the correct way of writing / spelling it?"
What is way worse are syntax problems when people are messing around with the basic sentence structure and / or adding interjections after every second word. In a seminar at the university one of the professors said with dripping irony: "I wouldn't be surprised if we'd have a new period - the post modern German - in the history of German at some point and it would state 'the typical sentence structure of that period was interjection - comma - subject - finite verb - interjection - object - infinite verb - comma - insult'"
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(Please pretend I'm not the topic-started when you read this post.)
I think using proper grammar is like not scratching your ass. When the situation demands it, you should act a certain way. If I'm working in an office, I'm not going to scratch my ass because it's a place of business. At the same time, I'm going to speak as best I can.
A few years ago, a professor was trying to explain to me what self-respect was, and how it was different from self-esteem. He said that if a person had self-respect, he wouldn't go to school or work looking like crap. He'd take the time to make sure his hair and clothes were neat. He also wouldn't act like a buffoon at school/work and would be professional. I didn't quite understand then, and I'm not sure I fully comprehend it now, but I think he was saying that respecting yourself meant behaving appropriately in a situation, the way you are expected to act, or the way you would want another person to act. You dress well when you go to work because you wouldn't want to see someone else looking like a slob, or because if you were the boss, you wouldn't want to see an employee looking like a slob. When I think about how I should act, I think about that conversation with my professor.
If I'm at home, I can say half-words because everyone's relaxed. No one expects anything. When I'm with friends, I don't have to worry about grammar, just about making sense and not sounding like I had a stroke. When I'm in public, I try harder. When I'm talking to someone with authority and/or someone who should be respected, I do the best I can, perhaps even omitting some things if I am unsure of the right way to say them.
So, I just stick my hand down my pants when my ass itches at home; I scratch it over the pants when I'm with my friends; I try to rub it without drawing attention to myself when I'm in public; and I pretend it doesn't itch at all when I'm in front of someone that should be respected.
I think using proper grammar is like not scratching your ass. When the situation demands it, you should act a certain way. If I'm working in an office, I'm not going to scratch my ass because it's a place of business. At the same time, I'm going to speak as best I can.
A few years ago, a professor was trying to explain to me what self-respect was, and how it was different from self-esteem. He said that if a person had self-respect, he wouldn't go to school or work looking like crap. He'd take the time to make sure his hair and clothes were neat. He also wouldn't act like a buffoon at school/work and would be professional. I didn't quite understand then, and I'm not sure I fully comprehend it now, but I think he was saying that respecting yourself meant behaving appropriately in a situation, the way you are expected to act, or the way you would want another person to act. You dress well when you go to work because you wouldn't want to see someone else looking like a slob, or because if you were the boss, you wouldn't want to see an employee looking like a slob. When I think about how I should act, I think about that conversation with my professor.
If I'm at home, I can say half-words because everyone's relaxed. No one expects anything. When I'm with friends, I don't have to worry about grammar, just about making sense and not sounding like I had a stroke. When I'm in public, I try harder. When I'm talking to someone with authority and/or someone who should be respected, I do the best I can, perhaps even omitting some things if I am unsure of the right way to say them.
So, I just stick my hand down my pants when my ass itches at home; I scratch it over the pants when I'm with my friends; I try to rub it without drawing attention to myself when I'm in public; and I pretend it doesn't itch at all when I'm in front of someone that should be respected.
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depended on the situation, if it was formal we must use proper grammar, but there are many members from various countries who do not speak english here on FAKKU, so lets just ignore little mistake like punctuation, etc
we were here to get a good time, not justify our grammar, and yes in real live grammar was Important.
we were here to get a good time, not justify our grammar, and yes in real live grammar was Important.
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Grammer is Important but the rise of ignorance is making people see it as useless (Main reason why people make grammer mistakes is bcuz they are lazy or cant spell)thats what spell check is for (another thing thats making it so people believe they dont need to spell correctly) one person told me it was about self respect, to show pride in what your write. I think simplfying is ok in open conversation but to say grammer is uneeded is a very sad thing =w= I mean a small error's can make huge misunderstandings happen (which would also important when translating dif languages)
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The problem is how grammatically correct you are supposed to be. Everyone has a different opinion. I think it is fair to ask someone to attempt proper spelling and to capitalize the beginning of every sentence and punctuate the end, maybe throw in a few commas and semi-colons too.
However, if anyone lacks grammar, it is me. I am the worse comma splicer I know. Most of my sentences contain too many commas, and many of them used improperly. *shrugs*
Edit: ... Heh, look at that. I spliced right in my post. >.<
However, if anyone lacks grammar, it is me. I am the worse comma splicer I know. Most of my sentences contain too many commas, and many of them used improperly. *shrugs*
Edit: ... Heh, look at that. I spliced right in my post. >.<
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I concur (a good word for people who want others to think they are smart) but the way the english language is going pretty soon bcuz would become the official way to spell because XD (omfg i made so many mistakes) The way it is it will end up like that movie "idiocracy" (a word they themselves cant spell XD) or farenheight 451 (the tmepature that books burn) a book where books are outlawed... anyway ignorance is not bliss at all for certain people >.>
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@Ziggy: loled at your example.
My opinion is mostly the same with everyone else. Certain situations call for strict grammar, and other situations only require a modicum sense of understanding without the need to go all grammar-nazi. However, all cases require an understanding of grammar, high or low. If you talk to one person without a coherent sentence structure, then how is the person supposed to know what the heck you're talking about? When it comes down to it, an average to low level of grammar is needed for conversation, but a higher level of grammar is required for writing since there are no physical or visual clues to express your intent.
My opinion is mostly the same with everyone else. Certain situations call for strict grammar, and other situations only require a modicum sense of understanding without the need to go all grammar-nazi. However, all cases require an understanding of grammar, high or low. If you talk to one person without a coherent sentence structure, then how is the person supposed to know what the heck you're talking about? When it comes down to it, an average to low level of grammar is needed for conversation, but a higher level of grammar is required for writing since there are no physical or visual clues to express your intent.
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I often hear people talk about "the degradation of the English language" when slang is used or brought up. What does everyone think about that?
It seems that the general consensus is that if I'm with my friends, it's okay for me to not worry about grammar that much, but if that's the case, does it matter if I use a lot of slang? Does it matter if I say, "Fo shizzle, dawg. That shit's off da hook!"
Is it wrong that slang like that is widespread, used by many people? Or does it not matter, as long as everybody understands what is being said. (I'm sure by now, everyone knows what "fo shizzle" means.)
It seems that the general consensus is that if I'm with my friends, it's okay for me to not worry about grammar that much, but if that's the case, does it matter if I use a lot of slang? Does it matter if I say, "Fo shizzle, dawg. That shit's off da hook!"
Is it wrong that slang like that is widespread, used by many people? Or does it not matter, as long as everybody understands what is being said. (I'm sure by now, everyone knows what "fo shizzle" means.)
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When speaking informally with someone then I can overlook grammar problems, but when it is written down I hate slang and poor sentence structure with a passion.
The only time when I think it is okay to ignore the grammar rules is when there is an actual clear point being made, like:
where there is a reasoning behind.
The only time when I think it is okay to ignore the grammar rules is when there is an actual clear point being made, like:
ShaggyJebus wrote...
"Fo shizzle, dawg. That shit's off da hook!"where there is a reasoning behind.