Then Than There Their They're

There is little more telling about the intelligence of the poster, and irritating to me, than someone who does not know the difference between the words "then" and "than", or among "there", "their" and "they're". Even if you are not good at spelling, you should at least be able to sound out the differences between the words "then" and "than". Please, before posting anything, look up the meaning and usage of those words. The most common mistakes are to use "then" when you mean "than", or "there" when you mean "their".

Your being picky.

reply to post by sorgfelt


LOL. I have to agree with you, but even so, I'll admit that I often find myself making the exact same typos. It ticks me off to no end! I'm an educated person, but sometimes I think my fingers go faster than my brain.

reply to post by sorgfelt


to, too

our, are

will, we'll

mine, mind

Oh the list never ends!!!

reply to post by sorgfelt

I'm with you there dude, I taught English in Japan for 8 years and it frustrates the heck out of me to see native english speakers making such basic mistakes, bit sad really

And don't forget YOUR and YOU'RE , while your on the subject

I just love the grammar police

I culd cair les how terble my speelin as...

2d lien

Originally posted by MJZoo
Your being picky.

You're

Originally posted by anumohi
And don't forget YOUR and YOU'RE , while your on the subject

I just love the grammar police

edit on 14-8-2011 by anumohi because: (no reason given)

"While (you're) on the subject"

reply to post by sorgfelt


If you have that big of a problem with it why not become a public school teacher? I know they did not teach me the diffrence between thoes words. I mean rather than complain, be a part of the solution. I know it must suck to have to educate people to hold a conversation to your liking, but its more productive if you do so. By the way you forgot to and too, but thoes are thee hard ones.

I find myself immediately losing interest in what someone has to say if they can't take the time to double-check their spelling and grammar before hitting the post button. At the very least it makes me suspect the brain capacity of the person making the post. Typos in thread titles probably irks me more than anything (it's the thing that is going to draw people into what you have to say -- it needs to be perfect!), although an exceptional amount of exclamation points has much the same effect. I realize that there are people with disabilities that make it difficult for them to communicate in standard English, so I don't want to sound too harsh, but a spellchecker would be nice to use and a second glance over wouldn't hurt either.

--
Dagobert -- longtime lurker but first-time poster.

reply to post by sorgfelt


I wouldn't say that what you suggest is telling to the posters intelligence at all. First of all can I just point out the first obvious flaw, this is an international site so English might be the posters 2nd, 3rd or even 4th Language so they can be forgiven if they get it a little wrong. Secondly people suffer from dyslexia who are extremely clever people, I have a friend who can't spell Skyscraper yet he can design and build one. Thirdly sometimes it is more an indication of the standard of schooling the poster has undertaken rather than the poster not being intelligent or have the capacity to be intellingent. Finally being a good communicator does not necessarily make you intelligent,most geniuses were recluses that could not communicate or socialise with their peers, a beautiful mind comes to mind.


So I am sorry OP but your synopsis is insulting and is more telling of your mental capacity rather than anybody else's. I hope I have enough spelling and grammar mistakes in there to burst a blood vessel.

Originally posted by Stella Lotus

Originally posted by MJZoo
Your being picky.

You're

Eye no.

Originally posted by jonco6
reply to post by sorgfelt

 

I know they did not teach me the diffrence between thoes words.

You're joking right?

reply to post by sorgfelt


Sorg,
You equate the misuse of these words with a lack of intelligence.
El wrongo buberino.

Many here have English as a second language. Others have no skill in this area because they grew up in our modern day educational system that bored them to tears with it's inability to communicate the importance of learning these things.

Also many may just not give a rats patoote.

In any event, if I find the content compelling and honest I overlook the language weakness. If not, I just laugh at the moron and move on.

Try to keep in mind that people access this website from all over the world, so English is not their native language.

When I saw this, I was expecting to see a rant about the uses of there and their along with the other ones. I see people use their when describing a place all the time, but I don't complain. I get what they mean. Not everyone can express what they are trying to say in words alone, so give them a break.

edit: TerryMcGuire describes exactly what I was trying to say. If I could star you, I would, but don't have the option in this thread.

S AND F MY FRIEND

I cannot begin to thank you enough for posting this topic and sadly, only a few will see it.

Agree 100%.

i use to have a girlfriend who complained if i pegged the washing out in the incorrect order or used a clean spoon to stir a drink rather than rinse the one used before. i class people who complain about grammer on an internet forum in the same light, unless the post they are complaining about is completely unreadable. if the person was applying for a job or was writing a book then fair enough.

i have yet to find a post on ATS i could not work out.

Picky ? Sorry reading posts titled: "Proof" or "WARNING dire consequences!!!" you expect a little credibility from the author and valuable information from somebody smarter than "a box of hair".

My favorite : :"Patriots grab your guns they've declared "MARSHALL"LAW!"
Sorry Buford ;I think I'll sit this one out, My "Thomas Jefferson " has to be able to spell:you boys run along and try not to hurt anyone with your guns...
Marshall Dillon never declared "martial" law....

For many....English....is their second language...so they are going to make mistakes...as long as I understand what they are trying to say.....I don't let it bother me. This is a global website....and incorrect grammar and spelling is going to happen.

There are so many more important things to be upset about....I'm just saying.