The 3 most common Technibble grammatical mistakes

[hyfidel]

Great replys!

In all seriousness, I know my post seemed anal, but really, the point is that customers make judgments on who they are going to hire, and bad grammar and spelling is something that can lose you a job. Especially if it's on your website marketing material.

Of course some won't care, but why give up the opportunity for more business? I saw a Doctor's business card that had the STREET NAME misspelled, and she was still handing it out. Eeesh!

 

[NYJimbo]

Great replys!

In all seriousness, I know my post seemed anal....

It's anal retentive. Boy, do I hate it when people say "anal", that's so lazy. You want to see someone who is anal ? Trust me, you dont. It's horrible. DO NOT CLICK THIS.

 

[sjlplat]

Last week a tech on another board was using the word "prolly" when he meant "probably", however when I joked with him about it he really thought the word was "prolly" and has been using that spelling in ALL his communications for years.

I don't mind it so much in forums and social networking sites, but if I get any sort of official documentation with things like this, I find it hard to take them serious. I just can't think of someone on a professional level if they don't display the ability to convey themselves professionally.

It's anal retentive. Boy, do I hate it when people say "anal", that's so lazy. You want to see someone who is anal ? Trust me, you dont. It's horrible. DO NOT CLICK THIS.

I clicked, and I couldn't help but chuckle. To think you knew exactly where to look is a little bit funny.

 

[NYJimbo]

I don't mind it so much in forums and social networking sites, but if I get any sort of official documentation with things like this, I find it hard to take them serious. I just can't think of someone on a professional level if they don't display the ability to convey themselves professionally.

I've had resumes to my shop with "2" and "cuz" in them.

 

[sjlplat]

I just signed up for a merchant account, and my account manager turned out to be a young kid. He called to notify me that he emailed some forms for me to sign, and he was clearly having a hard time conducting a professional-level phone conversation; stuttering, mumbling, etc. I figured he might be new, and was just adapting so I just rolled with it and tried not to let him know that something was amiss. The business has a great track-record, so I wasn't going to let a new kid kill the deal.

When I emailed him back, I wrote the message in the same format that I use for all my business-oriented messages. Later that night, he wrote back to request some marketing information about how I found them. Again, it was evident that he was trying to be professional, but still didn't quite have the knack for it. Rather than give him a quick 3-word response, I wrote up a full report on their Google ranking for select keywords, and detailed the process I used to select a merchant service provider. The final email was as follows:

Hi Mr. LeCompte,

Thanks for the info, that is more than I could ask for!

Curtis

 

[NYJimbo]

I clicked, and I couldn't help but chuckle. To think you knew exactly where to look is a little bit funny.

One day I will post a detailed thread on the ******* that introduced me to that site. He came in with an internet redirection or hijacking problem. I kept seeing that site in his bookmarks and my mind kept seeing "Veronica Mars" because this guy has alot of media related links, and that was/is some TV show or something..

So after fixing his machine I did about 10 tries from his favorites to look for any pattern of remaining redirection or dns poisioning and I clicked on that thing.

I didn't even know people were into that stuff.

 

[iptech]

I'm glad this subject has been raised directly. I've been ripped apart on more than one occasion on this site when I've challenged those" who have difficulty with the pencil". It's true that may of us will make typographical errors and the odd mistake in our submissions especially when they are written off the cuff, but in the context of Technibble, it's those who routinely use poor grammar and syntax who are typically the same ones who are lazy with their diagnosis and trouble-shooting, yet expect a precise, step-by-step response from other techs to help them fix problems they have taken on as paid professionals.

Don't pretend that good spelling and grammar doesn't matter and that it's your skills that are more important. It's sadly true that poor communication skills are commonplace these days, but that doesn't mean to say that others, not least your customers - potential or actual, won't know or care. The ability to communicate, both written and verbally, with clarity and accuracy is a core skill, especially in business where you are typically judged by your own personal standards before you can ever be measured by your results.

 

[sjlplat]

I didn't even know people were into that stuff.

I worked with a couple guys who were into some pretty nasty stuff like that. The videos used to work their way around the email system at my last employer, until management got wind of it. Heads rolled, and it was swiftly put to an end.

With that in mind, what do you think the title, "Worlds Largest" means?

 

[pcstu]

This is just a forum, nothing else. The people on this forum are not clients, colleagues, work mates, family or anything for that matter. My customers don't come on this site and/or have never heard of it before. This is a place that i come and relax and have a read at what other people are doing and how they are going, not to make judgments on how they spell. "WHO GIVES A DAMM". To those people who think that good spelling and grammar is the most important thing in life i say go get a life. On a forum it does not mean that you are not professional in your business if you don't spell everything right and your grammar is not perfect, It is arrogant and high minded thinking to tell people how they should be in the business and/or private lives. If you don't like it "get over it", this place is not the center of the universe.

 

[studiot]

An antidote

Filler filler filler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx8LyeEzut4

 

[purple_minion]

I have to agree with the OP. I am not good at language at all, not my strong point. However I notice I'm constantly asked how to spell things or notice glaringly obvious errors watching people type.

Weather its from txting alot or we isnt a excuse!

I personally lose a lot of respect for ANYONE that I see who can't write basic, basic English who is supposed to be a professional, especially if I have to decipher their code to try and answer a question. I will let none native speakers off the hook because I can understand that, but if you were born here then what is your excuse? If my eight year old cousin can write a better sentence there is something wrong.

 

[iptech]

Anyone that doesn't believe that correct syntax is important should not be working in an IT related field.

 

[pcstu]

I believe that anybody who thinks syntax and grammar is the most important requirement for working in the IT industry should stop working for that veronica site.

 

[sjlplat]

I see a lot of irony in this thread.

 

[iptech]

I believe that anybody who thinks syntax and grammar is the most important requirement for working in the IT industry should stop working for that veronica site.

Not the most important, but it's certainly important.

I've never worked on veronica's site whoever she/he/it may be.

 

[atlanticjim]

Although my grandmother who was also my diction teacher would fume whilst reading any message board, I have to partially defend the lax grammar.

As we all know there is written language and spoken language and they are quite different. If you are not convinced, read a courtroom transcript.

As I see it, communications such as text, casual email and especially message board postings combine these two styles into a bastardized colloquialism.

I love the English language and have been accused often of being the big-word-guy, but in this venue I find spelling and grammatical mistakes to be expected and acceptable. The final arbiter is message clarity.

 

[GaPazz]

Me thinks people should overlook a few grammer/spelling errors in a forum post, however now I'm starting to worry about my postings

 

[Majestic]

I'm certainly not a grammar expert, but these are easy ones that you all need to get straight! I've seen these so many times here on the forums; I hope you techs aren't making these mistakes in your marketing and business materials.

1. There vs. Their vs. They're
There = refers to a place or pronoun
Their = possessive
They're = contraction of "they are"

They lost there windows cd. (WRONG!)

2. Loose vs. Lose
Loose = opposite of tight
Lose = opposite of find

I am going to loose my mind thinking about grammar. (WRONG!)

3. Your vs. You're
Your = possessive
You're = contraction of "you are"

If you think you can educate Technibblers on grammar, your wrong! (WRONG!)
Your welcome! (WRONG!!!)

Don't get me started on affect vs effect, it's vs. its, i.e. vs e.g., then vs. than!

Could not have expressed that better myself! It's also a pet peeve of mine!

You're (RIGHT!) On!

Majestic

 

[hardtoremember]

The you're/your and then/than thing gets my attention but it doesn't bother me too much.
I always read my emails a couple of times before I send them and what ever website I am working on I read about 20 times over!

 

[iptech]

The you're/your and then/than thing gets my attention but it doesn't bother me too much.
I always read my emails a couple of times before I send them and what ever website I am working on I read about 20 times over!

Whatever!

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