Hatrack River Forum: How to refrain from being a Grammar Nazi?

This is topic How to refrain from being a Grammar Nazi? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :

I've been noticing it for quite some time. From snide comments people make...from the fear in their eyes when they talk near me...how some of them even look hopeful until I crush their little hopes by stating every grammar mistake they make. [Evil Laugh]

I'm turning into a Grammar Nazi. (Portuguese grammar, of course)

It's a bad thing to be, I know, but I seem to slide more and more down the slope. I guess it's sort of caused by my job (Portuguese Teacher), but I'm having trouble leaving it in the classroom.

Of course, I tried to avoid correcting people, but than comes this...craving. How do you fight your Grammar-Naziness?

[ August 06, 2004, 02:10 PM: Message edited by: Eduardo_Sauron ]

Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :

I have this problem too, of course, and if I can ever get to the point of authentic and sincere interaction with everyone I meet, I don't think it will be a problem. I've tried to limit myself to corrections where the grammar/spelling mistake really causes miscommunication.

Posted by ssywak (Member # 807) on :

Um, Eduardo, that would be "and then comes this craving..."

Sorry.

Also, "Grammar Nazi" and its derivatives should be capitalized.

--Steve (and you call yourself a Grammar Nazi) Sywak

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

I'll bet if you started posting in Portugese, he could really rip it apart.

[ August 06, 2004, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: mr_porteiro_head ]

Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :

</whine> Ssywak: Hey, that's unfair! English is my second language! </whine>

Porteiro: Hehehe...guess it's interesting to taste my own medicine. [Big Grin]

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

I used to be able to speak and read Portugese OK, but I could never write it well.

Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :

Is a question mark the best way to punctuate that thread title?

Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :

My dad needs you, Eduardo. He is in Peru right now, but for some reason they are teaching him Spanish along with Portuguese. He stumbles along fairly well in Spanish, but he's terrible at Portuguese. He has a tutor come, but he can't seem to get it.

Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :

Porteiro: It's normal. I speak and read english very well (I guess my spoken english may be a little rusty), but my writting is still sub-par.

sarcasticmuppet : I guess it is, unless the punctuation rules in english are radically different from portuguese ones.

PSI Teleport : I want to be cured, not encouraged in my illness! [Smile]

[ August 06, 2004, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: Eduardo_Sauron ]

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

When I first came here, I mentally was a Grammar Nazi. I couldn't stand it when people made misspellings or grammatical errors. But then I made several of my own, clear up to the point of calling Tom & Christy's baby an "alien life form" or some other such faux pas and suddenly I became much less critical of others. Because when you are typing in a hurry, lots of things can come out that aren't intended or meant.

FG [Big Grin]

[ August 06, 2004, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]

Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :

quote:
but my writting is still sub-par.

You must be grateful for the computer, then. [Smile]

For some reason, I spell much better in writing than in typing. Most of my spelling errors on Hatrack are caused by typos rather than actual ignorance of the spelling of a word.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

There were a few errors that used to leap out of the page at me -- there vs. they're, your vs. you're, two vs. to vs. too, good vs. well, etc.. I mean, didn't people learn about that in elementary school?

Then I started posting regularly at hatrack, and I noticed that I somehow make those same mistakes, even though I am very much aware of the correct way to do it. I was apalled at myself.

I wonder if it comes from becoming more relaxed in my hatrack conversations, making it more like a spoken conversation than a formal report.

Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :

Porteiro: That's usual, since you are trying to convey your message quickly.