The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #163204   Message #3891101
Posted By: Steve Shaw
29-Nov-17 - 06:02 AM
Thread Name: We must stop correcting grammar
Subject: RE: We must stop correcting grammar
Well we're not here to write legalese. We shouldn't be in a state of tension when typing a post just in case someone's out there hawkishly looking for flaws. Many flaws are not really flaws in any case. Grammar nazis frequently cling to rules that are not rules at all. It's never been wrong to routinely, or sporadically, or even just in isolation, split infinitives, for example. The nazi in that case doesn't understand what an infinitive is. When I look back at some of my posts, I see that I'm guilty of constructing somewhat elaborate and tortuous sentences at times. They might not contain actual mistakes but they give the reader too much mental processing to do. As has been well said, it's all about communicating ideas clearly. But just don't even think of gratuitously picking me up for little errors unless you want me to go for the jugular, that's all. I can't help myself!