Blogging vs. Language
May
'08
I know that you can find this exact same article in so many words on any other website; in fact, a Google search will get you more than 2 million results. Despite that, however, I’ve found that the most effective way to tell people who live on the Internet (also known as bloggers) how stupid they sound is by writing a post. You know that silly little myth that says you only use 10% of your brain? I sort of feel like we only use 10% of the Internet. (I was going to say something about the availability of valuable educational resources that we ignore while trying to find, successfully, every possible type of porn, but I thought that might be a bit graphic.)
Now, we’re not perfect even though we strive to be so. I’m not perfect all the time, even though I’m clearly Princess of the Universe and thus have no faults. Simple mistakes, though, are sprinkled everywhere; I’ve seen so many just this afternoon while blog-hopping that I can’t help but want to address a few things.
For example, when you’re trying to continue a list, say, perhaps, by using an abbreviation for “et cetera,” please understand that the correct form is etc., not ect. Where do you get this “ect”? Does that mean something else of which I am unaware? (It reminds me of electroconvulsive therapy.) Let me break it down: the expression is Latin, and et means “and” while cetera means “the rest.” It is also redundant to say “and etc.,” sort of like how saying “ATM machine” or “CSS stylesheet” makes you look like you don’t know what you’re talking about.
If you are listing people, you do not use “etc.” You use “et al.” Again from the Latin, et is still “and;” alii means “the others.” This one might look familiar as I’m sure your textbooks use it, but you weren’t really paying attention in school were you?
Now, if you want to get really risky and take the expression “for example” out of your vocabulary (please don’t, we need that to know what you’re saying since you suck at everything else), you’ll want to learn the difference between “e.g.” and “i.e.” Just as before, both are from Latin phrases. Exempli gratia means “for the sake of example” - “for example” for lazy people. Id est means “that is.” Whoever said Latin was a dead language? We use it all the time! (Okay, I know, that’s a totally unoriginal thought. Sue me.) Use both to clarify something you’ve already said, but use “e.g.” to give examples on the subject and “i.e.” to restate your idea.
On another note, there is no reason to say “e.g., my list, of things, is, here, etc.” The use of “e.g.” implies that you’re about to follow it with a partial list, so saying “and more” on the end of that is a tad redundant for my tastes. (Now that I’ve brought it up, saying “tad bit” is also redundant. I do it all the time, but I recognize that “tad” and “bit” mean the same thing. Do you?)
Let me inform you of another conundrum: The “could’ve” and “would’ve” contractions. Oh my gosh. It has to be the single most annoying thing in the world to see the words “could of” together as if they belong together. It’s not like chocolate and milk, I promise. If you do not have any desire to write contractions, make sure you know what they mean before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as it were). It’s could have and would have.
Can I make another point, while I’m at it? “Hers’s” is not a word. Neither is “his’s.” If you want “her” to be possessive, “the book is hers.”
I’m skipping the extremely well-known common errors (”lose” instead of “loose,” “its” and “it’s,” “their,” “there,” and “they’re,” “then” and “than,” etc.), because I’m sure you’ve read about them time after time. (Not to imply, of course, that anything in this post is going to stick.) In fact, I’m skipping a lot more that I wish I could address in one sitting, but for tonight I’ll have to be satisfied with the most blatantly annoying errors.
Putting all “netspeak” aside (I’m referring to those people who don’t even try to write legibly), while I was in college, my professors constantly told me that the only way to be taken seriously is to express yourself properly. I’ve seen this point made numerous times in articles online - people expect a certain level of language competence. Make use of spell check before you publish; it’s free. If it’s not built in the blog script, I’m sure you have a word processing program on your computer.
It seems that more and more I’m finding message board posts and blog entries that complain about the exact same problems I’m pointing out here*. Is it now unnecessary to write well online? I’ve found articles on websites which promote web standards, but seem to have absolutely no grammatical standards. I find it hard to take anyone seriously on “serious topics” while they are comfortable saying, “I’m going to try and make this easy for you to understand.” “Try and?” This is elementary, my dear Reader; you’re trying to make this easy for me to understand.
And yes, language evolves. Some argue that language is a tool to be morphed and used in creative ways to get a point across. It’s there for us to manipulate, even if it means sounding like a complete idiot. Honestly, I can agree with that, but only to an extent. It’s not okay to break grammar rules and then use that as an excuse. If you bend them and have good purpose for it (poetry, for example, or creative writing even), more power to you. Saying, though, that “could of” is perfectly acceptable just because you are human and it is within your right to use your language as you see fit - that doesn’t cut it.
Pray, tell me your thoughts on this matter. I can never get enough fuel for the fire, and from the other side, I’d like to know the opinions of those who disagree. Either open my eyes or boost my ego; it’s up to you. Correct my grammar for all I care; as I’ve stated, no one is perfect.
There are many complaints about post content around the “blogosphere” (I hate that word) which I won’t get into here. I’m sure you’ve heard it all before - no one wants to read a post about your daily life with names no one knows and places no one cares about. With that in mind, all one would have to do is embrace the full restraints and complexities of the English language to make his/her posts interesting. One could theoretically update about a miniscule event in his/her life, mentioning an unknown Jason or Betty, and gain a plethora of readers who perhaps at one point complained about “uninteresting day-to-day posts.” The post wouldn’t say, “I did this and she did that,” “then they did this,” or “then this happened.” It would speak to the reader in a way foreign to them; we are too used to unoriginal, uninteresting, straight-forward posts with no thought, no connecting idea, and tens of errors.
When I open my web browser to my Wordpress admin panel with the intent of starting a new post, I don’t think, “What kind of jibberish can I put out today?” I straighten my shoulders, take a deep breath, and dive into my ideas. I hash it all out, let it go free, until everything I want to say is in the tiny box in front of me. When I’m done with that, I read over the post. Yes, Reader, I re-read my post before I publish it. I correct errors, delete unnecessary strings, expand upon ideas which are lacking, and generally bring the chaos together. After I publish it, I read it again to make sure it all fits together nicely. That’s two proofreads. How many times do you proofread your posts? Each time I address you on this space, I approach my speech as if I were writing a formal paper. You deserve nothing but the best from me, and I intend to give it my best. Why, oh why, do people present themselves as uncaring, uninformed grammar misfits to the world on spaces which they pay for and then complain when others intepret them as such? Why pay if you’re not going to illustrate your life with words befitting it?
* Please don’t misinterpret my disdain for intentional misuse of the English language for a dislike of non-native English writers/speakers. I am referring to those who have grown up in a prominantly English world, without any kind of disability, and still at high school age or higher will not differentiate between “then” and “than.” It’s not that they can’t, it’s that they’re too lazy to express themselves within the proper constructs and would rather say, “well, you know what I mean,” than to actually say what they mean. And don’t tell me your “restless leg syndrome” makes it hard for you to speak proberly because I will punch you in the face.
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I love how your posts always make me think. In fact, i’ve re-read it twice and i’ve been trying to form a reply for a good 10 mins now.
I think a large part of this problem stems from our educational systems. The standards are so much lower. Fewer and fewer children read books. It’s very sad
And kids get pushed forward regardless of what they’ve learned… no child left behind..
I know I’m guilty of being lazy when it comes to blogging. If I were to sit down and take a grammar test i’m pretty sure I could ace it, but sometimes I just type too fast or I’m in a rush and i don’t have the time to put in the level of effort I should. I know it’s “etc” but i’m sure i’ve used “ect” from just being lazy.
Another point of view is something i’ve learned from my studies in linguistics. Language does evolve. It has no choice. I took a course in old english and it was so complicated, so elegant, almost like a romance language. Well, I wonder what a professor of those times would say about english today? Not what it’s become online, but what we call modern english. They might say the same thing.. what have we done to it?
Anyways, your constant high quality writing does inspire me. So I thank you for that.
May
'08
Oooh, I bet it felt good to get that off your chest! I also proofread my posts very carefully. Ideally, I try to wait a day before publishing so I can look at it with fresh eyes, but that doesn’t always happen.
I don’t think I’ve ever said “a tad bit” but I’m definitely guilty of “a small little.”
By the way, have you ever seen the Eggcorn Database? Oy!
May
'08
Christine, I agree that a lot of the cause is the level of education and how instead of concentrating on individual students, educators would prefer to teach them the bare minimum so they don’t get ‘left behind’ from their peers. I can see some benefits to that, but I also see the production of a bunch of kids who won’t get the jobs their skills deserve simply because they don’t know how to write properly. My mother looks over resumes for her department and sometimes will reject someone simply because they didn’t think it was important enough to proofread what they’ve passed in. They could have all the right skills, but an employer will often times take that laziness as the inability to check after oneself and give out that extra burst of effort. Hence why my professors always told me that no one would take me seriously or respect me unless I expressed myself properly.
Okay, didn’t mean for that to be so long! But I agree, it would be very strange to see Chaucer’s reaction to McSweeney’s!
Julie, it did feel good! I don’t often write posts that could in any way potentially be offensive, but sometimes I just want to kick someone.
I hadn’t seen the Eggcorn Database, but I’m finding it very interesting. Thanks for sharing! I’ll probably spend all afternoon there… 
May
'08
While I think there need to be some standards, I don’t write entries because I’m trying to write a research paper. I try to be as grammatically correct as I can but sometimes something slips by. With that said, I do proofread my entries a couple times before I even publish it and then I read it again.
However, sometimes I want to write how I would speak it - as if I’m telling the story to a friend.
May
'08
Hmm…I have to agree with Cristine, Michelle. I love it when you make me think. Although I have to admit that I commit almost all of these errors except for the etc. one. I know that one. But my problem isn’t the lack of education or the like. It is just the simple problem of the lack of mental ability some days. The more my head hurts or the more seizures I have the worst my English language is. I do my best to make sure that my grammar is correct and I will even hold my post for a couple of days, but I will still miss some of the errors, lol.
May
'08
I know this might surprise, but even when I proofread I miss things because I’m reading them and subconsciously seeing what I’m thinking versus what is there. Heh. Behold the power of thought!
Anyway, I do agree with your overall statement. Just thought I’d add in one of my quirky little flaws!
May
'08
I learned the etc. thing in school but the e.g. and i.e. thing I never knew!! I totally just learned something thanks to you!! Also, I think if I ever saw something like “hers’s” on a blog I would punch them in the kidneys.
Restless leg syndrome!!! Don’t get me started ha ha! There was that commercial on TV and now EVERYONE and their freaking mothers has that “disease” oooh my.
May
'08
Fascinating post.
Does it also bother you when you see ‘the’ spelled ‘teh’ in the blogosphere? I cannot describe how much it irritates me.
May
'08