Apostrophe's revenge
Whilst I believe that good grammar and spelling is something we should always aim for in our written communication, I get somewhat annoyed by narky busy-bodies who write to M&S or Waitrose or wherever over the offence caused by the minor misuse of an apostrophe on their packaging. Don't these people have anything better to do? How about getting a life?
Likewise, the people who make an issue out of the greengrocer's apostrophe. I love greengrocers' apostrophes (is my grammar correct?). They make me smile. They are often to be found on signs that are handwritten in felt marker pen by someone whose first language is not English, sometimes writing the names of fruits and vegetables as they would pronounce them, uniquely stylised with the quirky use apostrophes. When I see a greengrocer's apostrophe I am reminded that I'm participating in a world that is alive and kicking, of individuals doing it their way, and telling us all that there is more to life than academic notions of grammatical correctness and conformity.
A lot of grammar policing (if you can call it that) is nothing more than petty oneupmanship particularly on the internet where people are typing and staring at a screen in lieu of the spoken word and eye contact. We don't actually worry about speaking in grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs in conversation, do we? We don't speak apostrophes. So if someone makes a typo then just let it go, I say. They aren't doing their homework and you aren't their teacher giving them marks out of ten, so just shut it. The same goes for people who take photographs to upload to the internet for the sole reason of ridiculing someone's misuse of an apostrophe. Get over it.
5 comments:
Ah, the fresh cauli's and cue's. The apostrophe thing does bother me (not enough to write letters to people about!), but 'definatly' and all the other mis-spellings of 'definitely' bother me more. It's like hearing a note played off-key.
The worst kind of grammatical or spelling errors are those that seem to be the result of laziness and not making a little bit of extra effort. In printed communication it can really shout.
When I see those silly forum posts where the behaviour of people who share differing views degenerate into pettiness - my knowledge of camera optics is better than yours etc - you'll often see someone pick up on a minor typo or spelling error just to keep the pot boiling.
In that situation, people are using screens and keyboards to communicate, not voices and eye contact. Tapping it out on a keyboard isn't quite the same thing in a 'social networking' situation where typing is the equivalent of conversation so I'm not really fussed by the odd spelling or grammar glitch. It's not worth writing first and second drafts for a silly internet forum. In fact, the best thing to do would be to keep away from those forums in the first place.
I've never agreed with the 'it doesn't matter about the spelling just try and express yourself' philosophy in an educational setting because I don't think it helps anyone who has the potential to learn provided they are taught competently.
However ... we live in a complicated world, where people travel from the other side of the world from countries and cultures that don't use the Latin alphabet; we are a lot more aware of dyslexia; we send text messages with 140 characters or less and have developed another 'language' for that purpose. I guess I'm quite tolerant, and writing letters to Waitrose or wherever over an errant apostrophe ... well, I guess it takes all kinds.
Yes, I think "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" is still alive in some incarnation or other, and writing letters to Waitrose.
I abbreviate and let punctuation go when google-chatting. But am a snob about spelling - must be, because if someone writes 'definatly' I at once think Chav - and make a whole host of assumptions about them.
There is probably something I regularly mis-spell. Would serve me right really.
Dig, I wasn't sure whether to comment or not as I sensed your post was written when you were pretty angry at whoever took you to task over the apostrophe. I loved your photo and never would have dreamed of mentioning grammar! But like Signs I think spelling and grammar are important. You cannot be a writer and not think so, though I have always been very into correct spelling. Our children's literacy is suffering because of social media, no one really seems to care anymore. It's fine in an informal context to get it wrong, and God knows we all make mistakes, that's human, but nothing makes my heart sink more than typos on a professional website, it looks sloppy, there is no getting away from it. There are typos in my book, which still cause me agony, in spite of everyone's best efforts to get rid of them before publication, a few slipped through - I never use spellchecker, I look words up if I am not sure, it is my one big self-discipline. And while an immigrant's handwritten sign may be endearing - and understandable - with the wrong apostrophe, it does not mean wrong spelling and grammar is acceptable in public use. It's not about snobbery, it's about wanting education for everyone and the option to at least *know* the correct way. Imagine you had an exhibition of your photos you would want hundred percent correct spelling, wouldn't you? Re. Waitrose pacakging, no, I really could not be arsed with that!
NMJ, I'm glad you did comment.
No, it wasn't me who was hauled over the coals by the grammar police but something I've witnessed quite a lot when I've had the misfortune of visiting online forums. Somebody somewhere makes a grammatical error, a typo, whatever, and it provides evidence of stupidity or lack to those who want to keep up the ad hominem.
I do believe in good standards of spelling and grammar and also believe that high standards are possible for most of us with a little effort.
However, if something is informal and/or temporary, a misplaced apostrophe wouldn't matter to me. I certainly wouldn't walk into a corner shop and get stroppy with the guy behind the counter.
But as you guys are writers, I'd expect nothing but the best from you ;-)
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