Then vs. Than

[SDFgirl]

Just because you can't spell very well and maybe your grammar stinks, that doesn't make you an idiot. That was RUDE RUDE RUDE. Hubby and son both have very high IQ's but can't spell if their life depended on it, but they are not idiots. I would rather deal with an "idiot" than someone as self righteous as yourself.

Agreed. My father is highly intelligent, but can't spell worth a darn. It breaks my heart to think of him going to a message board to discuss something he loves, and be called an "idiot." Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Scurvy]

It's also usually fairly obvious when a poster has made a typo and when he or she simply doesn't know standard English grammar. While typos on message boards are common and understandable, poor grammar is, as you say, a bad habit which many don't really want to break.

I agree.

I do think most people tend to use a more informal, conversational tone when posting on message boards than they would use for a more serious situation. (I know I do!) I think that is completely understandable. The occasional typo or misspelling is also understandable. When someone consistantly uses the wrong word - like "then/than", "weary/wary" or "lose/loose" - I'm going to think they don't ever know the difference between those words. When I have to struggle to read a post because of all the misspelled words and poor grammar, I am going to think probably the poster has those same issues in "real life" and not just on a message board. Even if they don't already make those mistakes in "real life", I agree with previous posters - if they continually make the same mistakes in post after post, I strongly suspect that they will start making the same mistakes everywhere else as well. People learn through repetition, and I think that works for all learning - not just the things we want to learn.

 

[Darsa]

It's also usually fairly obvious when a poster has made a typo and when he or she simply doesn't know standard English grammar. While typos on message boards are common and understandable, poor grammar is, as you say, a bad habit which many don't really want to break.

I completely agree with this. And Sorsha, I am incredibly impressed with your grace in the face of snarkiness; thank you for that!