email468
Well-Known Member
I agree with the OP but am guilty of terrible grammar though spell-check usually catches my spelling. Being literate is the single best way to make yourself understood. Without language we'd not be able to have civilization as we know it. We'd be naked chimpanzees and would have probably been extinct by now.
But language does evolve, which i think is one of the beauties of language. We can read and understand Shakespeare but most of us need some help comprehending all of what he says and his writing is only a few centuries old. And on a forum, I think the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling aren't as important as getting your point across. But the catch is, the best way to get your point across is to use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling!
So here goes - my list of commonly misspelled/misused words and phrases:
to, too, two
there, their, they're
affect/effect (still haven't figured this one out)
due to the fact of (should be "since" or "because")
using "like" instead of "as" (as in "fast like a cheetah" instead of "fast as a cheetah")
ending phrases in prepositions
run-on sentences
improper colon/semi-colon use
and don't forget to omit needless words.
Please note i am guilty of all these no-no's - so i'm not preaching just making note.
and two observations
one - have you noticed when someone starts a sentence with "not to boast but.." the next thing said is a boast?
and
two - have you noticed when someone starts a sentence with "basically", nine out of ten times, what follows is complete and utter bullshit?
And lastly, if you are interested in improving your use of language in all aspects , that is written or spoken using proper grammar with improved vocabulary, the single most important thing I think you can do is read, read, and read.
And did you know that when people are hooked up to health monitors (to measure breathing, heart rate, etc...) while reading they experience the same relaxing effects that folks who practice meditation in the style of many Eastern religions? So sit cross-legged saying "Ahm" or read a book and your body reacts in the same beneficial way! And with reading you get to exercise your imagination as well - though reading could lack any spiritual component that true meditation may provide. But that is a digression and not to the point.
But language does evolve, which i think is one of the beauties of language. We can read and understand Shakespeare but most of us need some help comprehending all of what he says and his writing is only a few centuries old. And on a forum, I think the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling aren't as important as getting your point across. But the catch is, the best way to get your point across is to use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling!
So here goes - my list of commonly misspelled/misused words and phrases:
to, too, two
there, their, they're
affect/effect (still haven't figured this one out)
due to the fact of (should be "since" or "because")
using "like" instead of "as" (as in "fast like a cheetah" instead of "fast as a cheetah")
ending phrases in prepositions
run-on sentences
improper colon/semi-colon use
and don't forget to omit needless words.
Please note i am guilty of all these no-no's - so i'm not preaching just making note.
and two observations
one - have you noticed when someone starts a sentence with "not to boast but.." the next thing said is a boast?
and
two - have you noticed when someone starts a sentence with "basically", nine out of ten times, what follows is complete and utter bullshit?
And lastly, if you are interested in improving your use of language in all aspects , that is written or spoken using proper grammar with improved vocabulary, the single most important thing I think you can do is read, read, and read.
And did you know that when people are hooked up to health monitors (to measure breathing, heart rate, etc...) while reading they experience the same relaxing effects that folks who practice meditation in the style of many Eastern religions? So sit cross-legged saying "Ahm" or read a book and your body reacts in the same beneficial way! And with reading you get to exercise your imagination as well - though reading could lack any spiritual component that true meditation may provide. But that is a digression and not to the point.
, judge people based on their literacy - at least consciously. 
