Punctuation & good spelling ..........

[StaceM8]

An this has nothing to do with a brain / head injury, but why is it punctuation is becoming obsolete when it's so important.

Even more so & this is where a head injury does become a relevant factor, when your brain's not at it's best anyway. Concentration's generally poor & not having to read one long sentence without punctuation, definitely makes thing's easier.

If it doesn't make sense to you when u read it back, how is it gonna make sense to anyone else.

.

Another important thing I feel, is to break up what's being written into regular, new paragraphs - pretty much after every sentence. It just makes things easier to read, I'm sure U agree.

Ok rant over, hope U all have a lovely day

Stace

Sorry another bugbear (never knew that was one word & I actually thought it was bug bare ;o), but why is spelling so poor, we have a spell checker & the word is underlined, both on a Pc or mobile. I can only assume people don't check what they've written to make sure it reads correctly & make sure there aren't any mistakes. (& bugbear wasn't underlined in red & suggestions made, I wasn't sure so googled it (perhaps I just have too much time on my hands ;o)

[Pairofboots]

I guess Stacey, people with brain injuries have problems with communicating with or without punctuation and correct spilling. 🍀

[StaceM8 in reply to Pairofboots]

I do understand but it's not just people with brain injuries.

However probably a bit insensitive, but by not using punctuation & correct spelling it makes it difficult for others to read & get involved, no ???

[Pairofboots in reply to StaceM8]

It might make it difficult for some, but not for all.

As for spell check, it often suggests incorrect punctuation, or: the incorrect word! for the context (sore saw, sure shore, tale tail).

Take Shakespeare, one supposed great writer, his punctuation and spelling was appalling, but yet his tales are widely read, performed, and the backbone of English language in education, although the language form he uses is not in modern usage.

I had trouble spelling "appalling" the spell check suggestion was Appalachian, to me, clearly not the right word, but there was a time when I would have accepted this.

Shakespeare spelling, was Appalachian, there are at least 26 references in his original published work of how to spell Shakespeare.

[RobHH in reply to Pairofboots]

That's a bit unfair to Shakespeare - there was no standardised spelling in his day, so there were several acceptable ways to spell the same word.

[StaceM8 in reply to RobHH]

I didn't go into too much depth tbh ;o)

[Pairofboots in reply to RobHH]

As the way many people with brain injuries have to communicate in current time should be acceptable. The point is, that the strict rules of grammar and spelling don't necessarily lead to being difficult to understand, if Shakespeare, with all his flaws can communicate successfully, then it is only personal preference that cites grammar as a problem.

[StaceM8 in reply to Pairofboots]

I totally understand what you're saying, but likewise the majority of people who have had a head injury, find it difficult to concentrate on reading.

Besides I wasn't purely talking about people who have suffered from a head / brain injury & again you are right, it's better to communicate the only way u are able to, rather than keep it to yourself.

Stace

[Pairofboots in reply to StaceM8]

I find reading is hard work, I have trouble remembering the word before the word I am reading, I have to put it together as I would speak to make sense, I can't allow punctuation to distract me. Strange thing is I can scan through a paper and get a jist, but to read word by word will leave me wondering. Short sentences as in posts is easier because it is written as if speaking.

[Leaf100]

Hi Stace.

My guess is , for a lot of people, it is motor control ie the typing part.

And for me, here in Canada, I get forced to use an American spell checker by the software, and I do my best to stick to Canadian spelling, which is mostly the same as the UK.

So, I often ignore the spell checker.

I also have issues with reading. I can type because of my past life, but reading it back is not my strong suit. I do well to correct the really crazy things autocorrect does, and it does some mighty strange things sometimes.

Sometimes it is better to communicate than not do it cause you can't be perfect at it.

Leaf

[StaceM8 in reply to Leaf100]

Hiya life & I wouldn't expect anyone to be perfect. I think it's mainly breaking up sentences & making sure things read correctly before posting them ;o)

[Leaf100 in reply to StaceM8]

;0)

[Morinagirl]

I tend to agree with what you are saying. In general spelling and punctuation doesn't seem to be priority these days. I blame mobile phones for some of it. When I was at school our English classes were split for literature and language and I took O levels in both. Why is it important? Because a sentence can be misconstrued if not punctuated properly and as you say can be difficult to read as well, just my point of view....

[Trevor78]

"but why is it punctuation is becoming obsolete when it's so important. " - teaching standards dropping within society generally, laziness caused by texting/social media and internet generally & the unwillingness of people to point out spelling and punctuation errors these days for fear of pile on for bullying and/or being told that it doesn't matter - as you say though, that is different from head injured individuals who have a valid reason for any such mistakes. nb I've only got grade C "O" Level English Language (which I sat again about 5 years after my TBI) so I'm no expert and that's my level although I'd hope to do much better if I really put my mind to it. That was the standard that I needed to get a job at the time 30 years ago and I generally only do the basics of what's needed.

[lcd8]

Personally I don't think I could send anything to anyone that I knew contained spelling/punctuation errors. I would be annoyed with myself. But maybe that's just me. Nowadays everyone is in such a rush and maybe can't be bothered. I think there is a bit of a misconception that it doesn't matter even though it really does in terms of readability. I don't think its only young people who are guilty of poor spelling/punctuation though. I see some dreadful examples (eg on social media) written by older people.