[-jimi-]

I could actually argue how that sentence is correct. But I won't.

Look at texts just 200 years old. Looks very different from what we see now. Languages change. I don't get how that is so bad.

Good grammar and spelling is important but like any other area, extreme perfectionism is not healthy.

[hamster-bamster]

[QUOTE=jimi...;2916042]

You probably meant to write: "Good grammar and spelling ARE important, but AS IN any other area, extreme perfectionism is not healthy".

The way you phrased it, perfectionism is being compared with any other area. That can't be what you intended. You probably intended to say that perfectionism in any area, be it grammar/spelling or cleaning the house or - continue the list - is not healthy, in your opinion.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Good grammar and spelling is important but like any other area, extreme perfectionism is not healthy.

You probably meant to write: "Good grammar and spelling ARE important, but AS IN any other area, extreme perfectionism is not healthy".

The way you phrased it, perfectionism is being compared with any other area. That can't be what you intended. You probably intended to say that perfectionism in any area, be it grammar/spelling or cleaning the house or - continue the list - is not healthy, in your opinion.

[-jimi-]

Yea I missed a word there didn't I. Tired and don't know where my sentences are going all the time. The "like" of course was intended.

But I thought we agreed PEOPLE'S POSTS were off limits were off limit for these complaints? No? Or what are you going to do, stalk everyone down that make mistakes?

Give it a rest.

[hamster-bamster]

You were posting on a thread with four former English teachers. Further, you wanted to voice your opinion on a linguistic subject. Given those two exceptional circumstances, you could have made an exception and actually read the draft before posting. Not that you should do so as a rule, no, but just an exception given the specifics of the topic.

[-jimi-]

OK, so you claim this thread as your property. Fine. Have it.

As long as you do not post in threads I started. Deal?

[hamster-bamster]

I authored the OP so the subject matter, by and large, is due to my choice. That the. Thread was joined by two other former English teachers and one person who has been teaching English for two decades is due to their choice, not mine. Hence, I do not see what caused you to believe that my suggestion to you amounted to my claiming ownership of the thread in its entirety.

[-jimi-]

OK, that means I can post? In that case, I will.

Especially in American English, "as" is seen as very formal, and "like" is used in some cases when the rules dictate "as" should be used. Actually, for standard level of American English, "like" is more common.

Example: You make mistakes LIKE I do. No one loves my cat LIKE I do.

It sounds the right level of formal in American English, in British English it might sound too lax. In these instances, "like" will sooner or later replace "as". Static languages don't exist. Aged expressions seem to sound too serious and too formal in some contexts.

And I'm not sorry for not proofreading. I'm short on sleep and I have ADD.

[Travelinglady]

Well, moving along......

In some cases, grammar errors are very significant. One example I read recently was on the order of: "Grandma, was dinner yesterday evening" versus "Grandma was dinner yesterday evening." For lack of a comma, Grandma could have been the main course!

[hamster-bamster]

Also, this was not my first time taking this quiz, and this time my score was the lowesr ever, 9. So I am pretty high functioning at the moment, hence I chose to provide helpful feedback to the creators of the quiz. I expect people who self-select into participation in this very optional and narrow thread to be high functioning as well. Certainly not in crisis. For this reason, I think it is probably not asking too much to compose responses in a logical manner. The comparison between an area and perfectionism is illogical and thus incorrect in both American English and British English. It would have been incorrect 200 years ago and will be incorrect 200 years from now. The first requirement for any sentence in any language is logic. Your drafting was sloppy. Sloppiness does occur frequently and this was just one typical example. But no matter how fluid (as opposed to static) our language is, sloppiness is always just that - sloppiness.

I find "You make mistakes LIKE I do" horrifying. You like it and prefer it. That is ok to disagree on it. But sloppiness is always sloppiness and we need to call a spade a spade.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Well, moving along......

In some cases, grammar errors are very significant. One example I read recently was on the order of: "Grandma, was dinner yesterday evening" versus "Grandma was dinner yesterday evening." For lack of a comma, Grandma could have been the main course!

We have a lovely example in Russian, where comma placement changes the outcome from mercy to capital punishment!

[-jimi-]

Moving along. Good idea.

[Travelinglady]

Proper English is proper English. I know an English professor who gave my sister a "B" for the entire English class she was taking because my sister used some contractions in her final paper. Arguing with English professors and teachers is not likely to be productive. Yes, such expectations of correctness might be viewed as "perfectionism" by some folks, but rules are rules. Also, the rules can change over time, but not too quickly. Even tests to get into college and graduate school have sections on vocabulary and grammar, as I recall. Some tests require students to provide writing samples.

However, I can understand how tiredness and even ADD in combination with it could affect the quality of someone's writing on a post in an Internet forum.

I think we agree we would be better off if we move along. However, truly this post was not one started by me, so Hamster-Bamster is in charge. I tell you, we just bring up one issue on Psych Central, and it can get turned into a battle.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Also, this was not my first time taking this quiz, and this time my score was the lowesr ever, 9. So I am pretty high functioning at the moment, hence I chose to provide helpful feedback to the creators of the quiz. I expect people who self-select into participation in this very optional and narrow thread to be high functioning as well. Certainly not in crisis. (...) Your drafting was sloppy. (...) But sloppiness is always sloppiness and we need to call a spade a spade.

I take my last post back..... This aint over.

I'm not in a crisis. Where did you get THAT from? High functioning people do not fret minor mistakes, it is not healthy. You can brag all you want and put me down and say that I am in crisis and sloppy (I guess ADD is not a real thing for you and that tiredness is being in crisis). You can compare perfectionism in language with perfectionism in other areas yea, and if I missed a word, you should still know what I meant. Good language is fine like a clean apartment is fine, but when you start combing your rug with a toothbrush something is wrong.

I'M not people who refuse to hang out with others if they don't have a completely correct language. For me that signals something odd going on.

Anyway... this is ticking me off to now end. So I'll go now.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

However, I can understand how tiredness and even ADD in combination with it could affect the quality of someone's writing on a post in an Internet forum.

A forum like this should allow people with different levels of skills, also it should allow people who have other native languages. Also, we are not writing essays here, we are here for support, not to be graded.

[Travelinglady]

I agree, Jimi, which is why I said earlier that on a forum such as this one I look at the content (or intent, I should say) of the message and not whether it would get an "A" from an English professor.

However, back to the original issue, I see no excuse for professional writing, such as what should be used in wording an official test, to be sub-par.

[-jimi-]

It's much different than what HB did, jumping all over me and reading in crisis and sloppiness thinking only perfect people should post in her thread.

Anyway for real. I've asked for a lockout of my login so I can't sign in.

I don't need some von oben person taking a tinkle on me.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by jimi...

It's much different than what HB did, jumping all over me and reading in crisis and sloppiness thinking only perfect people should post in her thread.

Anyway for real. I've asked for a lockout of my login so I can't sign in.

I don't need some von oben person taking a tinkle on me.

Thank you, I have learned a new word. That is always pleasant.

Please come back.

[FooZe]

This thread has become argumentative and off topic. I'm going to close it while we discuss what do do with it.

[DocJohn]

The assumptions in this thread are many, so let me clarify a few things.

Everything we do here, except our blog network, is overseen by editors and an editorial review process that usually includes multiple editors. While that catches most mistakes, some mistakes will inevitably slip through.

If you want things corrected, you can always PM me, or list the specific things that need attention. Saying the whole test needs to be looked at for grammar is not as helpful as pointing out the specific problems with specific questions you came across.

This is our feedback forum, so pointing out areas where we are falling short is exactly what this forum is for -- even grammar mistakes. While we strive for perfection, we will sometimes fall short, for which I apologize.

Thank you,
DocJohn