Correcting English

Irish_Tom · 10 May 2007 at 11:03

As I was growing up my parents would always correct me with my speech and I always asked them to proof read essays etc. Both my parents are, or were, teachers and so they did a pretty good job of it.

At the time I hated it and we had more than one argument about it, especially with the essays, but in the long run I believe it was worth it.

When I was with my ex she used to get me to proof read her essays at college and uni. We had more than one fight about that as well but she really did improve.

I think some people are just inclined to call out mistakes, they either think they are helping or they are just annoying sods.

Call them Grammar Nazis if you like but the English language has rules and although some of them are obtuse and some even contradict others, they are rules non the less.

I don't think I would correct other people's speech, but if someone asked me to proof read a document I would be as critical as possible.

Panzer

meghatronic · 10 May 2007 at 11:05

How old are you both?

The child in me tells me to just do it back to her over everything at every chance. Even silly things like opening a door.... say "you should have done it like this". She'll get the picture.

The adult in me tells me to just ignore it - I doubt she's being malicious, otherwise she wouldn't be your girlfriend.

I correct everyone's grammar, despite making mistakes myself. I usually, however, never make grammatical or lexical errors orally, just written.

pyro · 10 May 2007 at 11:06

Well I can certainly think of at least two ways you can use "went for" during sex and see if she mids the pain more than the grammar error

Fergie · 10 May 2007 at 11:06

I correct my girlfriend's grammar quite often without realising. It really really gets on her nerves.

Tbh it would annoy the hell out of me too, it's just like someone commenting on your driving from the back seat. :mad:

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:07

Helium_Junkie said:
Sorry to offend, but if you don't like it maybe you should try to change?

It's not something I am sure I can change. Generally I'd say my spoken English is of a fairly high standard, but I'd hate to have to consciously think about whether my sentance construction is correct before I begin to speak.

I have read and absorbed the posts that suggest she is irritated by my choice of words, and that's probably the case. I am not speaking that way to irritate her though, it's just the way I am.

I do find that her behaviour annoys me though and wish she'd just learn to bite her tounge and I'd try harder to speak with greater eloquence.

Vixen · 10 May 2007 at 11:07

I hate it when people don't speak properly, so I end up correcting my boyfriend all the time. Your girlfriend is only trying to help, and it probably annoys her when you get things wrong. Don't have a go at her, just try to learn

.

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:09

jdickerson said:
How old are you both?

The child in me tells me to just do it back to her over everything at every chance. Even silly things like opening a door.... say "you should have done it like this". She'll get the picture.

The adult in me tells me to just ignore it - I doubt she's being malicious, otherwise she wouldn't be your girlfriend.

I correct everyone's grammar, despite making mistakes myself. I usually, however, never make grammatical or lexical errors orally, just written.

I am 33 and she is 35.

I don't mind too much if she corrects me when her son is around, I appreciate she'd like him to speak correctly, but when we're on our own I think she should just back off TBH.

pyro · 10 May 2007 at 11:11

Vixen said:
I hate it when people don't speak properly, so I end up correcting my boyfriend all the time. Your girlfriend is only trying to help, and it probably annoys her when you get things wrong. Don't have a go at her, just try to learn .

Don't do that! That's the first step in giving into her crap! Next thing you know you are having dinner with her parents and they ask you all sorts of questions, like, why you fail uni, etc.

I say, go to an Imam and ask him how teach you how to give her a good beating.

meghatronic · 10 May 2007 at 11:12

The Mad Rapper said:
I am 33 and she is 35.

I don't mind too much if she corrects me when her son is around, I appreciate she'd like him to speak correctly, but when we're on our own I think she should just back off TBH.

Is she a teacher?

Or is it simply her trying to enforce correct English on her son? If so, pull her to one side and say you appreciate her doing it when all three of you are there and you'll make a conscious effort to improve, however, when you're on your own you wanna speak how you wants innit?

Irish_Tom · 10 May 2007 at 11:15

pyro said:
Don't do that! That's the first step in giving into her crap! Next thing you know you are having dinner with her parents and they ask you all sorts of questions, like, why you fail uni, etc.

Is that speaking from experience?

Panzer

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:16

Vixen said:
I hate it when people don't speak properly, so I end up correcting my boyfriend all the time. Your girlfriend is only trying to help, and it probably annoys her when you get things wrong. Don't have a go at her, just try to learn .

I always react badly though, I hate being corrected. I don't think she's correcting me to help me, I think she corrects me because it irritates her.

Calder · 10 May 2007 at 11:17

If I can't think situations like this through for myself at the age of 35 I will stab myself in the eye repeatedly with a sharp spoon.

Wait, I already can.

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:19

jdickerson said:
Is she a teacher?

Or is it simply her trying to enforce correct English on her son? If so, pull her to one side and say you appreciate her doing it when all three of you are there and you'll make a conscious effort to improve, however, when you're on your own you wanna speak how you wants innit?

No, she isn't a teacher, she stacks shelves in Waitrose in Beaconsfield. Before that she was a nursery nurse.

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:21

Calder said:
If I can't think situations like this through for myself at the age of 35 I will stab myself in the eye repeatedly with a sharp spoon.

Wait, I already can.

I can think the situation through, that's not the issue. The issue is confirming whether I was correct or not and generally venting frustration. So no need for your sarcastic comments - run along.

[TW]Fox · 10 May 2007 at 11:22

Perhaps she wishes to have a boyfriend who is well spoken, difficult to blame her, there is little more annoying than somebody who cant talk proper like, and who reckons that they didnt do nothing about it.

Calder · 10 May 2007 at 11:24

The Mad Rapper said:
I can think the situation through, that's not the issue. The issue is confirming whether I was correct or not and generally venting frustration. So no need for your sarcastic comments - run along.

It isn't a question of right of wrong, that's who she is, if it annoys you then do something about it.

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:26

Calder said:
It isn't a question of right of wrong, that's who she is, if it annoys you then do something about it.

Other than tell her it annoys me, I fail to see what else I can do. I am hardly going to leave her for correcting my English

Helium_Junkie · 10 May 2007 at 11:26

Calder said:
It isn't a question of right of wrong, that's who she is, if it annoys you then do something about it.

Could you stab yourself in the eye with the spoon now please? Just to prove your dedication.

Helium_Junkie · 10 May 2007 at 11:41

Of course he didn't read it, he's only here to try and annoy people for attention. Have you not seen his utter drivel in other posts? He's a self professed arrogant irritating emo dramaqueen.
But he just wont go away

The Mad Rapper · 10 May 2007 at 11:45

Helium_Junkie said:
Of course he didn't read it, he's only here to try and annoy people for attention. Have you not seen his utter drivel in other posts? He's a self professed arrogant irritating emo dramaqueen.
But he just wont go away

I've tried to explain myself to him clearly, I thought perhaps I hadn't. I can see now I may as well give up