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My grammar isn't perfect and I often have to write then read and correct what I've written a good few times before I consider it acceptable and sometimes I even mix up words without initially realising it, but I always do my best and I definitely don't like leaving something that I know is wrong even if it is a small spelling or grammar mistake. For instance, I will always use an apostrophe when writing "won't" or "don't", but many people couldn't care less and I suppose for the purposes of this forum it doesn't truly matter if what's written is easily understandable. Sometimes I will see an update to a thread and I'll refresh my memory my reading my past reply when I spot a grammar or spelling mistake, then I'm itching to correct it and it's annoying if I've already been quoted by another member. That's why you often see my comments updated later.
It's difficult to say whether it's related to being on the autistic spectrum, I used to be terrible at English and writing so I wasn't capable of being strict about grammar, the Internet gradually made me a lot better over the last 23 years (the first time I used the Internet was around 1995). People on the autistic spectrum do sometimes have an obsession to put everything neatly in a specific place, so it is still possible, although I'm sure there's many NTs that are very strict about correct spelling and grammar too.
I'm not one for pointing out other people's spelling or grammar mistakes however as long as it's understandable and I don't need to ask for clarification because I know it can annoy some people. The only time I would consider correcting someone would be if they specifically asked me to check something that was important to them, E.g. an application form.
Do I notice errors in the mechanics, usage, spelling, and grammar of others? Yes. It's an Aspie trait to notice idiosyncrasies. But just noticing isn't being a grammar Nazi. Being a grammar Nazi begins when you decide it's necessary to go out of your way to point it out for whatever purpose.
That means being a grammar Nazi isn't an Aspie trait; rather, it's a trait of being something else entirely. Something that rhymes with "stick".
I would have added commas, as such:Is it just me though or is it a common Aspie trait?
Interesting! They also say this about a ot of ancient philosophy, especially Aristotle. Take his "Poetics," for instance. Many believe it was written "descriptively," simply describing what he saw in the ancient dramas. However, it was read "prescriptively" by so many-for CENTURIES- that it thwarted a good deal of creativity. Everyone HAD to write according to what Aristotle said, a sentiment to which he would have been tremendously opposed! Same idea, no ?I was very much a grammar Nazi, but began to change when I learned about Descriptivism vs Prescriptivism.
Prescriptivism is the viewpoint that the English language is codified in a set of rigid and unchangeable rules. Prescriptivists view a dictionary as defining how words should be used. This viewpoint is what a lot of us learned in our English classes.
Descriptivism is the approach that English is a living, changing thing, and all we can do is describe how it is used. Most dictionary editors are descriptivists. If enough people use a word a certain way, it is added to the dictionary.
So, I try to take a descriptivist viewpoint, and let people say what they say. If I can understand what they mean, it's good enough. You can say "lit", "woke", "hep" or "whatever." My wife and her siblings say " do you remember whenever we did this?" when they refer to one occasion. I would have said "when" instead of whenever. But I write it off as a regionalism. It's not how I talk, bit it works just as well.
There are still things that make my eyes involuntarily twitch, though. I am 100% an Oxford comma man. I just don't call people on it unless I'm reviewing text for them. Maybe I'm just a passive, closet grammar Nazi.
It is true, all English words and even grammar are created simply by people using them. A new word or an existing word with a new meaning could at first be used by just 1 person, but if others start using the word and it catches on it can become slang, then if enough people continue to use the new word or meaning it eventually becomes official English and it's added to the dictionary. There's numerous additional words added every month and one example of an existing word that evolved with a new meaning is the word "gay" which used to only mean happy. With the Internet however new words and meaning have never been created so fast, it's accelerated the evolution of the English language with around 1000 new words being added each year.I was very much a grammar Nazi, but began to change when I learned about Descriptivism vs Prescriptivism.
Prescriptivism is the viewpoint that the English language is codified in a set of rigid and unchangeable rules. Prescriptivists view a dictionary as defining how words should be used. This viewpoint is what a lot of us learned in our English classes.
Descriptivism is the approach that English is a living, changing thing, and all we can do is describe how it is used. Most dictionary editors are descriptivists. If enough people use a word a certain way, it is added to the dictionary.
So, I try to take a descriptivist viewpoint, and let people say what they say. If I can understand what they mean, it's good enough. You can say "lit", "woke", "hep" or "whatever." My wife and her siblings say " do you remember whenever we did this?" when they refer to one occasion. I would have said "when" instead of whenever. But I write it off as a regionalism. It's not how I talk, bit it works just as well.
There are still things that make my eyes involuntarily twitch, though. I am 100% an Oxford comma man. I just don't call people on it unless I'm reviewing text for them. Maybe I'm just a passive, closet grammar Nazi.
Do I notice other people's mistakes? Yes. Do I point them out? No, unless they are asking for advice on their writing. Pointing out other people's mistakes on a public forum where spelling and grammar are of no importance is pointless and irritating, and rather hypocritical unless your own spelling and grammar is perfect 100% of the time.
Lol you’re not the only one as I’m also a grammar and spelling natzi. Suzanne, your sentences are too long.