Mistakes can help the writer convey even MORE than the original idea. They can indicate that the writer is not fluent or can indicate that the writer is ignorant of spelling or rules of grammar. Additionally, they can make communication less efficient as the reader is forced to read beyond what is written in an attempt to decipher what was intended.

I don’t claim that we all should fret constantly about perfecting our writing, but I DO claim that good writing should be a goal (and ought to be the STANDARD).

Mistakes can help the writer convey even MORE than the original idea. They can indicate that the writer is not fluent or can indicate that the writer is ignorant of spelling or rules of grammar. Additionally, they can make communication less efficient as the reader is forced to read beyond what is written in an attempt to decipher what was intended.

I don’t claim that we all should fret constantly about perfecting our writing, but I DO claim that good writing should be a goal (and ought to be the STANDARD).

Mistakes can help the writer convey even MORE than the original idea. They can indicate that the writer is not fluent or can indicate that the writer is ignorant of spelling or rules of grammar. Additionally, they can make communication less efficient as the reader is forced to read beyond what is written in an attempt to decipher what was intended.

I don’t claim that we all should fret constantly about perfecting our writing, but I DO claim that good writing should be a goal (and ought to be the STANDARD).

Words that succeed in convoying an idea have satisfied their sole purpose, lack of apostrophes not withstanding.

The wise reach a plateau of skill and look up at what they have left to maintain; the meek look down at what they have accomplished and derive smugness.

Words that succeed in convoying an idea have satisfied their sole purpose, lack of apostrophes not withstanding.

The wise reach a plateau of skill and look up at what they have left to maintain; the meek look down at what they have accomplished and derive smugness.

Chris was exaggerating his response; he wasn’t totally serious. He’s a pretty cool guy, actually.

Chris was exaggerating his response; he wasn’t totally serious. He’s a pretty cool guy, actually.

Chris was exaggerating his response; he wasn’t totally serious. He’s a pretty cool guy, actually.

Perhaps, but it may be that your score would have been exactly the same had you followed the rules that you knowingly broke.

“This, from the math professor, of course. ;)”

:) At least I only said that it should be the GOAL.

“I’m all for writing better, though, and I think it’s probably the single most important skill a person can develop.”

I agree (and I’m a MATH professor). :)

Perhaps, but it may be that your score would have been exactly the same had you followed the rules that you knowingly broke.

“This, from the math professor, of course. ;)”

:) At least I only said that it should be the GOAL.

“I’m all for writing better, though, and I think it’s probably the single most important skill a person can develop.”

I agree (and I’m a MATH professor). :)

I believe breaking the rules got me a higher-than-passing score.

“I’d say that the goal should be to know ALL the rules that apply to any writing that you will use.”

This, from the math professor, of course. ;)

I’m all for writing better, though, and I think it’s probably the single most important skill a person can develop. Writing for others, and one’s self, is an amazing way to develop or communicate knowledge on any subject. People need to construct knowledge for themselves. Writing, having to cultivate and express an idea, is the ultimate raw material for constructing knowledge.

I believe breaking the rules got me a higher-than-passing score.

“I’d say that the goal should be to know ALL the rules that apply to any writing that you will use.”

This, from the math professor, of course. ;)

I’m all for writing better, though, and I think it’s probably the single most important skill a person can develop. Writing for others, and one’s self, is an amazing way to develop or communicate knowledge on any subject. People need to construct knowledge for themselves. Writing, having to cultivate and express an idea, is the ultimate raw material for constructing knowledge.

I believe breaking the rules got me a higher-than-passing score.

“I’d say that the goal should be to know ALL the rules that apply to any writing that you will use.”

This, from the math professor, of course. ;)

I’m all for writing better, though, and I think it’s probably the single most important skill a person can develop. Writing for others, and one’s self, is an amazing way to develop or communicate knowledge on any subject. People need to construct knowledge for themselves. Writing, having to cultivate and express an idea, is the ultimate raw material for constructing knowledge.

You claim that you passed the exam BY breaking rules. This may or may not be true. The threshold for passing is pretty low. You may have passed in spite of the rules you broke. In any case, if you were trying to creatively break some rules for aesthetic reasons, the point is that you KNEW that you were breaking the rules, and you (no doubt) did it in such a way that you did not harm communication.

You ask “what rules are acceptable to not know?” I’d say that the goal should be to know ALL the rules that apply to any writing that you will use. If you’re engaged in formal writing of some sort, then you should stick to what you know is correct – and if you want to explore something new and aren’t sure of the rules, you should look them up. I’m much more forgiving in informal writing (which should NOT include things like newspaper columns [except where an informal style is expected] or corporate memos). The attitude that you seem to imply (which again, I don’t think is really what you mean) – that because there are SOME rules that are so obscure that one can’t be expected to know them, then it follows that NO rules are important to know – too frequently leads to writing that is unintelligible. Seriously, some of the writing I’ve seen makes worrying about the specific examples that we’ve all brought up seem silly.

That said, y’all (spelled correctly) is a perfectly good plural version of you. And, since we don’t use “thou” as the singular any more, a plural version of the word can be useful. I grew up just outside of Chicago and “you guys” (or even “you all”) is the plural there. I must admit though that I’ve never come to like y’all’s … as in: How do you get to y’all’s house? I’m not even sure how that should be spelled: y’all’s … y’alls ??

Daniel: Can you ever predict which of your posts will generate the most replies?

You claim that you passed the exam BY breaking rules. This may or may not be true. The threshold for passing is pretty low. You may have passed in spite of the rules you broke. In any case, if you were trying to creatively break some rules for aesthetic reasons, the point is that you KNEW that you were breaking the rules, and you (no doubt) did it in such a way that you did not harm communication.

You ask “what rules are acceptable to not know?” I’d say that the goal should be to know ALL the rules that apply to any writing that you will use. If you’re engaged in formal writing of some sort, then you should stick to what you know is correct – and if you want to explore something new and aren’t sure of the rules, you should look them up. I’m much more forgiving in informal writing (which should NOT include things like newspaper columns [except where an informal style is expected] or corporate memos). The attitude that you seem to imply (which again, I don’t think is really what you mean) – that because there are SOME rules that are so obscure that one can’t be expected to know them, then it follows that NO rules are important to know – too frequently leads to writing that is unintelligible. Seriously, some of the writing I’ve seen makes worrying about the specific examples that we’ve all brought up seem silly.

That said, y’all (spelled correctly) is a perfectly good plural version of you. And, since we don’t use “thou” as the singular any more, a plural version of the word can be useful. I grew up just outside of Chicago and “you guys” (or even “you all”) is the plural there. I must admit though that I’ve never come to like y’all’s … as in: How do you get to y’all’s house? I’m not even sure how that should be spelled: y’all’s … y’alls ??

Daniel: Can you ever predict which of your posts will generate the most replies?

You claim that you passed the exam BY breaking rules. This may or may not be true. The threshold for passing is pretty low. You may have passed in spite of the rules you broke. In any case, if you were trying to creatively break some rules for aesthetic reasons, the point is that you KNEW that you were breaking the rules, and you (no doubt) did it in such a way that you did not harm communication.

You ask “what rules are acceptable to not know?” I’d say that the goal should be to know ALL the rules that apply to any writing that you will use. If you’re engaged in formal writing of some sort, then you should stick to what you know is correct – and if you want to explore something new and aren’t sure of the rules, you should look them up. I’m much more forgiving in informal writing (which should NOT include things like newspaper columns [except where an informal style is expected] or corporate memos). The attitude that you seem to imply (which again, I don’t think is really what you mean) – that because there are SOME rules that are so obscure that one can’t be expected to know them, then it follows that NO rules are important to know – too frequently leads to writing that is unintelligible. Seriously, some of the writing I’ve seen makes worrying about the specific examples that we’ve all brought up seem silly.

That said, y’all (spelled correctly) is a perfectly good plural version of you. And, since we don’t use “thou” as the singular any more, a plural version of the word can be useful. I grew up just outside of Chicago and “you guys” (or even “you all”) is the plural there. I must admit though that I’ve never come to like y’all’s … as in: How do you get to y’all’s house? I’m not even sure how that should be spelled: y’all’s … y’alls ??

Daniel: Can you ever predict which of your posts will generate the most replies?

I only get upset when people know it’s incorrect, but continue to do so because they think it’s funny or because they just don’t feel like it.