Rant About Bad Grammar
I've been something of a grammar freak since I was a kid. I used to take pride in my ability to spot an error in a speech, in a textbook, or especially falling from my parents'/teachers' lips. (Did I mention I was a snob in school? Is it necessary?)
Now, however, I feel that this "gift" of good grammar is really more of a curse. Every time I read something, my brain subconsciously goes to work and the errors jump out at me a la John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. It's ridiculous and distracting. Maybe I've been an editor too long, who knows.
Anyway, what set me off on this tirade is one specific website: PBS's pages on The Great War. Incredible. It's astounding to me that a company website on a well known/ well visited website could be so careless with its presentation. After encountering two egregious errors on the first page, I considered sending a "not-so-friendly" email. After having to read subsequent sentences multiple times to understand what was being said, I send said email.
I'm actually angry about this, legitimately angry. I'm disappointed in PBS's lack of effort. I'm tired from last night, I'm trying to do some serious research and I don't need the disrespect or the distraction of a staff that's not going to make the effort to proofread its work.
This is part of the reason I prefer books to the internet. Granted, with the internet there is a world of information at your fingertips- but at the same time, you have to sort through so much CRAP to get to the real stuff. At least when I read a book I know that someone has edited it. Random idiots post inaccurate and poorly written information on the web everyday. (This reminds me of another thing that sets me off: the world is teeming with well-educated idiots. )
I'm exhausted, mentally and physically. I'm sick of people. This is your language, English speakers. Take some pride in it. Have some respect for yourselves-or, if you can't manage that, at least have some respect for your readers.
Now, however, I feel that this "gift" of good grammar is really more of a curse. Every time I read something, my brain subconsciously goes to work and the errors jump out at me a la John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. It's ridiculous and distracting. Maybe I've been an editor too long, who knows.
Anyway, what set me off on this tirade is one specific website: PBS's pages on The Great War. Incredible. It's astounding to me that a company website on a well known/ well visited website could be so careless with its presentation. After encountering two egregious errors on the first page, I considered sending a "not-so-friendly" email. After having to read subsequent sentences multiple times to understand what was being said, I send said email.
I'm actually angry about this, legitimately angry. I'm disappointed in PBS's lack of effort. I'm tired from last night, I'm trying to do some serious research and I don't need the disrespect or the distraction of a staff that's not going to make the effort to proofread its work.
This is part of the reason I prefer books to the internet. Granted, with the internet there is a world of information at your fingertips- but at the same time, you have to sort through so much CRAP to get to the real stuff. At least when I read a book I know that someone has edited it. Random idiots post inaccurate and poorly written information on the web everyday. (This reminds me of another thing that sets me off: the world is teeming with well-educated idiots. )
I'm exhausted, mentally and physically. I'm sick of people. This is your language, English speakers. Take some pride in it. Have some respect for yourselves-or, if you can't manage that, at least have some respect for your readers.