TLC, you're right, my conclusion was extremist in it's expression of the matter of degree of the relevance. The necessity of perfect grammar on investors forums is a grey area where sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. Hope you agree.
For instance, compare: <<The quality of spelling and grammar has nothing to do with the information which is shared for the benefit of all, on investors forums.>>
To:
<<The quality of spelling and grammar has everything to do with the information which is shared for the benefit of all, on investors forums.>>
My point: at different times, either and/or neither case is correct; proving the points you just nailed down - if it interferes with the communication of the meaning, or slows the reader down, it's relevant.
As this is the very subject under discussion, hope you won't mind my friendly use of your misspelling of "word" as "wird" in the second-to-last sentence of your post as an example. I, too, would have left "wird" stand uncorrected had I noticed it on Preview...and would become quite impatient at anyone claiming to be bothered by such a trivial typo. We've all seen people who are compelled to spoil the momentum of a fascinating conversation by breaking in to pompously correct some error of grammar or pronunciation - these folks are more unfit for the "A List" than are their targets. It's such schoolteacherly editors of irrelevant minor errors that get on people's nerves; not someone requesting (politely not rudely demanding) more facts to back up a statement or asking for a clarification of meaning. (I was slowed down by a chuckle reading wird, TLC - had to assume that this was a deliberate misspelling & another morsel of your famous dry wit).
You gave a great example of a misspelled word that is simply a typo, not subtracting from understanding or distracting any but a reader either: 1) ESL-challenged 2)perfectionist to the point of being anal-retentive 3) a compulsive one-upper 4) out to get your goat or 5) like me, using it as an example of the point we're discussing.
As the words "wired" or "weird" didn't fit into your sentence, and it's the third mention of the word "word" in that paragraph... the spelling error was non-distracting and perfectly understandable. It was a minor typo and caused no confusion.
Like most subjects under the sun; when/how/if to mention an error of any kind in public or the magnitude of true misunderstanding or distraction caused by an error of spelling or grammar - it's all a matter of judgement, context, relevance, and degree. Thanks for pointing out my incorrect expression of a conclusion.
What a great thread; fun to split hairs with you,
Joana |
