Some Observations on Correcting Others

[db5]

There was some discourse on this forum about the use of their, they’re and there.

I learned (the hard way) as an undergraduate that people don’t like to have their grammar, spelling or pronunciation corrected by anyone, at least not in a public forum or even face to face. One of my professors gave an address to about 3,000 students and other faculty. His topic was not being pretentious and putting up a false front. The word for that false front was façade (French) and he used it at least two dozen times. The address was quite good except he ruined it by mispronouncing façade as fack-aid, over and over. I stopped by his office later, congratulated him on a good speech and then told him how to correctly pronounce that word. He was embarrassed, then angry and I paid for it in his course. Poor stupid, insecure man, bless his heart*.

A word often misused is nauseous, as in “I’m nauseous today.” I’ve learned to reply to this with, “Yes you are but I’m glad you recognize the fact.”

Here’s a quote from vocabulary.com If you're nauseated you're about to throw up, if you're nauseous, you're a toxic funk and you're going to make someone else puke. These words are used interchangeably so often that it makes word nerds feel nauseated!

Think about your own experiences. Do you like being corrected by others on miner things, especially in a public forum? Not likely. So, do to others as you would want done to you.

*bless his/her heart. A southern expression that is often used to excuse oneself after making disparaging remarks about someone else. Examples:

I can’t believe he’s so stupid and uninformed to vote for that vile person for president. bless his heart.

No matter how much she spends on clothes, hair and makeup she always looks as if she lives in a dump. Just proves you can’t put lipstick on a pig. Bless her heart.

I wish that stupid jackass would stop posting things that have nothing to do with woodworking. This is a woodworking forum you know. Bless his heart.

[ERLover]

dp5
thanks for the info, ya professors are funny sort, with usually LARGE egos
My brother in law, PHd in 7 years in some type of wild math, gets to be one at Boston College with a 10x10ft office with a phone at 35K$ a year in 1975. He got a bit nauseous at Christmas when bragging it up, when I told him I made $43K that year in the Power Plant as a Jr Engineer, but with just a cubicle. BTW he thought he was too good to have to Publish, so no Ten Year and dismissed from BC. Yes he was an arrogant, egotistic person up to that point.
I took no offense on Skous comments, I know my spell is bad and spell check with some words is even worse.
My grammar is not the best, but that is out of laziness at times and usually not rereading what I typed b4 I hit the submit botton.

[rpd]

You are correct, I dislike being corrected on minor things, and I am sure the miners don't like it either. Bless their hearts.

[ERLover]

I think Skou/Steve was being more humorous then anything else. At least that is how I took it.
Now, the Red Neck thing, well I considered the source.

[JPG]

I think Skou/Steve was being more humorous then anything else. At least that is how I took it.
Now, the Red Neck thing, well I considered the source.

Touchè!

[BuckeyeDennis]

I can ensure you, my grammar is also less than perfect, especially late at night. (And really especially after a knight cap or two.) A spell checker doesn't provide much assurance against grammatical mistakes. But I do try to insure that I catch any as many errors as possible, by reviewing and proof-reading before clicking the submit button.

[JPG]

My personal feeling towards being corrected is Thank You. If one does not correct me than I continue my life journey in ignorant bliss. I would rather be corrected than blissful.

I also think others should have the same.


Ego is terrible burden.




And yes for years I pronounced it fay kaid. Until corrected!!!!

[moggymatt]

I think Skou/Steve was being more humorous then anything else. At least that is how I took it.
Now, the Red Neck thing, well I considered the source.

Touchè!

Is that french pronounced touchy here in the U.S.?

[JPG]

I think Skou/Steve was being more humorous then anything else. At least that is how I took it.
Now, the Red Neck thing, well I considered the source.

Touchè!

Is that french pronounced touchy here in the U.S.?

Since it is a French word, it should be pronounced the same 'over here'.

TOW SHAY.

[ERLover]

Wow all, I feel we got really touchy feelings going on here, I know for some that is okay, but for some here that is a real step forward for them, and a bit off balance for them, but a step to understanding self!!!