Online Writing - Keep Your Grammar Tips to Yourself

INTRODUCTION

This Hub is a rant about people who feel the need to point out perceived grammar mistakes. It appears a lot of my recent Hubs are a matter of ranting or venting or otherwise expressing frustration or anger, and I suppose that is, in part, because there's been a long stretch of 90-degree days where I live; and that, alone, is (as some of us used to say when we were kids) making me mean.

The length and tone of this Hub shouldn't be interpreted as my taking any of this more seriously than I really do. Maybe that's the thing, though: Sometimes we go along and let all kinds of stuff roll off our back, because we know it's small stuff. Then, somewhere along the way, we'll think, "Hey - I just feel like finally speaking my mind about this, even it is a minor thing." So that's the situation behind this particular Hub.



When I first started using Internet writing as a way to write for enjoyment (as opposed to writing what someone else wanted me to write, which is what I'd been doing for awhile), I didn't know anything about online-writing sites. After looking at a few of them, I ran into one that looked appealing and uncomplicated enough for my "hobby purposes". It happened that I signed up shortly after having a whopper of a flu; so, not feeling well for at least a month, I had even more spare time on my hands than I ordinarily would have. As a result, in that first month or so I loaded in about one hundred "articles". (I put the word, "articles," in quotation marks because the material on the site was hardly worthy of being called, "articles".)

As a writer, I was actually fairly embarrassed to have my writing on the site. Still, it wasn't my business how well or how much any other members of the site wrote. It was nice for me to have a chance to write whatever I wanted and have the possibility that it would earn a little something somewhere along the way. Besides, I was using a pen name. Nobody in my "business life" would know I had material on the site.

The site was fairly new when I signed up, so over time more and more emphasis was being placed on writing higher-quality material. That seemed like a good idea to me. In the meantime, I was doing my casual writing and enjoying my spare time activity.

With more and more emphasis being placed on improving the quality of writing on the site, it became clear that the administrators had decided it was necessary to focus on people who didn't know how to write, didn't know what a "professional" article was, and struggled with grammar. In fact, so many of the members on that site were so opposed to anyone being a "stickler from grammar rules", if anyone raised the issue of grammar it was almost guaranteed "the masses" would put him in his place, pointing out, "content is more important than grammar". It was depressing, but I continued to get my enjoyment from writing.

To make a long story not quite so long, the site in question eventually began to be called, "a writing collaborative", with a "we-all-help-each-other-learn" kind of thinking. Somewhere along the way I had run into HubPages, so over time I was becoming less and less involved with the previous site. The thing was, I hadn't been on that other site "to learn". I knew how to write a professional article. In fact, I knew how to write just about whatever I wanted to write. Obnoxious as such an attitude would have been deemed on the other site, I wasn't interested in appointing myself anyone else's English teacher or having anyone else (especially someone who didn't know how to write well, himself) appoint himself my English teacher.

Word was that "everybody can learn something", so nobody should ever find it objectionable when someone else criticized his work. Word was also that someone who wasn't thrilled with SOME kinds of criticism was "someone who couldn't take criticism". Well, I have no problem with anyone expecting me to back up what I present in writing, and I have no problem with anyone who has negative criticism of something I've written. I don't even have a problem with someone who disagrees with what I've said. If someone contacts me about a typing error he spotted in my work I'm appreciative.

Where I had a problem was with carved-in-stone belief that every member should be completely delighted when someone who didn't know his grammar very well offered grammar tips to someone who knew his grammar very well.

Have I always written with absolutely perfect grammar? Of course, not. Sometimes that may be because, as many writers do, I may have slipped up when writing. Other times, I'm so comfortable with the English language that I'll dare to do something I know is grammatically incorrect because whatever I've decided to do may add "feeling" or "real-ness" to what may otherwise have been a dry, dead, sentence. In other words, because I'm so secure in my understanding of grammar rules (even if I occasionally forget to use one here or there), I consider words and the language my "friend". Depending on what I'm writing, I may use words in the way someone who paints uses colors. Generally, I aim for solid grammar. With some kinds of writing, however, I'm not above for breaking the occasional grammar rule for my own purposes.

Here's the thing, though: Some of my online writing is hobby writing for me. It's something I do because I want to be able to write what I want, without regard for AP style or any other style or guidelines required for some kinds of writing. I'm not saying I'm careless with my online writing, because I generally aim to write something that has some quality to it. Some of my casual writing pieces are better than others; but, again, it's casual writing. I like to think I only write junk once in awhile, and I like to think even the junk I write is written in reasonably decent grammar. Whenever I write anything on a professional basis I, of course, take more pains to write something technically perfect. It's not that I don't take my casual, online, writing seriously. It's just that I don't take it quite as seriously as I do, say, scientific writing I may do for someone else.

Are there things I could learn about writing? Sure. There's always things people can learn about writing. Are there ways I could make my casual, online, writing better? Definitely. Sometimes, though, I'm not all that interested in learning more than I've already learned. Right or wrong, I'm actually reasonably satisfied with what I already know about writing. Then again, if there's someone whose professional includes high-level, highly trained, writing skill; or if there's someone like a talented college professor in some English- or writing-related area; I'd very much enjoy learning something from someone like that. Obnoxious or not, I'm just not interested in getting writing tips from someone whose skill is new and/or limited.

In fact, I'm not interested in getting grammar tips even from someone who knows his grammar fairly well (whether or not he fancies himself more of a grammar expert than he really is). Once on the other site I received an e.mail from a well intentioned individual who, as it turned out, taught her own children at home and fancies herself quite the grammar expert. This individual picked apart a bunch of commas I'd used and then picked apart sentences in which I hadn't used commas where she thought I should have. This wasn't an instance when I'd become "creative" with grammar. I had used commas or not used them completely in keeping with correct grammar rules. The trouble was, this individual didn't take my sentences as I had intended them to be taken. Instead, she thought I should have used commas the way she would have, which would have changed the meaning of MY sentences. I was the person who had done the writing. She should have taken the sentences the way the commas intended them to be taken - not been hunting for "alternative ways" that she would have used them. I could have ignored her input, but it irked me that she thought she knew better than I what I meant.

In any case, I wrote more and more on HubPages because, even though the HubPages team and other Hubbers are supportive and helpful, nobody expects anyone else to "get all involved" with other people's writing. People can like someone's writing or not like it. They can vote it up or down or comment if they like. If someone thinks something should be flagged for review he can flag it. Other than that, nobody is expected to "get all involved" with anyone's writing other than his own. Does everyone on HubPages take his writing seriously? No. Still, there are plenty of people on this site who are grown-ups, who write well, who do take their writing seriously, and who write well. When there are Hubs that are poorly written or put together they don't do very well. So, I turned HubPages into my primary "hobby-writing" site and no longer get irked by a site-wide policy that makes me feel like I have an "attitude problem" if I'm not interested in grammar tips from someone who doesn't know what he's talking about (for one reason or another).

Although I don't get a lot of criticism about grammar (and a whole lot of what I know are grammar errors have probably been ignored by a lot of less zealous people), what I've noticed is people who pick apart other people's grammar tend to be elementary school teachers, wannabe teachers, people who teach Sunday school, or otherwise people who show signs of needing to correct or pick apart other people's grammar. Some of these individuals will say they're interested in "helping". Some believe they're contributing to the "quality of the site". I'm not someone who doesn't try to contribute to the quality of the site, but the ways in which I do don't involve my busying my own brain with other people's grammar. The way I see it, if the grammar is atrocious it may call for flagging. If it's an isolated grammar issue in an otherwise well written piece, a lot of people may not even notice it. Those who do are likely to either overlook it or assume the writer had a reason for his choice of wording or punctuation. Many punctuation issues are a matter of being the writer's call. People who know their grammar well know that. Either way, a minor grammatical error in an otherwise well written piece of writing is not likely to take down a site.

As I said, I've gotten away from the site aimed at "developing writers" by developing that "writing collaborative" approach. That's why I was surprised yesterday when I got an out-of-the-blue e.mail about an article I have on that site. The individual said she enjoyed the article. (People on that site are told to say something positive as a way of cushioning the blow of negative criticism of anyone who "doesn't like criticism". I, personally, would rather have a straight-and-to-the-point criticism without the obligatory positive padding. Maybe the individual really did otherwise enjoy the article, but who can believe that when "everyone knows" that saying something positive makes finding flaws or fault more pleasant?)

My friend was with me when I saw the e.mail, and I was laughing as I read it to him. He said, "She's probably a teacher." Out of curiosity and entertainment value, I checked out the profile. Sure enough, a teacher. Based on references to the Bible, maybe even a Sunday School teacher too (although I'm making that up and may well be incorrect). The individual has apparently taken creative writing courses. (I joked to my friend that "some people don't have to take courses".) My friend said how he couldn't take dealing with this kind of foolishness and how I should "just write a book". It was such a minor criticism and a minor matter, it was actually fun to be awful about it and have our laughs. (Sometimes it's just fun to make a big deal out of something silly.) As I continued to scan for additional information about this individual I noticed she is a "one-star" writer on the site. (In fairness to her she hasn't been on the site all that long and doesn't have many articles written.) I saw the subjects about which she wrote as shallow (although there was a thing or two related to religion). I told my friend, who was sitting away from the computer as I relayed information to him, that I have five stars on the site. I began "imagining aloud" the e.mail I'd like to send back, and my friend offered his own version of how I should begin the e.mail - "Dear One Star". (LOL) We were enjoying having our fun with this really minor thing, but the fact that I was irked (and he was aggravated on my behalf) was real.

After he left I thought about sending the individual an e.mail that simply said, "Thank you for your opinion." I thought of several possible e.mails I could send, including one that made sure she knew I wasn't angry and knew she meant well. Still, I'm someone who gets irked when anyone "spins his wheels" over someone else's grammar, mainly because I'm someone who thinks everyone should worry about his own writing and never mind worrying about anyone else's writing.

What this individual had criticized were uses of parentheses. I'm not even sure she was entirely incorrect, particularly if she had some specific style in mind; but the fact is parentheses are used when the information within them is extra information - not information that's important to, or part of, what's being said. So, while I'm open to the possibility that she wasn't incorrect, she was incorrect with regard to my intent and with regard to the fact that what I'd put within parentheses was extra information. Her opinion was that I used too many quotation marks. Well, on that one, she was wrong. I used quotation marks when, where, and why I wanted to use them for whatever reason I decided to use them (regardless of whether the writing is online, casual, writing or any other kind of writing). There was some other little thing with which she found fault. I can't even recall what it was.

Going back and forth between not really seeing the grammar tips as worth thinking about, and being irked at anyone who "has nothing better to do than pick apart other people's grammar", there was a part of me that wanted to point out to this individual that online writing sites aren't exactly The New England Journal of Medicine. There was even a part of me that felt like writing back to her and saying, "Look, Lady. All kinds of people are starving to death in this world. Nobody gives a rat's bottom about whether you liked my use of parentheses or not!"

What further irked me was the fact that she added her input about what I should do in order to get my third-from-the-top (out of twelve) article rated better the next time. You know what? I'm fine with third-from-the-top. I'm fine with eleventh or twelfth from the top! Heck, I'm even fine with second-from-the-bottom out of nine hundred articles BECAUSE I DON'T BLOODY CARE!! (LOL) A part of me wanted to write this person back and say, "You know what, Lady? I don't write on that site any more because of people like you!!" (LOL) I'm not impressed that this individual is an elementary-school teacher. My writing isn't elementary-school writing. I got my A's in grammar when I was in third grade and whatever other grades there were, and then I grew up and moved on. Today I'm a grown-up who thinks and worries about grown-up things and who (regardless of whether I succeed or fail) tries to write something that may, in some way, lead to just one person's thinking or feeling something just a little bit differently than he may have before he read what I've written. Is what I write perfect every time? No. It's not perfect any time. Still, this individual who saw the need to "help" me and, presumably, improve that site writes about things like coffee mugs and casseroles. There's nothing wrong with that. I've written my share of things like that. (To further irk me, this individual began the e.mail with "In regards to..". Maybe it's just me, but I think it's more professional and less crude to say, "With regard to...". Gee... How much did she pay for those courses she took? Oh, maybe third-grade kids aren't the business world, where "With regard to" is more polished.

What irks me, though, is that I have over 500 articles on that site, over 300 on this one, and I don't know how many on other sites online; and a whole lot of them have some substance to them. On top of it, this is stuff I do in my spare time (the way other people may do crossword puzzles, knit, watch television, or - yes - write about coffee cups). Will the world be a better place because I choose to use my spare time writing about things I think need to be written about? That's unlikely. Even if I enjoy writing, though; in the scheme of my efforts and intentions, do I give a rat's bottom about whether someone approved of my use of parentheses or not? Guess.

Every month, in order to get whatever my articles have earned on that site, I do my minimal share by voting mostly on poetry (doesn't require having to get through unbearably unprofessional titles and often equally unbearably unprofessional writing). So, something else that irked me about this little e.mail was the fact that this individual's expertise and e.mailing time might better be used writing to any of the "zillions" of members of that site who struggled with putting two paragraphs together.

I don't want a medal for writing as much as I do because I enjoy writing. If, however, someone who writes as much as I do and who comes up with as many decent-enough pieces of writing as I have is well aware that nobody in the online-writing business is curing cancer or doing brain surgery, what on Earth makes anyone think I care whether she approves of my use of parentheses or not? (Good Lord. This small-minded individual is teaching someone's children! )

The way I see it, if someone wants to disagree with me about something I've said, I welcome different opinions. If someone wants to ask where I got some piece of information I've included I think I'm responsible for being able to back up what I write if anyone asks. If someone doesn't like something I've written then don't read it or vote it down. I don't care. When it comes to grammar, though, I think everyone ought to worry about improving or perfecting his own writing; because, as has been said many times on that other writing site, nobody is perfect and everybody could stand to improve on something. I suggest people work on improving their own work and mind their business when it comes to other people's use of grammar.

I guess my thing is that even though I don't see online-writing as brain surgery or anything else more important than it really is, I put in a decent effort. I'm not in the market for a grammar teacher, and I don't presume to appoint myself teacher of other adults who aren't in the market for a teacher either. People who want help with their writing can (and often do) ask for it. I just think, unless someone asks for grammar tips then nobody else should offer them. You know why? First, because if you offer grammar tips you run the risk of making yourself look like a fool, particularly if the person to whom you offer them is someone who understands grammar rules better than you do. Second, it makes you look like you think the other person is going to pay attention to what you say, when there's a good chance he isn't. After all, if he's good at writing he isn't interested in your input. If he's not good at writing he probably doesn't care about your unsolicited grammar tips in the first place (because most of the time, people who enjoy writing write reasonably well). Third, it makes you look like someone who thinks other people give a rat's bottom about your opinion (especially when you also tell the person what he ought to do "to improve", based on the infinite writing wisdom, amazing expertise, and decades of high-level/high-income-earning writing on a professional basis that you don't have).

I'm not an arrogant person (even though this Hub probably makes me seem like it). I enjoy relating to other online-writers as equal members of any site. The site to which I've referred, though, is, I think, driving away some good writers because most people who can write reasonably well don't want to be treated as if they're in school and interested in what some self-appointed judge or teacher has to say about his use of commas or parentheses (especially since some of these self-appointed judges or teachers don't know what they're talking about). It's precisely because I'm not arrogant, and because I know I don't know everything there is to know about writing (and especially about what other writers intended to do with their words), that I don't feel comfortable offering my unsolicited two-cents on other people's grammar. Even if I thought I was just one, big, walking, English textbook, however, I respect other writers enough to believe it's my business to correct their grammar.

I guess my thinking is this: If I don't care about a couple of minor errors in my writing, why should you? My other thinking is this: Good Lord. If you can be bothered e.mailing people about a few minor grammar flaws, get a life. When all is said and done, readers will determine if they like a piece of writing or not. This isn't school.


END NOTE: The weather man just reported that there will be relief from the oppressive heat and humidity in my area soon. Maybe that will return to me to otherwise and, ordinarily, reasonably cheerful nature.

DISCLAIMER: The writer of this rant shall not be held responsible for any grammar errors (blatant or otherwise) detected (whether with a microscope, the naked eye, or as a result of their jumping and out and screaming at anyone reading).