Gransnet forums

Pedants' corner

Not exactly pedantry either, but ...

(26 Posts)
Grannyknot Mon 12-Oct-15 10:45:44

smile

I wish GNHQ would fix titles of threads when there are obvious typos in them (I'm sure you can!) It drives me nuts. Recent examples include:

200,000 impoverished households ... and 600,00 by 2020

What is it really like to live alon

Anyway you get the drift. Please fix the titles of threads when there are obvious mistakes! It makes the forum home page look untidy grin and it's bad enough that we don't have an edit button!

Ana Mon 12-Oct-15 10:52:50

It wouldn't do to correct actual spelling errors, though, would it?

grannylyn65 Mon 12-Oct-15 11:02:32

Leving alin is nut much fin!!!

ninathenana Mon 12-Oct-15 11:22:22

Your right Ana that would be rude IMHO
I'm inclined to think the whole idea is a bit 'Big Brother'

MaizieD Mon 12-Oct-15 14:27:48

I wouldn't mind. If I made an error like that I'd be very embarrassed and grateful that it was corrected.

I do wish there was an edit facility on posts for the time when you spot the typo a split second before it is posted.

feetlebaum Mon 12-Oct-15 15:32:13

What's 'rude' about correcting a spelling error? It's been done to me and I have expressed my thanks to the correcter. Is that a word? It is now...

And yes, having no edit button is a major fault in this software - and why does it not use the more-or-less standardized [i], [b] and [u] tags for italics, bold and underlined text?

Anya Mon 12-Oct-15 16:04:05

Or at least have the option to ssk GNHQ to change it when you realise what you've done?

Grannyknot Mon 12-Oct-15 16:08:02

If I cocked up in a thread subject heading I'd be only too pleased to have it fixed.

And feetle is right, how can that be rude confused

Ana Mon 12-Oct-15 16:16:58

Fine if it was a genuine typo, or you missed a bit out accidentally, but it would be a bit high-handed of GNHQ to take it upon themselves to correct someone's spelling!

Grannyknot Mon 12-Oct-15 16:20:56

Sure (to Ana).

Grannyknot Mon 12-Oct-15 16:24:05

Oops I've just noticed I contradicted myself grin.

What I mean is I thinking is okay to correct a subject heading (pretend you think it is a typo), but to willy-nilly correct spelling errors, not so much.

TerriBull Mon 12-Oct-15 16:29:39

I agree with Ana. We aren't at school, and whilst I can see you are talking about the thread title Grannyknot, having corrections made might put some off posting altogether, I have seen the odd post riddled with spelling mistakes, I don't think anyone should feel precluded from posting just because they can't spell, they may be seeking important advice or just need some reassurance. GN could be a lifeline in some situations. I would hate anyone to feel too intimidated to post.

Grannyknot Mon 12-Oct-15 17:02:09

I'm talking specifically about correcting thread titles! smile So you also agree with me.

Ana Mon 12-Oct-15 17:04:22

Not if it's a spelling error in that thread title that's being corrected, though! grin

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 17:10:17

I didn't Even notice the mistake on the living alone one.

Just be glad people start posts!

Is everyone bored out of their minds this afternoon?!

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 17:12:15

And I still can't see what's wrong with the impoverished households one!!!!! grin

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 17:14:02

Oh. They missed a nought off. I would have thought your mind would automatically correct that. Mine did!

#superiorbeing.obvouslysmile

Ana Mon 12-Oct-15 17:14:07

Took me a while to figure that one out too jingl! There should be another 0 on the 600,00 grin

Ana Mon 12-Oct-15 17:14:44

x posts - I expect my mind did that too wink

Grannyknot Mon 12-Oct-15 17:41:06

Well, my mind is being pedantic about the flipping missing nought grin!

durhamjen Mon 12-Oct-15 18:10:54

If HQ corrected the obvious spelling mistake in a thread title, either the person starting the thread would be grateful, or would not notice.
It grates on me when I see mistakes in titles, and they are there for ever.

Ana Mon 12-Oct-15 18:12:53

They might be just as easily be embarrassed and annoyed though, especially if they'd repeated the mistake in their OP and possibly later on as well.

rosesarered Mon 12-Oct-15 20:22:39

I'm off to see how many spelling mistakes there are in the thread titles now,
( yes Jingl I am a bit bored at the mo.)grin

Indinana Tue 13-Oct-15 09:34:01

Of course, we are assuming that GNHQ are excellent spellers and grammarians themselves. Or are we talking about software that would make the corrections? I must say I (usually) appreciate the auto-correct function on my iMac, although it can be annoying when it tries to straighten every single word out, even when it shouldn't (my username, e.g., always becomes Indiana of course.)

rosesarered Tue 13-Oct-15 10:53:12

That's because you keep cracking a whip Indinanagrin