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From: jsg@rlgvax.UUCP (JSG)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: What about form?
Message-ID: <1518@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Jan-84 08:09:08 EST
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.1518
Posted: Wed Jan  4 08:09:08 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Jan-84 01:27:26 EST
References: <117@wdl1.UUCP>
Organization: CCI Office Systems Group, Reston, VA
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Well, I didn't want to get involved in this argument, but....

Let us examine the following excerpt from a recent submission (the author
shall remain unnamed as I am not picking necessarily on them):

>  the same holds true for poor grammar and spelling.  it may afford more
>  immediate gratification to pound out your feelings on the keyboard; but it
>  detracts from the persuasiveness of your argument if the reader feels that
>  you are an illiterate idiot.


Well now, I know this has been harped on (beaten to death, etc.) many times in
the past, but now it is matter of completeness rather than a gripe.  Sure we
all make mistakes, however if you are going to say that bad grammar and
spelling detract from an argument (which I can not, and will not argue with),
what about the form used when writing?

I quote "Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary" (copyright 1983):

	illiterate .
                   .
                   .
            2 a: showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language
	    and literature. 2 b: VIOLATING APPROVED PATTERNS OF SPEAKING
	    OR WRITING.
		   .
                   .

The capitals are mine for emphasis.

I think my point is clear.  If you are going to warn others that they may
come across as illiterate, you had better make sure you doen't come across
the same way.  As every first grader is taught (or do they do it earlier now),
sentences begin with capitals, and the word "I" is always capitalized.

Before I conclude this rather lengthy flame, let me clarify the point a bit.
Sure, occasionally make spelling, grammar or form errors, but making them
consistantly detracts from clarity.

Computer professional have enough of a bad reputation in this area as it is,
lets not make it worse.

Enough said?

	Jeff Grunewald
	[seismo, mcnc, brl-bmd, allegra]!rlgvax!jsg

The views stated here are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the views
of my employer or anyone assaociated with them.