Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
(OP)
I'm not a grammar guru (I like the word funner, and often end a sentence on a preposition), or a spelling guru (alluminimum will always be autocorrected for me), but I'm a big fan of passing information to people in a fashion that is useful.
I know a number of posters are ESL (or English as a third or fourth language) but why do so few people stop to read what they have written before they post? Read the post out loud and if it doens't make sense to you, it won't make sense to anyone else. If the question contains all the variables required, and actually is a question, I'll forgive every other aspect of grammar.
/rant
I know a number of posters are ESL (or English as a third or fourth language) but why do so few people stop to read what they have written before they post? Read the post out loud and if it doens't make sense to you, it won't make sense to anyone else. If the question contains all the variables required, and actually is a question, I'll forgive every other aspect of grammar.
/rant





RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
We are not all perfect, but I do not think there are that many badly written posts on here. Are you thinking of any posts in particular?
None of mine hopefully?
JHG
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Most forum software allows user edits, and this would permit those of us who care to correct their mistakes when necessary.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary - William of Occam
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
You must remember that many of us engineers don't even have a first language...
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
My complaint is that I like offering input on problems, but lately my first response to any post is: what exactly to you mean?
One person posted asking if anyone had experience with tunnel ventilation. What kind of tunnel; mine, subway, other? What kind of experience; design, operation, maintenance? What kind of ventilation; heat recovery, rates, filtration?
As engineers we may lack communication skills (at least that's what my wife says) but we should be able to properly define and outline a problem.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
If you understand what your wife says, you're not a true engineer.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Your comments are well taken, and I would agree with the "properly define and outline a problem".
I think one of the great things about this forum is the ability to realize and learn just that.
I have looked back at my own tomfoolery of text and found errors in terms and grammar. This is a good thing.
Some of us did not get an A in technical writing, but conversing with those who did most certainly helps us lackeys.
(FYI 2 changes on spell check, and one on grammar)
(No wife comments for me, thats another forum)
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
I agree that posts should be edited before submitting to the best of one's ability, but even more annoying to me is parroting of answers due to failure to read other's contributions.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Yes, and now I think of it, why don't people do a search before they post? .... I'm sure we covered this topic in some depth before.
Yes, we've blamed Bill Gates and his spell checker and we've problems with not having auto-correct... and for some it is not their first language... been there, done that.... already.
Come on Chris, tell us you've had your rant and now you've had your coffee and now we can get back to normal.... or we'll all be ranting away and we won't get anything done.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
There's something funny about ranting about people's ability to ask questions on a free advice website. Really, if I wanted people to spell properly, or Google before they post, I just need to ignore their post.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
But a correcting facility would be nice to fix-up those stupid mistakes we all make at some time or other such as - type in the wrong word spelt correctly or plug in the word left out and only discovered on the second reading after the preview stage.
But the most important thing to remember is you might be very clear on what you are thinking - but is everyone else clear on what you have written.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS
http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
- Steve
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
I usually review my posts, especially my more significant ones, and still drop clangers (am I allowed to ply the dyslexic card?).
However, also those reading it sometimes have a role to play. I've seen posts that I thought were perfectly clear that other responders pick apart or reply in a way that makes no sense because they understood it differently.
KENAT,
Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
i chuckle a little as i am reminded of a story about an engineer whom spelled "quardinate" on his evaluation. my uncle spent a little time learning that new word before he realized the author meant "coordinate".
-pmover
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Anyway, agreed that backwards reading is de rigueur for spotting typos. But to spot grammar blunders... I think not.
- Steve
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
But as I said in my first post, I'm not a grammer guru, I'm just happy to understand and be understood.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
tg
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. - Hunter S. Thompson
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
wives, not wife's nor wifes
Kristine
Legazpi City Philippines
West Palm Beach, Fl, USA
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Along the same lines as the above quips (dictate, the pen...):
My 6 yr old son was putting on a stage show at our house with his little brother, and announced to the audience (my wife and me):
"For the next act, I will play the part of a master baker" We had to conceal our laughter during the rest of the show...
OK, OK, not technically an engineering tip.
tg
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
I rely quite a bit on automated spell check and might have made me a little lazy. I'll figure this Anglo-Saxon language eventually.
When I am posting more than a couple lines I do try to do the cut and paste from Word or something with a spell check.
However, the wife/wives error will not be repeated (neither in spelling nor in marriage)
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
KENAT,
Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
Mine puts a red line under mis-spelled words.
For a dictionary I like the TSR "one click" program that is free from answers.com.
===================================
Forging http://mech.e.tripod.com
-------------------------------------------------
Ddraig Breuddwydia....www.tailofthedragon.com
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
- Steve
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
I take more exception against the use of "spell checker". I am not a Wizard or Warlock, and don't need any magic spells to be checked. I do however, occasionally need to have my spelling checked.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/misspelt
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/misspelt
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/misspelt
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?
My comment was just about your misspelling of "misspelt" as misseplt". The use of spelled or spelt is optional.
RE: Why don't people read what they post, before they post?