To the Grammar Nazi
I read a Facebook post the other day that discussed how most people are automatically more patient and understanding when seeing a “student driver” sign on a car. Take the sign off, though, and impatience and road rage often emerges. Why? Why do we automatically assume that the driver is ignorant or careless or distracted? Where is our benefit of doubt?
I recently read another post on Facebook that ranted against poor grammar and spelling. It was one of those self-proclaimed “Grammar Nazis” who are ever so passionate about grammar perfection. This grammar enthusiast was terribly frustrated that people couldn’t bother to take the time to proofread or correct their sentences. This person was appalled at someone’s email… or post… or something.
And, I couldn’t help but cringe.
As someone who writes for a living, and knows dear and brilliant friends who also write in their careers, that “passionate” post cut me deep…because I’ve made mistakes. I’ve published posts/blogs/emails/articles for the world to see …and there have been typos. It wasn’t from a lack of care or even ignorance that I posted these less-than-perfect writings. It was simply that I’m a human that made a mistake.
The reasons for typos and poor grammar are more than I care to mention, but I will share reasons that have affected me personally, or someone I know.
To the Grammar Nazi,
Behind that typo may be someone who struggles intensely to even get an idea on paper. Perhaps, that writer has a learning disability. Perhaps, words just don’t seem to flow freely, or sometimes, the words just flow too rapidly to accommodate punctuation placement. The point is, I know individuals in all levels of academia—elementary, high school, college, and even grad school—who are brilliant and imaginative but struggle, for a variety of reasons, to correctly put words to paper. When they do get their words on paper, do you celebrate their ideas and imagination, or can you not get past the lack of a comma or a misspelled word?
Behind that typo may be someone who is tired. Multiple articles have been researched and written to meet deadlines. The author’s brain is fried, and the words blend together. You could blame it on procrastination, but what if that isn’t the issue at all. The issue is life, and it all just happened to be thrown at the writer that very week. Did you think of that when you failed to enjoy the article, and only focused on the imperfections?
Behind that typo may be someone who honestly tried. I proofread. I proofread so closely my eyes cross at times. Yet, I don’t catch all my typos, because proofreading one’s own work is hard. Subconsciously, my brain fills in what I’ve left out because I know what I meant to write, but unfortunately, you see the errors. You see what I missed and point them out, and I groan and cry out in frustration because despite my best efforts I failed, and the only time I hear from you is when you point out that typo.
Behind that typo may be someone who is emotional. Perhaps, what they are writing is being written as tears blur their vision and their heart breaks. Perhaps, outrage from an indiscretion or injustice has consumed the writer’s thoughts. Yet, you fail to notice the emotion and only see the run-on sentence.
There are so many reasons that a typo is present that doesn’t include a lack of care. Disabilities, emotions, fatigue, HUMAN NATURE!
This is not meant to be an excuse for poor grammar or misspellings. We should all strive to perfect our writing and learn from mistakes, but for all that is good, don’t only focus on and point out our mistakes.
We shouldn’t have to put the "student driver sign” as a preface for every social media post or article that we write. The world could use a little more understanding. It could use a lot more active listening.
One of my favorite quotes says: “Do not listen to respond. Listen to understand.”
To my grammar Nazis… are you listening/reading to respond or to understand?
I write this as someone who has been judged by a typo, but also someone who fights not to judge others by their typos. As a college professor who reads quite a few papers, I try to find balance in constructive criticism and grace. That perspective can not only change a student’s grade, but also that student’s sense of achievement, desire to learn, and self-worth.
May we all seek understanding. May we give the benefit of the doubt to wonky drivers and poor spellers alike. May we dish out less indignant passion and assumptions and be more generous with our grace and understanding.
And, yes, I did proof read this blog, and I’m sure there are still typos.