I admit it – I’m an English snob.
People can’t spell, or punctuate, or use proper grammar any more. I’m not just talking about in quick email messages or slap dash posts on Facebook, either. I’m talking about business correspondence, thank you notes, school assignments, and just about any other form of written communication. I am including not just people who barely made it through high school, but people with college degrees. I would be completely ashamed if I sent a business communication in which I mis-used to and too. I would be mortified to substitute there for they’re or their. I see it every day from people who are in positions of responsibility and – I’m assuming – are role models for students and others.
I cringe when I drive by a huge sign advertising a business with misspelled words. I see advertising copy that’s been approved for distribution with poor grammar and bad spelling. I get emails that fore go punctuation altogether.
There’s a time and place for informal communication, and there’s a venue for abbreviation and emoticons. There are also situations that should be treated with consideration and thought before dashing off a poorly worded and sometimes shockingly badly constructed statement.
Educate yourselves. You paid a lot of money for that education, shouldn’t you use it?
Isn’t “fore go” one word?