Did everyone flunk their college writing courses?

[AZO49008]

I'm probably going to get lashed with a few tons of wet noodles but I can remain silent no longer. Can we all make an attempt to tighten up our communication skills around here? The basic grammar, punctuation, spelling and lack of rudimentary written communication skills on this board just kills me. Didn't we all have to pass college writing courses?

Many nurses claim they want people to take them more seriously as nurses. If patients read some of the written language skills here, they wouldn't let you near them in the hospital. I'm not talking about the occasional typo or misspelled word - we all do that. I'm talking about the epidemic lack of punctuation, typing in all lowercase, and constructing sentences that appear to be written by someone with a 2nd grade education.

Okay, flame away.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Doh! That's what that ABC box is all about!

LOL!!

My browser actually underlines misspelled words as you type and all you have to do is right-click and find the right word. It makes life a lot easier.:)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'm a moderate on this issue. I write so much on this website, that I don't have time to take the time to be perfect with my writing. So, I am very tolerant of a few errors, short-cuts, and sloppiness here and there. However, I don't like (are rarely read) the posts in which the authors clearly made no effort to communicate effectively with the readers.

[loriangel14, RN]

The ones I skip are the people that write a novel(all one paragraph) with no puncuation.

[TDCHIM]

I've commented before on this issue, but I'm sitting out this thread. The fireworks ought to start any time now - and no, I'm not talking about the ones to celebrate the Fourth of July! :argue:

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I've commented before on this issue, but I'm sitting out this thread. The fireworks ought to start any time now - and no, I'm not talking about the ones to celebrate the Fourth of July! :argue:

I've also been to this thread several times today. Post or not post. As one side never changes the opinion of the other side on this subject, I think I'll pass. Save a seat for me TDCHIM. I love a good fireworks show.

[belgarion]

As for poor handwriting - it used to be said that med students were too busy trying to keep up with note-taking in school that their writing skills soon disappeared

It's funny but I've noticed over the years that the further a person advances their education, the more their handwriting deteriorates. I guess it has something to do with having to take notes at the same speed the instructor is throwing stuff at you. I know my handwriting is totally different now since going through engineering school and then grad school where the textbooks were merely a reference and the "real" subject matter came from the prof's own notes.

I also agree that some of the posts here are totally unreadable, especially those written in Twitter.

[TDCHIM]

I've also been to this thread several times today. Post or not post. As one side never changes the opinion of the other side on this subject, I think I'll pass. Save a seat for me TDCHIM. I love a good fireworks show.

Come on down - I'll have the popcorn popped and the soda & beer cold! :beer:

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I think we all have things that get our respective undergarments in a bunch. I've lately realized the only sensible answer is to step away from the computer and get unbunched.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

I am more concerned with the ability to express thoughts/opinions coherently than grammar/spelling errors. Some posters here may not have English as their first language. Oh, and not breaking up a huge block of text into paragraphs is difficult, too.

Honestly, spelling and grammar errors really irk me, but unless its horridly atrocious I won't discount the opinion it is expressing.

[sclpn]

sorry....no writing courses were required at my college???

[Black Jade, BSN, RN]

How many here can say English is their first language? In my case, Spanish is my first language. That doesn't mean that I don't care how I write. If I don't know how to spell a certain word, I try to look it up in the dictionary or ask somebody. I, like some people, ignore the messages written in texts, run on sentences or write in a full paragraph. I try to write in a manner I can make my point across without confusing or boring the reader, especially if I'm asking for advice in regards to nursing. ~BJ~

[TDCHIM]

Did I call it on the fireworks or what? I can't tell what's more explosive, the thunderstorms in my neck of the woods or the arguments in this thread!

Folks, it's grammar. It's vital knowledge, and I'm a pretty solid opponent of language torture (regardless of the language!), but is it really worth starting up a nasty fight full of personal insults?