this post was submitted on 15 May 2025
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[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 54 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (6 children)

Here’s a litmus test to use when deciding to correct someone’s English online: did you understand what they meant?

Yes? Leave them alone.

No? Ask for clarification, then leave them alone.

[–] RowRowRowYourBot@sh.itjust.works 33 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not everyone gets offended when they are corrected. When someone corrects my Spanish I presume they are trying to help me rather than put me down.

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Assume. Presume implies you have some reason or evidence for that belief.

Edit: I find it hilarious how many people are downvoting me for correcting somebody who has just said they appreciate corrections.

I do have a reason for that belief. When I correct someone's English it is for the same reason.

Thanks though

[–] Goretantath@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

If "having a reason" is ok to use it, then good people existing is a pretty good reason, thus you failed at correcting them.

[–] TechLich@lemmy.world 25 points 2 days ago (1 children)

A lot of non-native English speakers use online communication to practice and most want to be corrected so they can improve.

A lot of native English speakers make mistakes accidentally, or speak with a dialect and some of them get really angry when people try to correct them.

It's sometimes tricky to know which is which. The best solution is for everyone to just be kind to each other but...

[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

This is the internet. There's no room for kindness here!

/s, but a lot of people do think that way

[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think correction is fine, as another comment said it’s a good way to get feedback and learn.

The problem with this comment for me was the condescension and the rudeness.

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I didn't read it that way. It's just blunt, which is a bit rough to some people, but what do you see as condescending? asking because i could almost have made this comment, but probably would not have

(I am not a good communicator so i really want to understand why you feel it was that way)

[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

This is of course subjective. For me the style of the correction felt like something a strict elementary school teacher would say to a kid.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 25 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Many babies turtle love! Me? Seaworld, see world.

Asparagus!

[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

Checked out name.

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why use lot word when few word do trick

[–] Kraiden@kbin.earth 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why use big words when a diminutive one will do?

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Style, fun, and precision.

Why create an aversion to communicating? That feels gross to assume people won't understand just because a word has a lot of letters

[–] wide_eyed_stupid@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

There are plenty of people, myself included, who prefer to be corrected, because otherwise how will we learn? If nobody corrects us, we'll keep making the same stupid mistakes.

If someone doesn't want to be corrected, they are free to ignore it and to continue doing it wrong.

[–] Linktank -4 points 2 days ago

So you responding to my message to complain about the content, what's the test for that? You just follow your gut? Or do you have some annoying advice you'd like to give me on when to best give annoying advice?