Please Use Paragraphs:)

Every time someone posts this I say the same thing...I don't really care. Would it be easier to read? Yes, but I would rather someone use one long paragraph than not reach out for help. I'm not going to withhold (sp?) advice because of grammar. I'm here to offer support, help, and advice when I can...I'm not going to let bad grammar stop me from doing that. Just my opinion.

Yes! Thank you for mentioning this as I feel the same way. If it's one big, long post or answer, I just skip right over to the next one. You are not alone. :)

Or at least start a new thought on a new line.
However, some devices we type on don't allow the making of paragraphs :(

Thank you!!! To me, it's just natural to use paragraphs. Sometimes I won't answer a question that I otherwise might because it's an entire page long with no paragraphs and I find it hard to read.

Sometimes when you post on your phone it affects the way things look after you are finished. I have found that to be the case with my responses. I think I have added a space and started a new paragraph and when I look later that day from my computer to see who else has answered after me or if there is an update, sometimes it looks different than I originally posted.

I have also found that I get alot of "Updated" and then it doubles what I've said down in the bottom area of the screen.

I do think that most of the lack of proper English is either someone for whom English is a 2nd language or someone who is obviously upset as they are writing their post.... so it comes out as more of a stream of conciousness, rather than an essay.

The way that I see it... I would never ignore a post for poor grammer or format. I ignore posts that are inflammatory or solicitious in nature. I feel that if someone wants my help with something, they don't have to have gone to college (or even graduated from high school) in order for me to try to give them a thoughtful answer.

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS!

I skip the ones that have the long run-on sentences and text abbreviations. I HATE THAT!

If you want HELP make it EASIER for us to understand your question.

I would appreciate paragraphs myself. In fact, if there's no paragraphs I usually wont read the question! I can't follow it as well on the computer, everything kind of jumbles together. I can read through improper spelling, run on sentences, the wrong their, there, or they're...I just can't do it with paragraphs.

L.

I know what you are saying, but now that I text on my cell phone.. I am understanding why others posts are the way they are.

There is no paragraphs and no spell check.. It looks like a mess on here.

Sorry.. Maybe skip them if they drive you crazy. I do that if I get too confused by the post.

I don't think it is that important. This is not a college class. If I forget proper grammer punctuation or spelling what is the big deal? In the big scheme of things does it really matter??? Not to me!
It has been 25 yrs since I was in school, I do good to remember what all the stupid rules are. Much less follow them on a website that is meant for mom's to utilize each other in raising their families and dealing with life.
I hope you take some time to be less critical of proper grammer and be helpful and loving to someone who's writing is bad and really needs help with an issue bigger than spelling correctly!
Wow that sounds bit6hy, but it's how I feel.
D.
EDIT:
Once again inflection, tone and expressions are not part of the internet. Your post seemed petty to me. I probably took it wrong, sorry!

I totally agree, but with that being said I am horrible at spelling. Some say that they have spell check that shows up on theirs, but I do not. :( Some days however I am in a ranting mood or trying to type quickly so everything doesn't always flow like I would like it too.

I was not an English major and actually suck at writing. ;) We all have our weakness right!

Yeah, I find it easier to read with paragraphs too.

Please don't ever judge or get irritated by my grammar and spelling becuase usually I have a bouncy 2 year old on my lap while trying to respond to questions.

I know all to well about you English majors.....my best friend is one and I find it intimidating to be around her sometimes :) Joking of course :)

I get your drift.

Paragraphs are easier to read and follow.

There are many posts I skip over because it is too difficult to follow when they are extremely long and it is one run on paragraph.

I find errors all the time in my own posts and others but I understand sometimes our fingers go faster than the keyboard can keep up with. Also, when typing in the midst of emotion and sometimes tears, spelling and grammar are the last things on the list to catch.

I know you did not post this out of arrogance or being the police. It is something we should all keep in the back of our mind as we are posting for others to read. Let's all have some mercy on those that are seeking help. Many are in a lonely or dark place emotionally and need comfort.

Thanks for the heads up. I will try to work on those paragraphs!

Good luck and best wishes!!

If I come across a post that is too hard to follow, I just skip it.
Some are very confusing even without spelling errors or paragraphs, etc.
I imagine a lot of the time, it has to do with emotions taking over.
I just don't try to decipher them.

Just my opinion.

I'm a graphic designer, and one of the hard and fast rules for readability is to provide "stepping stones" of text that are easy to read and digest. This is more inviting and less forbidding than a massive chunk. And for people with certain eye/reading problems, it's very hard to stay on the right line when there's nothing but a huge block of text to navigate. I've become one of 'those' people as my eyes have aged, and so I sometimes don't even try to read posts like that.

So even if posters don't know the rules for paragraphing, I wish that they'd still provide a break every few lines. It really makes a much easier reading experience for many people.

Yes, yes I do. A lot of times I just stop reading it. I can handle almost everything else, but the long run on paragraphs just end up making my eyes hurt. :)

I agree with you to some degree, and I don't to the other degree.

I have a BA in English, and I am almost finished with an MA in English. I have also taught English Comp. When I first began teaching, I felt the same way you do. The incorrect grammar, syntax, and usage would drive me crazy. However, I am there to teach because I do have more knowledge about the subject and not to criticize because they do not. This applies to discussion board posts, online comments, and requests/responses on boards like this one. I have the knowledge and education they do not. It does not make me special or important, because I am sure they have knowledge and skills I do not.

I do understand that incorrect grammar and composition can be irritating, but I think in those cases it is better to give the author the benefit of the doubt. I know I would want that if I were trying to calculate a math problem with a mathematician and gave an incorrect response.

Your post reminded me of this...

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/misspelling

My cousin is an English teacher and I write grants. I stopped letting her proof read my grants because she kept giving me "C"s even though the grants scored well with the grantor and were awarded. She kept trying to teach me active and passive voices - I still don't understand that.

I do sometimes cringe at the typos and misused words of others, but then I go back and re-read one of my posts and find typos and errors also. Eh, we try.

Yeah, sometimes I don't even bother reading it.

The poor grammar in general gets me more than paragraphs. I'll admit I have some misspelled words every now and then due to being in a hurry.
I question where the educational breakdown occured. Was it the teacher, the parent, lack of effort by the person???
There seem to be a lot of adults that just can't spell, put together a sentence or use the proper spelling of a word.

Funny...your heading is incorrect...grammer police!

Wow is all I have to say. All of you that are judging someone's parenting because of paragraphs and bad spelling. Maybe DCYF should just come take their kids away because they can't spell. Maybe there should be something in the rules that says if you can not spell or use correct paragraphs please go to another site.
Sorry but this is a little irritating to read. What if someone comes on here looking for help but sees this post and decided they are not going to post their question because they use bad grammar and are afraid of being judged.
Go ahead and correct my post if you want. I don't mind I know my writing is horrible.

If the questions is rather lengthy and does not contain multiple paragraphs, I tend to get bored and stop reading or start skimming. I agree with you that paragraphs do make reading and comprehension easier but I can decipher the question with or without paragraphs. However, for those run- on type of people, you might get more helpful and numerous answers if you make your question easier to read.

It's not paragraphs so much that throw me, but sometimes there are no periods at the end of sentences and I have a hard time following.

I understand what you're saying but it's probably because you have a degree in English that you're more in tune with it. I am a writer/editor so I notice misspellings and other grammatical errors all the time. I think it's just second nature to me now.

One time I told a friend/committee member about it for a project we were working on and she took a huge offense at the mention. I only did so b/c I didn't want her saying it incorrectly if it was going into any sort of public communication. But I have another friend that teaches SAT classes and is very smart but she openly admits she is a poor speller. Sometimes you either have it or you don't!

It's a tough balance sometimes but in situations like this forum, you probably need to just let it go. :-)

WOW AG. Chill. She didn't say anything about your parenting. Read her post again. Arguments with you must be amazing.
I actually find it even MORE annoying when people don't punctuate. It makes my brain hurt trying to mentally put all those pauses into someone's run-on sentences.
I realize that someone with bad writing skills may have better mothering skills than I do, perhaps, but it's still annoying to read :)

I hear you. I understand a typo every now and then, especially from me if I am using the IPhone...

Most of the time, if I click on a request and it is full of spelling errors that are obviously not typos, (someone just does not know how to spell), poor grammar, lengthy with no paragraphs, I just move on. I am appalled sometimes with how some people spell (NOT typos)... honestly, did they go to school at all??

I realize no one is perfect but I don't have time to try to decipher what someone is trying to say.

what gets me is when people don't go back and read what they wrote themselves. i don't know what lala land they were in but what they said made absolutely no sense and i'm sitting there reading and fixing, or at least trying to in my head, what they wrote at the same time.

it's so bad i can't even come up with an example. but they say sentences but leave out key points and contradict things they already said and then at the end of their rambling i'm wondering if it's the grandma or mom that's writing and how old this child is that they are inquiring about when we all know that age has alot to do with how we would answer the question at hand.

just leaves me wondering what in the world?!

No forgiveness necessary. I ask why the ones who barely know English don't use the spell checker. And above all I won't answer anyone who writes in phone text.
Those who are not well educated can use every opportunity to learn the language of our land better.