Posted by
Frigglesnitz on Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:10:36 PM
Usually it's possible to determine a blog writer's approximate age simply by reading what he has written.
If the writing is consistently clear and concise, is written with proper grammar and punctuation, and if misspellings are almost nonexistent, there is a much greater likelihood that the writer is an older person. Please note that I believe there is a greater likelihood the writer is older, not that it's a settled fact. There are occasions when the exact opposite is true.
Having poor writing skills is a sad commentary on – what? The way English and English composition are taught? That less time is now spent on English and English composition? That nobody cares about English and English composition? That as long as one gets one's point across some way, it's inconsequential if the writing is filled with misspellings and messy punctuation?
A background of voracious reading never harmed anyone who endeavors to write.
Recently I wrote in a comment that writing is one of the most powerful forms of communication there is – or words to that effect. Remember that old saw about the pen being mightier than the sword.
It is feared the younger generation may be losing this powerful tool. Some of the blog entries on Townhall.com are bubbling over with passion and the desire to persuade; however, some of those same ones are distracting because of the difficulty experienced in attempting to comprehend them. When this happens, I would imagine that readers like me simply close the blog and go on to other writings.
The withering of writing ability is regrettable.
Typographical errors are common among all writers. I have made plenty of those. However, this blog entry does not address mere typographical errors. It addresses sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, proper English usage and proper grammar.
I have written this blog entry at the risk of being regarded as punctilious.
Is punctiliousness a bad thing?
If I have made errors here, please let there be no hesitation in pointing them out to me. I aim to be meticulous.