Is bad grammar a sign of low intelligence

[pam699]

Is bad grammar a sign of low intelligence. I ask this because some people seem to think if u cant spell properly then u have low intelligence

so does bad grammar = low inteligence

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: pam699 Is bad grammar a sign of low intelligence. I ask this because some people seem to think if u cant spell properly then u have low intelligence so does bad grammar = low inteligence

I think if you can be understood, you're doing ok.

[StrongHeartsWin]

Quote by: pam699 Is bad grammar a sign of low intelligence. I ask this because some people seem to think if u cant spell properly then u have low intelligence so does bad grammar = low inteligence

Not necessarily. Could mean low educational level, laziness, lack of concern for your target audience, lack of respect for your target audience, lack of concern and respect for the subject matter.

Maybe someone was raised in an atmosphere where Ebonics was the language of use.

I think that a consistent disregard for grammar usage becomes annoying and tiresome to those who follow or for those who want to understand what the presentor is trying to get across. You could help them by meeting them more than half way by doing your part. As a communicator for your argument, don`t you think you have an obligation and duty to do so?

[The Dunedan]

Bad grammar in a non-Native speaker is no sign of ignorance or idiocy, no.

However, for a Native speaker to use bad grammar exhibits either stupidity, laziness, or arrogance. If someone lacks the intelligence, industry, or common sense to speak or write properly (or at least make a reasonable effort to do so), they should keep their mouths shut. If a person lacks the education to speak/write properly, I do not hold that against them, so long as they make the effort to improve themselves. When a person persist, for whatever reason, in using bad grammar or spelling, especially when it is intentional ("Ebonics," internet-ese, etc), it becomes almost impossible for me to take that person seriously. English is the language of Shakespeare, Milton, Hemingway, and Byron, the most precise and all-encompassing language in the world. Proper grammar is a pain in the ass, yes, but it's hardly difficult to learn to speak correctly. I don't expect people on the street to be able to explain the Future Continuous or conjugate "to be," but a little effort would be nice.

I have no problem with people who cannot speak or write properly in English. People who will not do so because of laziness, idiocy, or affectation should be slapped with cold, wet Halibut until they do.

I'm sorry, but when my Czech students speak/write better English than some of my countrymen/women after only a few years' instruction, that's pathetic. A great many Americans are unable or unwilling to even speak their own language properly, let alone learn a second or third, and trust me, it's made us a laughingstock. Every one of my students speaks a minimum of two languages in addition to Czech, and many of them exhibit better grammar and spelling than people I went to University with.

I think it's important to differentiate between someone who is ignorant (lacking information) or maybe a bit slow (can't be helped) and someone who is stupid. Stupid is willful.

So yes, bad grammar in a Native speaker frequently indicates rank, utter stupidity. It also frequently indicates laziness, sometimes arrogance, and almost always makes it hard to take a person seriously. Sometimes the person can't help it or doesn't know any better, and I can cut them some slack. But if a person is smart enough to use a computer, they're smart enough to use English properly. When they refuse to do so, they are saying some highly uncharitable things about themselves and proving those things correct all at the same time.

[Epistemologist]

No, not necessarily, especially if you're purposely using bad grammar to show your contempt and disrespect for that particular lingual institution, i.e. English. In fact, I would argue that doing this would actually indicate very high intelligence. Many people with bad grammar in English have excellent grammar in another better language.

However, many of the people who use bad grammar really are dimwits, but bad grammar is simply a symptom of a condition they already have, since they're just altogether lazy or something like that. Then again, there are countless people with great grammar who are total idiots.

But while we're on the forum, we might as well use suitable grammar in order for people to understand our contributions. Otherwise, there's not much point to posting. If you misspell some words here or there or forget a comma, it shouldn't be a big deal.

I should also note that even if you're not very good in spelling, Firefox browser has an automatic spell check.

[xyzer]

The relationship is tenuous IMNSHO! Bad grammar can be caused by ones environment..the ghetto! new exposure to our language..immigrants! Lazyness! Lack of reading! Poor teaching!etc. Varying intelligence underlies all those influences!

[pam699]

someone says quote

When a person persist, for whatever reason, in using bad grammar or spelling, especially when it is intentional ("Ebonics," internet-ese, etc), it becomes almost impossible for me to take that person seriously.

so if einstein used bad grammer in his relativity books/articles essays
would u just be dissmissed as an an idiot and his work shelved -not taken seriously
it seems it does not matter how bad your grammar is if it makes people money or gives states new weopens

is the point
have bad grammer so long as people can benifit from your ideas

[Jack]

have bad grammer so long as people can benifit from your ideas

If your grammar is so bad that no one can understand your ideas, then you've failed to use language in such a way as to properly communicate them.

Writing is a means of communication. If you do not communicate, you're just wasting words.

[pam699]

so u r saying even if i mispell and have no punctuation so long as u understand me then there is no problem
so why be so preocupied good grammer when that is required is communication -like this sentence is bad but u understand me -so why be so nit picky with correct english if u know a word is mispelt the idea has then ben communicated anyway so why bother with english clasess then so long as i communicate my ideas -even in bad english

[Jack]

If it's your desire to be perceived as unaware of proper English usage, then carry on. If you don't mind your posts being unintelligible, type any way you want.
Your words are the only means we have to form an impression of you and your opinions. If you want us to form a negative impression, you're on the right path.

[pam699]

yes but as i initialy said does bad grammer = low intelligence

with all my bad grammer are u saying i am not intelligent
if einstien had bad grammer would u say he was unitelligent

[RickSp]

There are many forms of poor communication. IM slang where "your are" becomes "u r" is a minor annoyance but makes for harder to read posts. I happen to enjoy and respect language and see the use of poor grammar, excessive slang and no punctuation more as signs of disrespect for the language and the reader than necessarily a indicator of a lack of intelligence. If posts are hard to read and parse, I ask "why bother"? Why should I care about your ideas if you lack the basic courtesy to make your post easily intelligible?

[pam699]

quote "Why should I care about your ideas if you lack the basic courtesy to make your post easily intelligible?"

so u would have just shelved einstien theory of relativity it is was in poor grammar

[The Bacon Guy]

Quote by: Pam so does bad grammar = low inteligence

Using grammar so poorly that you fail to communicate effectively is, in my opinion, distinctly unintelligent. Basically, if someone can't understand you due to your bad grammar, it means you are either too stupid to learn to use good grammar or that you are too stupid to realise how futile it is to talk to someone who can't understand you.

[pam699]

please answer
quote "Why should I care about your ideas if you lack the basic courtesy to make your post easily intelligible?"

so u would have just shelved einstien theory of relativity it is was in poor grammar

[Praxius]

Quote by: pam699 someone says quote When a person persist, for whatever reason, in using bad grammar or spelling, especially when it is intentional ("Ebonics," internet-ese, etc), it becomes almost impossible for me to take that person seriously.

Then that's their problem, not yours.

I admit I don't have the best grammar or spelling at times, but that's because I type as fast as I think, and I usually don't bother to go back and make sure everything is perfect for those out there who are anal about grammar.

My grammar at times isn't the best, but it doesn't involve any relation to your intelligence, since I apparently have an IQ of 164.... whatever that is.

What about people who are very intelligent but are dyslexic? You're gonna try and take them down a notch because they're not as anal about getting their grammar right, or just can't compared to you?

I write the way I talk.... I talk the way everyone else around me talks, as I grew up.... it's an accent.

So long as the message can be read and understood, then that's all that matters..... for those select people who bitch about spelling and grammar..... I think it's time for them to grow up and get out of school...... this is the internet and a forum.... not English class...... get over it.

[bishop]

Quote by: pam699 Is bad grammar a sign of low intelligence. I ask this because some people seem to think if u cant spell properly then u have low intelligence

you seem to think that the definition of grammar revolves around being able to spell words correctly... this may be a surprise, but it has little do to with that and MUCH more about being able to construct coherent sentences..

i can tolerate misspelled words, but incoherent sentences are a sign of low intelligence imo.

[pam699]

quote
So long as the message can be read and understood, then that's all that matters..... for those select people who bitch about spelling and grammar..... I think it's time for them to grow up and get out of school...... this is the internet and a forum.... not English class...... get over it.

SPOT ON WELL PUT-
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[Jack]

so u would have just shelved einstien theory of relativity it is was in poor grammar

How about beating another horse. If English is a person's second/ third language, allowances can be made for their inability to communicate in English. Einstein didn't use poor grammar, and much of his work is expressed in numbers, thus no grammar skills were involved.
You haven't said that English is not your native tongue, so we're going on the presumption that it is. Posting here involves the English language, not numbers. Would you expect to be taken seriously discussing mathematics if you refused to use numbers the way other mathematicians do, or you wanted to use your own imaginary numbers?

[pam699]

HEY EINSTEIN WROTE COMMENTARIES EXPLAINING HIS THEORY IF THIS WAS IN BAD GRAMMER WOULD U HAVE SHELVED IT


AND FOR F...K SAKE I WAS USEING EINSTEIN AS A METAHOR EXAMPLE THERE R PLEANTY OF MAJOR BOOKS WHICH REVOLUTIONIZESD SCIENCE AND OTHER ARAS OF RESEARCH WRITTEN IN JUST ENGLISH

do i have to site them all to makke my point if any of these seminal works where in bad grammer would u just shelve then for f...k sake use youir intelligence to get the drift of wat i am saying about bad grammer and ignoring major works if expressed in bad grammer