Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Grammar sticklers may have OCD
The Web of Language Blog ^ | Sun, 24 Jun 2012 | By Dennis Baron

Posted on 07/28/2012 8:48:38 PM PDT by garjog

t used to be we thought that people who went around correcting other people’s grammar were just plain annoying. Now there’s evidence they are actually ill, suffering from a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (OCD/ODD). Researchers are calling it Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome, or GPS.

Maybe you’ve heard of the grammar gene—its technical name is the FOXP2 gene—which may be responsible for a variety of grammatical ills, such as the inability to construct compound/complex sentences or to effectively deploy the passive voice. Now there’s evidence that a variant of that gene, FOXP2.1, may actually cause us to obsessively correct other people’s grammar, or should that be, to correct their grammar obsessively? The discovery of this gene, alongside new evidence from fMRI scans of brains exposed to real-time grammatical errors, has led some scientists to predict that soon we may be able to find a cure for GPS, for many sufferers a debilitating, off-putting, sociopathic syndrome.

(Excerpt) Read more at illinois.edu ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: disorders; editing; grammar; language; ocd; spelling
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-133 next last
To: mylife

Way too young. ;-)


21 posted on 07/28/2012 9:19:28 PM PDT by ntnychik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: garjog
As a writer I have to say we have mixed feelings about these types as we both desperately need one another. lol. I am the visionary and they do all the 'house keeping.' So to say.

On the subject my husband is NOT a grammar corrector. But he does have both obsessive-compulsive disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (OCD/ODD) and both can be annoying especially the oppositional defiance disorder. The OCD makes him super conscientious and I really appreciate that. I have a little OCD myself. So I while I am not as bad, I do have empathy for his anxieties.

22 posted on 07/28/2012 9:20:12 PM PDT by GOP Poet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

I have CDO. It’s like OCD except the letters are in the correct order.


23 posted on 07/28/2012 9:24:34 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Obama considers the Third World morally superior to the United States.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oblomov
"There’s a sociopath in the White House, and these researchers are worried about Grammar Pedantry?"

Yeah, I wonder if Obamaophrenia -- the chronic inability to face the reality of Obama's failed leadership and complete incompetency -- will ever be cured?


24 posted on 07/28/2012 9:29:06 PM PDT by garjog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: garjog

Or maybe it’s because we are resentful of those who use incorrect grammar and spelling because it is compromising American culture and heritage. I’ve read criticism by people here at FR complaining about Black people who use Ebonics—FReepers who can barely write a clear, concise English sentence as they write their criticisms—I think the former are the Homer Simpsons of America.


25 posted on 07/28/2012 9:37:33 PM PDT by righttackle44 (I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Damn. I distinctly remember this thread. Your comment in particular.

It’s like déjà vu all over again.


26 posted on 07/28/2012 9:37:53 PM PDT by null and void (Day 1285 of our ObamaVacation from reality - Heroes aren't made Frank, they're cornered...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Make it stop!


27 posted on 07/28/2012 9:41:20 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: garjog

So, we could have a form of OCD. We could have grammar pedantry syndrome or oppositional defiant disorder.

Or we could just be conservative traditionalists who hate to see this rich, beautiful, powerful language and the culture it represents consistently degraded by the victims of the government school system. We could see the erosion of literacy as symptomatic of a general decay in society and a loss of respect for the values of the past. We could just think these researchers are morons.


28 posted on 07/28/2012 9:42:53 PM PDT by ottbmare (The OTTB Mare)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: POWERSBOOTHEFAN

“I’m shocked that some people don’t know the difference between ‘their’,’there’ and ‘they’re’.

Or ‘your’ and ‘you’re’.”

I’m with you 100%.

More of my pet peeves are the misapplication of “to” “too” and “two”.

And let us not forget the constant annoying misuse of “effect” and “affect”.

Then there is the misuse of apostrophes, particularly “it’s” when they really mean “its”. Or worse, overuse of apostrophes. Some people seem to want to use them in front of every “s” that ends any word.

I am personally guilty of overuse of commas. I’m an awful writer but I at least try to use the correct words.


29 posted on 07/28/2012 9:42:53 PM PDT by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: mylife

i don half a probam wif gramer notzees. spelin notzees bug me.


30 posted on 07/28/2012 9:43:34 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (Some day our schools we will teach the difference between "lose" and "loose")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: relictele

It IS the literate losing patience with the illiterate, the lazy and the ignorant!! And boy, are we busy.


31 posted on 07/28/2012 9:45:12 PM PDT by bboop (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? St. Augustine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: relictele

It IS the literate losing patience with the illiterate, the lazy and the ignorant!! And boy, are we busy.


32 posted on 07/28/2012 9:45:36 PM PDT by bboop (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? St. Augustine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty
LOL!

I have COD.


33 posted on 07/28/2012 9:45:52 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: GrandJediMasterYoda

Yeah, that really ticks me iff.


34 posted on 07/28/2012 9:47:23 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

They do not take pride in their work. Syntax is disgusting; spelling is atrocious! I wonder if it is not done with pride and arrogance - ‘Forget the rules! Who needs them?”


35 posted on 07/28/2012 9:49:08 PM PDT by bboop (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? St. Augustine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Nik Naym
Zappa~Apostrophe
36 posted on 07/28/2012 9:50:20 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: relictele

“On the other hand, it could be the literate losing patience with the illiterate, the lazy and the ignorant.”

I think you are right. At least it is in my case.

I once corrected a poster right here on FR who in her post said she was a teacher and then misspelled a fairly common three syllable word.

My reply to her was “I hope you didn’t teach spelling”.

She got highly ticked off at me, and more or less said it doesn’t matter. This teacher said spelling was unimportant!

I am an awful writer but I was never a teacher or an English major and I still at least try to use the right words and spell them correctly.


37 posted on 07/28/2012 9:52:04 PM PDT by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: mylife

What? Again???


38 posted on 07/28/2012 9:52:57 PM PDT by null and void (Day 1285 of our ObamaVacation from reality - Heroes aren't made Frank, they're cornered...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Nik Naym

M. Grammar. Is. Perfect.


39 posted on 07/28/2012 9:53:23 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Obama considers the Third World morally superior to the United States.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: null and void

40 posted on 07/28/2012 9:54:25 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-133 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson