Correcting People Who Get Their Facts Wrong

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When should you do it and when should you leave well alone? What's the nicest way of doing it?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

If they are making an obnoxious statement that hinges on a certain "fact", i would correct them and be as smug and self-righteous as possible :-)

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

You should do it if you are a copy editor. If you are not one too, but only if you can back it up with documentary evidence so you won't be drawn into a pointless argument when you know you're right.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

You should't say anything at the time. Send them anonymous letters afterwards.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

heh, well neither classic or dud really.

I do it when its an important thing relating to work or when that fact, which forms the basis for an entire argument, is wrong.

And doing it nicely is the key, especially when it gets heated. Also the tone of voice when correcting a fact is impotant.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

cf.

Correcting People Who Get Their Facts Wrong - Classic Or Dud?

TS: getting corrected by a know it all vs. correcting someone and being dismissed as a know it all

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

"should't"?

"impotant"?

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd just like to correct my second link to:

Why is it rude to correct someone?

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:38 (twenty-two years ago)

david sylvain?

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

depends on the subject and both the intricacy and trivialism of what facts are being stated - and the person. it is perhaps not wise to correct your boss unless the incorrect fact relates to something important at work (in which case you may be promoted)

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

correcting spelling: dud.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Unless you know that they care about their spelling (and haven't just made a typo).

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

bah i am getting worse viz
i. sensitivity to factual errors heightened by job (15 yrs worth of subbing, proofing and fact-checking)
ii. inclination towards untrammelled baranism heightened by job (15 yrs worth of subbing, proofing and fact-checking)

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I was looking at a corrected piece of yours in the Guardian archives the other day, Mark.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, now I look at it again, I wasn't. This is the thread where I make lots of unforced errors.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

and we correct you on it.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

What about ppl that blatantly get the words to a song wrong? Should you correct them?

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

No, getting words totally wong is much more fun.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Not if it's a song that you love though.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"ppl who."

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Is grammar a fact?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Mine lived until she was 92 so she must have been.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it is rude to correct someone's grammer to be honest, either written or spoken.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

how about pointing out crap jokes?

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

that's totally classic.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it rude to threaten physical violence to other ILx posters.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

When did I actually threaten anyone Marcello? There is a wealth of difference saying that I want to punch someone & actually threatening someone. Maybe you're just paranoid.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

or maybe he's talking to me?

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

It may be so Chris, you were very menacing in your post there!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

true true.......

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't lets go all Barry, eh?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks Tico, I just spluttered coke all over my screen

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I would rather point out people's grammatical and spelling mistakes and be considered "rude" than be "polite" and allow them to continue to be stupid.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Before anyone gets in a state, that is a general comment and not directed at any specific individual.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

sadly mistake-making and stupidity are only very tangentially related, or my job wd be way easier :(

― fifteen years!! (mark s), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

mark s: sack the dumm ones!
editor: then *all* the copy wd be late and incomprehensible and diva-ish!
mark s: oh yes *weeps*

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

If bad grammar and spelling defines someone as stupid, does having perfect grammar and spelling make someone intelligent?

― alext (alext), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I quote verbatim from Allison bloody Pearson's supposedly coruscating attack on declining educational standards in yesterday's, er, Standard: "Awful spelling, no ability to form a grammatical sentence - and that's just the teachers." As "is," one might add, the self-righteous faux-middle class columnists who dare to call for the imposition of standards upon others under which they themselves would not wish to labour. Syntactical synechiae such as "a state we are on course for" suggest that Ms Pearson should address her own inadequate command of the English language before issuing diktats to others.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

As "is," one might add, the self-righteous faux-middle class columnists who dare to call for the imposition of standards upon others under which they themselves would not wish to labour.

I have to say this sentence is a little stinky.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

No you don't.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The tautology of "themselves" was rhetorical.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I really don't think someone's intelligence can be defined by their grammar.
Also if a person uses incorrect grammar, what gives you the right to correct them whether YOU think they are stupid or not.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

You should have ended the second sentence with a question mark rather than a full stop. The opening "Also" could also have done with having a comma placed after it, though this is strictly an aesthetic preference dictated by post-Chaucerian traditions.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Fuck you Marcello!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Three long times.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

No thanks - I'm already being fucked, more than three long times per night to boot!

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

To answer this question, just think how you feel when N. lets you know 100000000 threads on the same topic already exist. Do you want to make someone else feel the same way?

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Correcting someone's spelling or grammar in an internet message board is a dud vs. correcting a fact that might be important in a thread discussion FITE!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

MORE THAN THREE LONG TIMES A NIGHT! GOOD CUNTING GOD MAN, YOU'RE A BEAST! A BEAST, YARRRR!

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha well done you, what a great answer!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone really feel bad when N. points them to other threads? And if so do we want such chicken-livered milksops on our web board?!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 20 November 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Certainly not. They should be shipped to Iraq forthwith.

― Beast of the Tantric Field, Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Tico Tico, WHAT did you just call me?

― Barry "the Eviscerator" Lasagne (Mark C), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I think he might have meant "lily-livered milksops," as heard on Tintin cartoons of old.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

blimey! handbags!!

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It's happened! Barry has accepted his own name! Well done Bazza Lazza!

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The chicken was intentional you bashi-bazouk.

I'll see your lasagne with a handful of lunchtime spaghetti.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Thundering typhoons! This is meant to be a SERIOUS debate! In other words, pockmarked pithecanthropus, YOU stay out of it!

― Red Rackham, Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Serious debate? As ever, it's something which you can only judge by the situation. It depends on your relationship with the person; who else is there at the time, and would the person feel belittled being corrected in front of them; how much does it matter that the facts are corrected; do you WANT to piss the other person off; are you in a pub quiz; &c. &c.

One cast iron fact, though - chix0rs are almost NEVER impressed by fascinating facts and figures, and even less often will they appreciate being corrected. They will think you are a loser and refuse to go to bed with you.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I heart mis-pronouncing Italian words in front of Barry (sorry Baz)

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

mark s on phone to smartest most scholarly critic writing for mag:
"also in your last line you said the increase was exponential - mathematically speaking that means that the rate of increase always increases, ie the curves gets steeper and steeper increasingly quickly... but the situation yr describing is more likely to be a logarithmic increase, or actually even slower, ie tailing off to a level, since the population is finite and not in fact very big"
*very long pause*
SMSCWfM: "I thought it wz just a swanky way to say gradually"
mark s (with i felt tremendous restraint): "don't worry i'll change it"

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

ha ha ha you are my nu-god

― alext (alext), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, but Barry I am already going to bed with someone, meaning that your question from my perspective is irreverent!

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

have you got yourself a ladyfriend Marcello?

good work

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

She was attracted by my overall depth of knowledge and passion, not necessarily in that order.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

this is a bit funny.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

women always prefer depth to length

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

It's good to know about overalls, you never know when you're going to need to cover up.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

do you not realise when you are naked?

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I trust there are stepladders, too.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

no steve, this has caused problems with the police before.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 November 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

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