How can we improve the quality of our posts?
For quite some time, I have been involved in medical transcription. I have had to correct the grammar of many different doctors. I say this to point out that poor grammar, spelling and punctuation are not always a sign of being uneducated. In this day and age, I think we are typing so fast and using so many different forms of technology to communicate, that we often forget how to put a decent sentence together.
Since this seems to be a major problem on this site (ask Heidi!! :shut
, I thought we could possibly come up with some quick suggestions to improve our posts and avoid the dreaded edits.
Here are some of mine: 1. A sentence is a complete thought. Make sure the words you type are complete thoughts. 2. Take advantage of the red line that pops up under your misspelled words and then correct them. 3. Capitalize!!! All sentences begin with a capital letter. Also, the word "I" is always capitalized. 4. Always take a minute to reread what you have just written. I always see mistakes I've made and have to correct them. But it is best to do this before pushing "ask question".
Are there any other suggestions or comments out there?
16 Answers
i , err, I mean I think that prizes with free money is a great way to get me to type properly! YES!
We do have it covered in our rules but it's not a bad idea to remind members from time to time.
Hola/Hello
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In addition to my longer post and suggestion a few minutes ago, I also want to tell members that I believe the number of questions on a daily basis has shot up dramatically as between the prior year, say before Sept 2009, and after Sept 2009. In addition, I believe that the amount of effort expended on the questions before they are posted has fallen to abysmally low levels. It is as though the newer younger members expect us to spoonfeed them
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Somehow, the forum is getting more and more questions from what seems to be a much younger membership list. Thats a good thing. It is after all a learning place.
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I'm suspicious that one or more school teachers in one or more schools in one or more couuntries have referred whole classes of their students to us (SD.com) as a place to get extra assistence. I'm also suspicious, that the students were not given any direction or suggestions about how to use us or what our expectations might be.
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These are just some more thoughts. Fodder for the cannon so to speak.
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One of the biggest dysfunction problems we have is that long time members continue to put forward replies to questions without expecting, urging or requiring questionesr to demonstrate any action on their own to find an answer.
I suggest this sets the stage and a bad example to other newer members.
Many members just blithely give answers, i suppose, because they have the information and cannot wait to share it.
How, if at all, should this be dealt with.?¿?
We did try to instigate a procedure which during the enrolling process would have directed you to the rules and guidelines page. At the bottom of the page we wanted a tick box saying you had read the rules. On ticking the box you would then be able to proceed with your registration. We realised that this couldn't force the new member to actually read the rules but they could no longer say they hadn't seen them. For some reason this was never implemented.
I completely agree with the above suggestion. But we should also remember that the new people (like myself) have to get used to using the site. You can ask Heidita about my beginning posts. I am, however, better now. The old-timers have no excuse. lol
I don´t get a red line for misspelled words, what do I need to do to aquire that?
Everyone who has the oppurtunity should read the book, Eats Shoots and Leaves.
Hello/Hola:
When you see a post from a member and it is obvious or probable that they have done nothing for themselves beforehand, give them this reply:
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Welcome to the forum
Please abide by these guidelines when you post:
Asking a Question using SpanishDict 'Answers'
Here is what you are expected to do for yourself.
After you have taken as many of these steps as you are able, then, if you still need help, proceed to ask your question. Here are your steps to follow:
- Enter any single words you are asking about into our dictionary
(See the “Dictionary Tab” in the blue Span¡sD!ct menu bar at the top of the page)
- Enter any phrases you are asking about into our translator
(See the “Translation Tab” in the blue Span¡sD!ct menu bar at the top of the page)
- Conduct a search of our previous Questions
(On the “Answers” main page directly under the green “ASK A QUESTION “
button, there is a small window into which you can type the word or words you
are searching for)
Look through the index to our reference material found here:
(“http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100000/spanish-language-reference”)
to see if there is a document or answer that provides the information you
are looking for. For example, “para or por”, “ser or estar” “accents over
letters”, “how to type Spanish letters and characters ¡ ¿”, “Spanish words
indexed by type or kind” and many many more items
- Try a Google search. (Short) phrases should be enclosed in quotation marks for
search purposes. If you prefer, use any other search engine.
If these actions by you have not given you the answer you want, then post your question here in our forum. When entering a question in the forum,
Do not use chatspeak or texting abbreviations.
Use the best English or Spanish grammar you know.
Write in complete sentences. Punctuate your sentences properly.
Capitalize the 1st word of new sentences and other words requiring capitals.
Write what you have already done to help yourself so that no-one else
will duplicate your effort.
After you have done this much for yourself, someone will come by to help you to solve your problem.
You might also want to state that after this reply is posted, the Post will be deleted in 3 days and it would be best if the questioner opened a new Question Post when they are ready to proceed with their enquiry.
The reply does not need to be re-typed each time. Save it and use it as a template. Then you can paste it as a reply in any thread you want it in.
We are constantly concerned that inexperienced members have not read the forum's rules and guidelines (R&G's). The R&G's are so well buried, new members have no idea where to find them. At a minimum, a reply like the one above points out what is expected of them.
Many of you reading this will probably think I'm trying to swat a fly with a baseball bat. I know there will be lots of other opinions. This is just one suggestion. Even I am not fixated and stuck on it. Think of it a a talking point. In parliamentary terms, I have made a motion. It needs to be seconded and then maybe it is worth talking about but as a motion it may be varied or it could completely fail.
All of this is definetely true. (I know I do it myself)! We should try to improve our posts so that everyone can understand them! 
Don't we have this covered in the Rules and Guidelines?
Please have a look at this thread I just opened, we can see that this is simply not read, while it is clearly "there"....I think people are lazy...jeje
All of the above is so true. But the biggest problem is with some accidental users, who come here mainly to get their homework done. They do accept the rules of our forum, but just don't follow them.
Look at my idea here
Good?
All of the above is so true. But the biggest problem is with some accidental users, who come here mainly to get their homework done. They do accept the rules of our forum, but just don't follow them.
we should also remember that the new people (like myself) have to get used to using the site. You can ask Heidita about my beginning posts.
Jejeje
My first post 
