To all Native English Speakers: Please correct our students of English;)

Question

I have seen this often: we correct learners of Spanish all the time, but what about the students of English?

I only today saw this, said by our friend bunburry (from Spain) :

¿Me pueden corregir esto y todos mis posts?

We have a lot of Spanish speakers who do not get corrected, our very proficient Carlos , bunburry, mili, there are a lot. I cannot name them all. All of them are asking for corrections, please, if you see any mistakes, correct them.

Two new Spanish speaking natives asking for corrections: Santi and Viajero, please correct their mistakes!

Viajero Santi

I am not including myself...so as not to tire you I never ever make mistakes anyway, so... (I appreciate corrections too )

• I wouldn't dare :):) - ian-hill Apr 18, 2010
• Maybe I'll correct you, may be I won't. :) jejejeje - Nicole-B Apr 18, 2010
• Nicole, did you just catch the "may be" bug? Shall we call that the Heidita virus? :))))) - Rikko Apr 18, 2010
• OK Heidi - you asked for it so here goes. "English speaking natives" could refer to anyone who speaks English. What you should have written is "Native English Speakers" Agreed? - ian-hill Apr 19, 2010
• Heidita, new picture again! Is this your going-90K look? :) - Rikko Apr 19, 2010
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Answer 1

Heidita, maybe you can post this as "Heidita's 2 Simple Rules in SD":

Rule # 1. I never make mistakes.

Rule # 2. If you noticed that I made a mistake, please see Rule # 1.

Jejejeje

But seriously, I think it is not that simple a matter to just correct someone else's mistakes unless they do say that they would welcome corrections. Even if we mean well, we may just be seen as presumptuous by others.

• omg...:::rolling on the floor:: - Heidita Apr 19, 2010
• Yes, I understand what you mean until requests have been made it can sometimes come across as arrogant to correct people - FELIZ77 May 19, 2010

Answer 2

It would be fantastic to be able to help as so many people take the time to correct my (Spanish) posts. I have seen errors in the (English) written word but didn't know if it was appropriate that I be the one to point them out....

• Okay Bunbury. Here I go.. "It is certainly appropriate. Thanks...." :) - nonombre Apr 18, 2010
• And whoever voted for me, just then, thanks - I've now clawed my way to "5k"... - nonombre Apr 18, 2010
• iEnhorabuena, 4Annie! :) - Rikko Apr 18, 2010

Answer 3

I seldom get corrected, everybody is afraid of me

It's not that we're afraid as much as it is that, for most of us, when we see your errors we naturally just tend to chalk it up as another example of your "unique" typing style at work - you know, the way in which you like to type only while wearing extremely thick oven mits, and they way that you always like to grease up your keyboard before you get started, and thats not even mentioning your peculiar phobia of the "backspace" and "delete" keys.

• Brutal, but very funny. - LeslieW Apr 18, 2010
• I got flagged for this? All I can say is "Wow!" - Izanoni1 Apr 18, 2010
• I feel your pain Ira. :( - Nicole-B Apr 18, 2010
• lololololol - Desael Apr 18, 2010
• This is an inside joke by a very well respected member. There is no need to flag. - Nicole-B Apr 18, 2010
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Answer 4

I'm guilty. I think, like many here, that I've been taught that it's rude to correct another person's grammar. And I tend to forget that the Spanish speakers that are here are here to improve their English.

As Nizhoni said, we should feel that it's safe to assume any post on here had the potential to be critiqued as it is a learning site.

She's right. I'm sorry I've not done so well on correcting the Spanish speakers, and promise to do better from now on.

In Heidita's case, though, it won't be any fun unless I can put her in the dunce corner. {evil laugh}

• Weird but I have been thinking that Nizhoni was a man all this time. :)) - ian-hill Apr 19, 2010
• OOOOOOhhh when you send her to the dunce corner, send everyone a pm so we won't miss it! :) jejejejeje - Valerie Apr 20, 2010

Answer 5

De hecho me gustaría poder contar con más ejercicios en inglés para poder verificar si mejoro o estoy estancado.

No hace mucho le comentaba a Heidita que me gustaría poder encontrarme con algo parecido a las transcripciones que hago en español, pero a la inversa, es decir en inglés.

¿Porqué no graban textos en inglés para poder saber como está la capacidad de escuchar y entender de los hispano hablantes?

El error es inherente al aprendizaje. Es por eso que también he invitado a todos los que se atrevan a conversar vía skype, sin temor a los errores, ya que ambos los cometeremos y de paso aprenderemos....

Gran idea la de Heidita la de corregirnos mutuamente.....

In any case I am never wrong or make mistakes

• ¿Alguien dijo que tiene que hacerlo Heidita? Bienvenido sea si ella lo hace, pero además de ella, aquí hay mucha gente capacitada, solo que en general la preferencia la ha tenido la ayuda a los angloparlantes... - Carlos-F Apr 18, 2010
• Una de las cosas por las que este foro se caracteriza es por el respeto a los demás. También se debe conocer el ambiente o la idiosincracia del sitio. También existen personas que tienen un sentido del humor especial .... - Carlos-F Apr 18, 2010
• ...y sus intervenciones no implican que están faltando el respeto a nadie. - Carlos-F Apr 18, 2010
• Carlos, el ejercicio se publicará en cuanto tenga mi monitor, que se me ha muerto, sobre el skype tambiñen hablamos - Heidita Apr 19, 2010
• I had a bit of trouble with the last sentence that is in red until I looked at it backwards... - fatchocobo Apr 19, 2010
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Answer 6

I've been corrected more than once and I really appreciate when somebody corrects my English. I will never stop learning it, and the only way to improve it is knowing what I'm doing wrong.

Of course, don't even dare to correct my Spanish or I'll stab you.

;

;

;

Just to avoid misunderstandings. My last statement is a joke. You are also allowed to correct my Spanish.

• jeje, así da gusto;) - Heidita Apr 19, 2010
• Stab !!! Heidi cuts heads off :) - ian-hill Apr 19, 2010
• lol... - Benz Apr 19, 2010
• I *love* the guy with the sword!! - --Mariana-- Apr 19, 2010
• I laughed - nizhoni1 Apr 19, 2010
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Answer 7

As you can see, bun really W A N T S corrections,

I hope everybody does, I do too, I seldom get corrected, everybody is afraid of me

• Esto se debe a que controla de acceso a la esquina burro. - Moe Apr 18, 2010
• Afraid?? No....Mmm, well, perhaps a tad nervous... - nonombre Apr 18, 2010
• Oh to have such power! - Yeser007 Apr 18, 2010
• Not afraid. Terrified, horrified, or aghast would be more like it. But Heidita, I see you as the spice that gives the unique flavor to SD and maybe that's why so many are coming back for more. ;) - Rikko Apr 18, 2010
• Is my nose turning brown from fear? :)))) - Rikko Apr 18, 2010
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Answer 8

Yes, this is a good idea. One other thing though, if you want it corrected, please say and people are more likely to notice and give help!

Sí, eso es una buena idea. Uno mas cosa aunque, si tu gusta lo corregrid, por favor habla y personas es mas probable a aviso y ayudar.

Please correct my Spanish! (just being a role model, even though I am not a Spanish native learning English! )

• otra cosa más - Heidita Apr 18, 2010

Answer 9

I would gladly make corrections as long as I know the other person wouldn't be offended. I think the majority of corrections on this site are done to the daily or regular posts where people are asked to check for their corrections.

Once in awhile there is someone learning both Spanish and English that I have corrected. However, for some reason, in some of the other threads I don't feel comfortable correcting someone's English when my Spanish leaves a lot to be desired. If we make this a habit though, I would be happy to make corrections.

I think some of us love Nila's threads because she is asking for our help with English. At least with her threads I feel like I am able to contribute.

• Gracias Bunbury. I'm afraid you will have to do a lot of correcting for me. :) - Nicole-B Apr 18, 2010
• ditto with the nila threads nicole. :) - galsally Apr 19, 2010

Answer 10

My two cents.

I participate here with the understanding that this is a learning place, both for Spanish and English. Heck, there have been a number of Portuguese and French questions answered, as well, and I seem to recall seeing something in Danish or some such..?

We regularly get treated to spelling and grammar atrocities that are posted by people who presumably are native speakers of the language in which they're writing, eg: "how you say hello in spinol? reply immediately!!".

So in my view, corrections should be a regular part of the activities that all members perform. I believe that if anyone catches a spelling or grammar mistake, he or she should point it out, regardless of what his or her native language is.

I think there are polite ways of doing that, so no feelings ought to be hurt. Sometimes that could even lead to more learning opportunities. Point in case, some of the comments that have been made when someone writes the past tense of "to spell" as "spelt." Pointing it out as an error is an opportunity for some of us to learn that "spelt" is in fact a correct, if not the preferred, spelling of that form of the verb.

I don't mind being wrong and being corrected. I delight in finding new words, and even discovering that I had been living for years with the wrong definition for a word in my mind. I see learning as an ongoing process with no end in sight!

Rudeness and idiocy, now, those are things that definitely should be avoided. But the first one isn't what this thread is about, and the second - it seems like it cannot be avoided, to judge from some of the posts that appear on a daily basis. (Mostly from ephemeral contributors, thank goodness!)

Answer 11

I always felt it was safe to assume any post on here has the potential to be critiqued as it is a learning site. I always wondered why some people make the point to ask for correction, even every day.

I do notice that many corrections I made went unnoted. After a while I stopped with certain people. I do not need a "thanks" just the acknowledgement by the correction or a request for explanation.I focus more on word order than word choice just because that seems a starting point.I can offer other words if that is what someone wants .If the word choice is way off I correct that.

Thanks for the post Heidita.

• Niz - It's me, Moe the mischeif. You wrote "critiqued as it a learning site." I think you meant "as it is a lea..." - Moe Apr 18, 2010
• Thanks Moe. I must think I am telepathic at times! - nizhoni1 Apr 18, 2010

Answer 12

I've had to rein in my tendency to want to correct "obviously" incorrect English (usually improper word usage rather than strictly improper grammar), but I've given a couple of suggested corrections after looking at the poster's profile to see if their proficiency in English is listed. I won't give any suggestions for those who list Fluent, but for Advanced and under I figure it couldn't hurt.

• Ditto. Grammar in the U.S. has become so bad that correcting the natives would be a task worthy of Sisyphus. - dogbert Apr 19, 2010
• I totally agree with what you have said here. - Delores--Lin May 19, 2010
• I have frequently said that I am not sure I can speak even one language properly, and I am here to have my Spanish improved not my English, but I recognize the English should be corrected for those who are trying to learn it - Stadt Sep 30, 2010

Answer 13

Me encantaría hacerlo, pero hay tan pocos de ellos pidiendo ayuda.

I would love to do this but there so few of them asking for help.

• *why* are you thinking there is a *Spanish* native here, spending hours and hours? If you see a car wreck tomorrow , and they dont ask you *for* help , you dont do *anything*? I *don't* understand - Goyo Apr 18, 2010
• I don't understand this comment Goyo - ian-hill Apr 18, 2010
• I think what Goyo is saying is that just because somebody is not asking for help does not mean it would not be appreciated. - fatchocobo Apr 19, 2010
• What I meant was that there are far fewer learners of English here than Spanish. - ian-hill Apr 19, 2010
• I'll help anybody in any situation. - ian-hill Apr 19, 2010
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Answer 14

Hi Bunbury

As Heidi has intimated that you require corrections, may I offer the following alterations to profile description.

A spaniard , trying to help people who love to learn different languages , like me . A native Spaniard and " Jungleboy advanced" in English . Dont be shy . Ask what you want . It's free today

Answer 15

Me parece una excelente idea.

En mi caso particular, yo no tengo ningún problema de que me corrijan cuando cometa algún gazapo, ya sea en inglés o en español. Es la única manera de aprender. Muchísimas veces cometemos errores al escribir, en cualesquiera de los dos idiomas, que pasan desapercibidos por el lector, ya sea porque escribimos muy rápido y se nos pasa, o porque simplemente lo hemos escrito siempre de tal o cual manera y nos parece apropiado. Sin embargo, siempre habrá unos más perspicaces que otros.

Definitivamente SpanishDict.com es un lugar para aprender, tanto inglés como español y en el foro participan personas con profundos conocimientos de los dos idiomas. Yo soy un apasionado del idioma bien hablado y bien escrito, por tanto, les ruego a las personas que detecten algún error en mis escritos, en cualesquiera de los dos idiomas, que me corrijan. Mil gracias.