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 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-133 next last
Do you find people who correct grammar and spelling annoying?


1 posted on 07/28/2012 8:48:42 PM PDT by garjog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: garjog

Where the hell is Grandpa?
I just see some fruity looking young guy, and a woman.


2 posted on 07/28/2012 8:54:32 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

On the other hand, it could be the literate losing patience with the illiterate, the lazy and the ignorant - which is as it should be.


3 posted on 07/28/2012 8:55:17 PM PDT by relictele
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog
Lettuce. Eat grandpa!


4 posted on 07/28/2012 8:56:26 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

The thread’s title should hava a period at the end.


5 posted on 07/28/2012 8:57:58 PM PDT by rickomatic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Perhaps the fruity looking guy is the Son, but then Mom looks way to young.


6 posted on 07/28/2012 8:58:07 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: garjog
Yesterday's pearl from these very pages - third person singular in a thread title: "Say's" !
7 posted on 07/28/2012 8:59:07 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
Is that you McLettuce?


8 posted on 07/28/2012 9:00:28 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: garjog

What is the name of the illness suffered by people who invent acronyms?


9 posted on 07/28/2012 9:03:31 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

Eats shoots and leaves.


10 posted on 07/28/2012 9:04:43 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

” 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.”

Ohhh horseee puckee ...


11 posted on 07/28/2012 9:05:52 PM PDT by goseminoles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

12 posted on 07/28/2012 9:09:39 PM PDT by onyx (FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: garjog
Comas save lives, you say?


13 posted on 07/28/2012 9:10:03 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: relictele

I agree.

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

Or ‘your’ and ‘you’re’.


14 posted on 07/28/2012 9:11:16 PM PDT by POWERSBOOTHEFAN (It's hurricane season! Yay!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: garjog

Given that more and more people are unable to spell or speak properly anymore, I’d have to question the timing and real motive of the story.

I find basic errors of spelling and grammar in major newspapers on a regular basis. Do they even have copy editors anymore? If they do, do the copy editors take any pride in their work?


15 posted on 07/28/2012 9:12:43 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

I routinely correct spelling errors on the fluoxetine prescriptions the doctor gives me. Also double and triple check the dosage.


16 posted on 07/28/2012 9:13:09 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture TM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog
Grammar sticklers may have OCD

Really?
Grammar incompetents may have ADD.

So?

17 posted on 07/28/2012 9:14:35 PM PDT by publius911 (Formerly Publius 6961, formerly jennsdad)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog

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


18 posted on 07/28/2012 9:14:42 PM PDT by oblomov
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: steve86

” I routinely correct spelling errors on the fluoxetine prescriptions the doctor gives me. Also double and triple check the dosage”

Lol...


19 posted on 07/28/2012 9:16:05 PM PDT by goseminoles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: garjog

Great! An excuse to make a mistook!


20 posted on 07/28/2012 9:18:26 PM PDT by paudio (OTP: Why do people want to rehire a mechanic who clearly only made their car worse than before?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 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