Anybody downgrade box ratings because the clues are full of misspellings, bad grammar, incomplete sentences and faulty punctuation?

SWMBO is a former Language Arts teacher, which means such stuff really irks her. Sometimes I try to keep her from seeing the clue sheet, because it'll ruin her whole outlook toward the hunt.

I haven't rated a lot of boxes yet, so I can't speak to the whole downgrade box ratings, but I can sympathize. I work on contract bids at work, and the proper use of language is critical. When I have to review other people's work on the project, they tell me it's nerve-wracking and reminds them of former teachers.

I actually hand-write the clues if there are misspellings, poor grammar, etc. so that I can correct them, primarily because it drive me nuts. Also, when I hand the clue sheet to my 10-year old, I don't have to correct the grammar when he reads it aloud.

Anybody downgrade box ratings because the clues are full of misspellings, bad grammar, incomplete sentences and faulty punctuation?

If that bothers you, definitely avoid this box. =)

-- Ryan

See, I'm not addicted... I haven't met all the requirements yet... or is that restrictions? Hmmm... feels like a requirement ;)

The Zoo... Must find more letterboxes! And plant more!

Anybody downgrade box ratings because the clues are full of misspellings, bad grammar, incomplete sentences and faulty punctuation

I do. I also downgrade if they use "text speak" in their clues. If some one is not willing to take the time to spell out y-o-u, what makes me think they will take the time to place and maintain a quality box?

I overlook some errors--misspelling of one or two words, etc. because spelling is not everybody's strength, and everybody makes errors. I have low tolerance for carelessness, which is what multiple errors suggest to me, however. Call me a snob. You would be right.

Mama Stork
delivering a spell checker

I, too, notice all kinds of spelling and grammar mistakes, but I can usually let them slide. But, there is one I keep seeing, here and in other forums, which I feel I must correct...

VOILA! (with an accent mark which I don't know how to produce)

I am NOT picking on anyone who spells this incorrectly, I just had to get it off my chest.
Done, now. Thank you.

I have one where poor grammer is an essential key in the clue. That it stands out is to help lead you to the box.

VOILA! (with an accent mark which I don't know how to produce)

I am NOT picking on anyone who spells this incorrectly, I just had to get it off my chest.
Done, now. Thank you.

"...not my forte'."
Forte' with the accent means loud
Forte (pronounced as fort) is a strength.
But who am I to quibble. I say ha-RASS instead of HA-rass.
Not that I would harass you on the point.

GG, Lou

"...not my forte'."
Forte' with the accent means loud
Forte (pronounced as fort) is a strength.

Old Forte (pronounced as........)

Don, an old forte

If the spelling and grammar aren't correct, I assume the box was created and planted with the same level of carelessness.

Discrete for discreet (as in "Please be discreet when grabbing the box") drives me absolutely insane.

pre

But who am I to quibble. I say ha-RASS instead of HA-rass.
Not that I would harass you on the point.

How would you pronounce "nuclear"?

Discrete for discreet (as in "Please be discreet when grabbing the box") drives me absolutely insane.

Won't be caught be a spellchecker, either. Neither will site for sight.

I don't downgrade boxes, but I have been known to ignore boxes with a multitude of grammatical mistakes and misspelled words. I realize some titles intentionally have improper spellings, but how much work is it to review your listings once in a while and make corrections? You can imagine the eyes rolling every time I see the word CEMETARY. For me it is all about attention to detail.

I see the word CEMETARY

Unfortunately some computer software will not let it be spelled with the third E.

We found this out when we got our new 911 address and kept telling everyone to spell it with another E...it was to the point that I thought it had been spelled wrong on our end!
(and it didn't help that we did not even live on the road with the cemetery)

Until one day when I was trying to fill it in online to change at some sites and it would not do it even when I tried for better than 1/2 hour.

kk

Boxes like this give me such a headache (literally)! There's one locally that I won't even search for because it makes my head spin every time I read the clue! Maybe that's the point... :::shrug:::

VOILA! (with an accent mark which I don't know how to produce)

Voilá... You can select the á from the Character Map on your computer.

It is not logical to assume that poor English skills = careless boxer.
A person can be a highly skilled laborer without any ability to read or write.
They just may not make it far up the promotional ladder.

It is not logical to assume that poor English skills = careless boxer

That is true BUT given the accessibility of spell check and grammar check, multiple spelling and grammar errors within a clue suggests the writer is too lazy to proof their work. I am sure there are exceptions. In general, a sloppy clue = sloppy planter in my experience.

I say ha-RASS instead of HA-rass.

Must be a Southern thing. For the word harass, I accent the last syllable.

The other pronunciation is for the name Harris. :-)

Knit Wit, not ashamed of speaking with an accent

How would you pronounce "nuclear"?

I pronounce it like it's spelled--with three syllables--nu-clee-ar. :-)

Knit Wit

depends what part of the country are we in when saying it....

like sure... I was in MA and they pronounce it SHORE which is wonderful I love it
I came back home to OK with a MA accent didn't have much of a southern drawl so now I have a northern accent....LOL

GG Dana

the writer is too lazy to proof their work

Some people just don't care. They don't think it is important, or they don't even see the errors. I'll allow for that, most of the time, but whenever my Dad posts clues I ask him for his password so I can go in and correct them.

WOW, I were really suprized at the responsez to this question...

I rarely post to the lists anymore, just don't have the time, but this one caught my eye.

I think it is quite unfair to compare one's grammar and/or punctuation to their ability to hide a letterbox or to associate that with them being careless. As far as I know, there is no spell or grammar check on AQ and a GED was not a requirement to letterbox. In this economy, letterboxing is about the only hobby some of us can afford! LOL

One of the things that makes letterboxing such a great hobby is that you come across all sorts of people... funny ones, ones that will irritate you to no end (that was the nice way of saying that one!), rich ones, poor ones, educated ones and potentially ones who might not be well educated or well spoken. I've once met a letterboxer whose spoken grammar was atrocious! Split more verbs than a lumberjacks splits logs... But... they were one of the nicest most giving people I've ever met on the trail.

If I come across clues that are poorly constructed because of grammar or spelling (not typos, I'm the worst! I CANNOT proof my own work) I suck it up if I want the box, if I don't, then I move on. But I don't judge the box based on the clues. Unless of course the clues are just plain wrong. Now that's MY pet peeve... I know of a boxer whose clues are consistenly wrong. I'm not talking spelling or grammar, or even typos, we're talking east and west confused... compass directions that are off by tens of degrees or that they moved the box and never updated the clues! Now that's something to downgrade a rating over. You know what? I don't go for their boxes anymore and that's all. There are plenty others out there that I don't have to aggravate myself. Sometimes we take life waaaaaayyyy to serious.

Sorry if I sound preachy, might just be the day... but please be compassionate... you never know who was on the other end of the internet connection writing those clues.

PS. I'm also the queen of the run on sentence!

Talking Turtle

As far as I know, there is no spell or grammar check on AQ

The Firefox browser includes spell check, so, if you view AQ in Firefox, you've got spell check. No grammar check but, if someone is concerned about their grammar usage, they can always type the clue first in a word processor program like MS Word which will run a grammar check then copy it to AQ.

The problem with all that though is that the programs aren't foolproof. If a spelling is correct, such as "sight", the program won't pick up the use of it where it's incorrect. *shrug*

Knit Wit

I don't downgrade them but, if the grammar and spelling are so far off that I have trouble reading it, I've been known to copy it into Word and "correct" it for my hunt. :-)

What can I say? I was a copy editor in my pre-children days.

Knit wit

Anybody downgrade box ratings because the clues are full of misspellings, bad grammar, incomplete sentences and faulty punctuation?

Someone suffering from dyslexia will never be able to spell correctly, but may be absolutely masterful at carving, thinking up clever clues, making unique logbooks or scouting out beautiful locations.

Even though poor spelling and punctuation are annoying, I think that unless the clues were simply impossible to follow, I would not downgrade the rating. I've known dyslexic children in school who have been ruthlessly criticized by ignorant adults and children because of poor writing skills. In the case of a dyslexic, their writing skills, or the lack thereof, are in no way an indication of their intelligence nor their desire to get it right. It's made me sensitive about criticizing someone's work before I know all the details about their abilities. I wouldn't want to risk damaging someone's self esteem because of my pet peeves.

There . . . that's my soap box sermon for today!!

What a Hoot!
I could actually understand it.

Discrete for discreet (as in "Please be discreet when grabbing the box") drives me absolutely insane.

I had to look this pair up the other day while proofreading a novel.

Discrete = separate, alone, isolated. A hideaway cabin in a discrete location.
Discreet = sneaky, stealthy. A discreet lover's tryst.

The mnemonic I invented to remember which is which: if the e's are separated, it means separate and alone; if the e's are together it means "sneeky".

"Please be discreet while rehiding" is the correct usage. Until yesterday, however, I didn't even realize they were two different words, I just thought one was misspelled.

Romana

WOW! I agree with Talking Turtle I expect grades from my professors when I write letterbox clues I am having fun its not my "work" or my "schoolwork" so while I am careful and I think your getting a pretty good idea of my writing style - I don't write letterbox clues in the same way I do a paper - why would I? this is my hobby I do it to relax from that stress!

lbm

Does the average boxer know the difference in the words Pass, Passed or Past? Spell check won't help, and I see a lot of clues with the incorrect word being used. That is my pet peeve. Hugs to all the bad spellers in the LB world, you are not alone.

Flightpath