Why are the people that post on Yahoo unable to construct a complete sentence out of actual English words?
440906
There are several reasons for this, first of all Yahoo is an international community that caters to different age groups and nationalities.  With respect to people whose first language is English, there are a lot of people actually who use this facility to learn and enhance their speaking and writing ability through web interaction.  Level of skills may likewise be in essence of priority and importance.  In some countries, English might not be used as frequently as the necessity for its use could be non-essential, although I think is a definite advantage.  In my country, English is learned through schools, interaction with other people, TV and through reading books, magazines and the like.  But does not ensure 100% compliance to grammar and sentence construction in the english context.  \n\nAnother reason would have to be technology.  As people nowadays speak shorter english and abbreviates words and sentences to relay their message (sms, etc) sometimes that habbit comes into play without the person realizing he/she has conveyed the message in a different format.  I am not an American or of English descent, but I think comparing to most English speaking countries, sometimes, we speak and may communicate in the english context at par or maybe better.
1158152
My first thought is that Yahoo Answers is only in English right now - and there are likely to be folks who do not have English as a primary language trying to participate.  I think that accounts for some of the really unintelligible ones - but I sure respect them for trying.  I know a little bit of German, but I sure don't have the guts to actually try to converse with people in that language - and the one time i had an opportunity to use what little I do know, I totally froze and was useless.\n\nSecondly I think that yes - a lot of teens and kids on here are use to a short hand lingo speak, or have not yet learned the importance of grammar.  For those I am so glad they participate because people like you (and lot others) will call them on it.  They will begin to learn that if they want to communicate in society, they have to do it in a way that we all understand or they will be ignored and sometimes ridiculed.\n\nThe lazy adults that we see (frankly can be so creative in their use of letters - I C U N U R O K) are usually understandable.  So while yes, it can be annoying the time we waste trying to decipher the hyroglyphics of our fellow Answers Fans, it is really wonderful in it's own way.\n\nPeace.
202552
I have the same concerns and not just here in Yahoo Answers.  Certainly we all make mistakes in spelling from time to time. We sometimes transpose words and letters.  Some here obviously do not have a familiarity with English due to culture or age.  I do not believe that it is just a matter of this being an informal format.  Part of being in this Yahoo Answers is to communication with others.  \n\nThe numbers of questions which I have seen asked that are simply not clear is astounding.  It’s not a matter of just misspelling or using the shorthand methodology of writing, these are bad enough on their own, but the inability to structure a clear sentence is as startling as a bright sunset.  To me this represents either a lack of education or a disrespect for the people who attempt to read these questions.  More over, the answers often follow the same pattern of inability to communicate.  \n\nIf we were all together in a room we would have additional tools to facilitate clear communication, such as tonal inflection, facial expression, body language, the context of a specific subject under discussion and possibly even knowledge of those speaking.  All of this contributes to clear communication. \n\nHere in Yahoo Answers (as with nearly all internet exchanges) we are limited to the written language.  Maybe the use of the term “limited” is in error because the English language is a strong and vigorous tool to accomplish communication, if and when we use it.\n\nNothing is unusual with groups who develop a language variation centered around their association.  Those in the computer field do it as do those in the medical field or the police field or those in mathematics or those of specific geographical areas and many other fields, but when they talk with or write for the general public they use standard English. \n\nOf course it maybe simply a matter of education.  I believe few learn the art of parsing a sentence or the ability to comprehend the reading of classical literature, or any literature for that matter and that seems to extend into comprehending current writings.  For all of the technical advances in our times literacy seems to be decreasing and comprehension seems to be dropping along with it.  In the source link here one can find the Eighth Grade Graduation Test for Salinas, Kansas 1895.  I think even today’s teachers would find it challenging.  For fun, go there and try only the Grammar section.
581533
The site is used by people all over the globe. Many of them are not native English-speakers. But most of the others are kids and teens who really don't care about communicating correctly. They also have probably never been taught to write correctly. And they seem to enjoy using their own net-speak, which gives them a sense of community and identity that separates them from adults. And then there are those who are in a hurry to ask or answer questions. And finally, there are those who are too stupid, ignorant, or lazy to use correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation -- all the things that are required to communicate in writing.
1014466
You are definitely not alone!  I agree that we can't be harsh on those for whom English is a second language; but for those of us who have been speaking and writing it almost since birth - well, it's a disgrace!  You are not a "boring old pedant"; bad grammar and spelling make it very difficult sometimes even to understand a question, or comprehend what the asker is saying.  It's all about communication, and badly constructed sentences impede that communication.\n\nMy pet irritations are (if you're interested!):\nYour and you're\nBetween you and I (between you and me!)\nMe and John went to the shops (John and I...)\nLets go to the shop's (let's go to the shops)\nHe took a photgraph of John and I (...of John and me)\nWho and whose\nThose who are obsessed with putting apostrophes before any "s"\nThose who are obsessed with using mainly unnecessary "myselfs"\nAnd many more...\n\nAnother boring old pedant...
1013322
maybe it's because they don't have spelling as a topic in english anymore..too much short forms in sms,im, and so on...
167326
Some of the all-too-common butcherings of English (spelling), especially on Yahoo message boards:\n\n"alot" or "allot" (your example; not the word that means "distribute")\n"definately"\n"looser" (I'm not referring to the opposite of "tighter")\n"rediculous"\n"artical"\n"prolly"\n"grammer" (usually when being called out on it)\n\nThe worst part of this isn't the ignorance that *some* have regarding the misspellings, etc. but the lack of concern shown by those who do it intentionally. They have the attitude that this type of forum isn't the place where anyone *has* to show their grammar skills (or lack thereof), almost as though they pick when they want to turn it on and off. Why not use these skills all the time? Keep them sharp!
683632
There is a lot of people who have grammar problems but you dont have to be that harsh. You think English is easy to learn? Even the people who were born in the U.S or England have grammar problems. Nobody is perfect. It's not the matter of stupidity but the matter of being a human. Not saying there's no stupid people out there. Just dont worked up over little things like this. I rather see people trying to write in english than go into Yahoo answers and write in spanish assuming people know spanish. Take a chill pill girl. Besides, look at yourself before you judge people. Your sentences aren't that perfect eaither.
961738
Keep in mind, there are a lot of young kids and teenagers on here that mostly have the spelling errors and the weird slang. That's probably what you are seeing on here lately. You are right, though, it's hard to answer a question when somebody messes up most of their spelling or they use nothing but slang. It's nothing against anybody, and I like giving advice, but if people are serious about getting answers to  their questions, they would at least respect other fellow answerer's by using the "Check Spelling" option.
542532
*sigh* \n\nYou have no idea how hard it is  to not correct the grammar! The spelling? I can let that go. But the grammar...YIKES!! But I kindly put my red pen away at 3:00 and just let down my hair and become a yahooligan too. So bring on the errors. I can grin and bare it!
1141915
I'm hoping that the answerers are just plain lazy, instead of being the ignoramuses that they appear to be.  I hate trying to read something that looks like it was written by a six year old.  \n\nI will admit that I don't spell perfect or have superb grammar, but I at least take the time to make sense.
280040
Whoa1 Check out all the responses. Guess you are not the only one, huh?  But the biggest giveaway was when all of a sudden the "check spelling" box appeared! LOL.  I thought that was great. I haven't noticed that it is necessarily working that well to halt the misspellings, and "chatspeak" (like, say: "LOL"--sorry) but at least it shows all of us who do care that we are not alone and that good old Yahoo is responsive to our particular mania.  \n\nTry what I do if you want to stay on here and not go blind or insane:  Squint while you read!  Ha ha. I tried drinking but that didn't work as well.
103306
I think some must be speakers of another language and their english is the second or third language they speak.  Because alot of times it is not just spelling  errors but every other grammatical faus pax you can commit.
156972
why dont people write properly?
139961
I too am worried about the questions asked and answers given on this board.  The questions asked about sexual subjects concern me, but fortunately they are not too prevalent.  Hopefully there is someone at Yahoo who is monitoring these threads and deleting the crudely sexual questions.\nOf most concern to me is the inability of people who have spoken some form of English for their entire lives to properly phrase a question or answer.\nEven when I was growing up (back in the 1960s-'70s, when dinosaurs still walked the earth ;)), educators told us that form is not important, but content is all that matters.  I disagree; without knowing how to communicate, how do you expect to make your point (or two)?  Many costly mistakes have been made in the world because people did not understand what others were saying, or misinterpreted what was being said.\nThe proper use of the English language seems to be dissolving into a morass of code words and irrationality.
477325
Ok sometimes it is hard to figure out what someone having a hard time with the english language is trying to say, but this is impossible to understand!
123907
At times it does seem as if some cannot use the English language to express a cognitive thought, and for some that may be true because for them English is a foreign language.  That’s understandable.\n\nAnother group are individuals who seem to be quite young and have not yet master language skills and that too is understandable.\n\nThe remain do this either because they never learned how to develop a thought and convert that into the symbols of language or, they are writing that way to create what they believe to be a cool image or, they are doing it because they mistakenly believe that is how you are suppose to communicate over the internet or, and some do it because they don’t care.  \n\nHow many, I don’t know, maybe 15% in the categories I typically access.  But it does seem to be decreasing since I joined this Yahoo Question and Answer forum.