Grammar on College Apps and Essays

[Anonymous]

It isn't really just annoying.

There are a few documents in life where this matters, a lot. Your resume. Your cover letter. Your college essays.

In each, you are introducing yourself and putting your best on display. If you don't care enough about how you present yourself in these documents that purport to show you at your best, why should a reader excuse you. Or, why shouldn't a reader believe that you know you best. And since you don't believe you are worth the time to ensure proper grammar, why should they value you any more?

[Anonymous]

My DS had a few errors in his essays - minor stuff, but pretty much every essay across the board had an error or two (I saw them after they were submitted). Besides the minor errors, the essays were terrific and very natural/authentic in their tone (did not come across as coached, overly- worked, etc.). Anyway - he was admitted to some highly selective schools with these essays - so it seems a few errors are not the end of the world if everything else is in order. (not recommending this route of course, - but don't panic if it happens - I sure did).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

My 2nd grader has it covered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

DCUM is full or 'your' and you're' by adults, I assume.

Off Topics has had several debates on this with many posters stating they're unsure why people get so upset since it's not a big deal.

There are a lot of idiots in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if leniency is given to essays where English is not the primary language?

It's been my experience that people whose second language is English often have "better" grammar than native speakers. We as native speakers have learned it organically through conversation, and we tend to pick up regional nonstandard usage. For example, my best friend in law school always said, "I could have went." Because that's how people spoke in her neighborhood growing up. It drove me nuts. I don't hear those types of mistakes from bilingual people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

My 2nd grader has it covered.

My 2nd grade ESOL students have it covered too along with "they're," "their" and "there."

[Anonymous]

Back 20 years ago, when I was first year in USA and in English composition course (it was a required one and they did not had one for foreigners), I was shocked when the teacher explained that you should not write,
"James, Brandon and me." My reaction was, how can you even make a mistake like this?

We had "native" speaker who was taking that class third time.... He failed at the end. I passed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back 20 years ago, when I was first year in USA and in English composition course (it was a required one and they did not had one for foreigners), I was shocked when the teacher explained that you should not write,
"James, Brandon and me." My reaction was, how can you even make a mistake like this?

We had "native" speaker who was taking that class third time.... He failed at the end. I passed...

While I applaud your being bilingual, I have read several of your comments in this forum and your use of English is not as refined as you think.

After awhile on DCUM, you can pick out a writer's pattern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

Most jobs don't even require writing. There are a gazillion things people mistype regardless of IQ and ability.

My engineers can spell or write for crap, but they sure can design a computer system. I will pay and Ivy educated English major $50K/year to edit her documents so she can move on to design another million $$$ system.

[Anonymous]

Did they say anything about tutors and parents doing the rewrite?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

Most jobs don't even require writing. There are a gazillion things people mistype regardless of IQ and ability.

My engineers can spell or write for crap, but they sure can design a computer system. I will pay and Ivy educated English major $50K/year to edit her documents so she can move on to design another million $$$ system.

You know some engineers can spell too. Yours is just lazy/stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

Most jobs don't even require writing. There are a gazillion things people mistype regardless of IQ and ability.

My engineers can spell or write for crap, but they sure can design a computer system. I will pay and Ivy educated English major $50K/year to edit her documents so she can move on to design another million $$$ system.

You know some engineers can spell too. Yours is just lazy/stupid.

yeah, as an engineer, i resemble that remark!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

Most jobs don't even require writing. There are a gazillion things people mistype regardless of IQ and ability.

My engineers can spell or write for crap, but they sure can design a computer system. I will pay and Ivy educated English major $50K/year to edit her documents so she can move on to design another million $$$ system.

You know some engineers can spell too. Yours is just lazy/stupid.

yeah, as an engineer, i resemble that remark!

my son's teacher told me he needed to try to be more perfect, he got A's but he was a little sloppy so 95's not 100's. She said, he needed to work until it was perfect.

I said, if Microsoft and Amazon worked until it was perfect they would never bring anything to market. You need to stop telling kids that. I am sick of engineers that are paralyzed by an application that is not perfect. Thank you agile!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was true when I applied to colleges - it was drilled into all of us senior year. Of course in those days a typo meant an actual typing mistake on the typewriter.

It was true when I chiseled my essays into a slate panel. Typos sucked.

LOL!!!! I like you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" by 11th or 12th grade, you probably shouldn't bother applying to college.

+1

Most jobs don't even require writing. There are a gazillion things people mistype regardless of IQ and ability.

My engineers can spell or write for crap, but they sure can design a computer system. I will pay and Ivy educated English major $50K/year to edit her documents so she can move on to design another million $$$ system.

You know some engineers can spell too. Yours is just lazy/stupid.

yeah, as an engineer, i resemble that remark!

my son's teacher told me he needed to try to be more perfect, he got A's but he was a little sloppy so 95's not 100's. She said, he needed to work until it was perfect.

I said, if Microsoft and Amazon worked until it was perfect they would never bring anything to market. You need to stop telling kids that. I am sick of engineers that are paralyzed by an application that is not perfect. Thank you agile!

????