French Lesson/PSA

Manwaithiel

I feel like this should be a sticky on all the boards.

Fiance(e) is a French word.

In French, the extra e is almost definitely the feminine form.
So...
Male = Fiance
Female = Fiancee

Stop spelling it wrong.

MairePoppy

Merci.

trix1223

Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

There was another French reference that made me giggle one day:  someone wrote:  "vwah-lah"  which I think was meant to be voila.

stina93446

Zut, zut zut!

hanron007

PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 

emilyinchile

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:ef9f94fc-dd18-477a-9660-5fb70fd6c73a">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]

Ok, but how do you feel about people correcting spelling?

It's not like she's correcting how you spell definitely or reminding you that you're and your are two different words. This is a wedding website - people use the word fiance 923846 times a day, and if you say fiancee then you are talking about your future wife. The "e" makes the word mean something different.

emilykathleen511

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:ef9f94fc-dd18-477a-9660-5fb70fd6c73a">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]

<div>Be annoyed. I'm annoyed when someone uses their native language as if they learned it last year. If you don't like it, don't go online.</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: Grammar is not the same as spelling; and neither are the same as usage. Learn the difference.</div>

bablingbrooke

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:ef9f94fc-dd18-477a-9660-5fb70fd6c73a">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]
I like it when people correct me--the alternative is appearing ignorant.  

Manwaithiel

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:6d1c23d8-1be5-4770-9337-c4cf4729ecb0">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: French Lesson/PSA : Ok, but how do you feel about people correcting spelling? It's not like she's correcting how you spell definitely or reminding you that you're and your are two different words. This is a wedding website - people use the word fiance 923846 times a day, and if you say fiancee then you are talking about your future wife. The "e" makes the word mean something different.
Posted by emilyinchile[/QUOTE]

Haha, I would like a real hypocrite if I got mad about "definately" and "you're and your". I mess it up constantly.

Anyway, it was late,the boards were slow...thus...

banana468

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:ef9f94fc-dd18-477a-9660-5fb70fd6c73a">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]


The OP isn't correcting any one person in particular.  However to create a post saying that it's annoying seems to just stir up trouble.
 
I'm not sure if that was the intent, but since her post wasn't directed to anyone in particular, why create that response?

andy71781

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:ef9f94fc-dd18-477a-9660-5fb70fd6c73a">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]
Which is less annoying that people consistently making mistakes with spelling/grammar.

hanron007

My intention really wasn't to stir up trouble. The PSA wasn't directed at one person here, but it often is on this board. I just always roll my eyes a little bit every time someone comes on and asks a question and there's a response that like "I'll answer your question, but first I'd like to point out that you typed something wrong." I doubt that the intention is to make the OP feel dumb, but I though I'd let everyone know how this can come across to non-regulars. 

MyNameIsNot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:ef9f94fc-dd18-477a-9660-5fb70fd6c73a">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]PSA: correcting people's grammar is just as annoying online as it is in real life. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]

<div>Also, constant grammar and spelling mistakes make you look just as stupid online as they do in real life.</div><div>
</div><div>Most people actually appreciate being informed, so they don't run around looking uneducated.  </div>

bablingbrooke

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_french-lessonpsa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:27a51afe-1d2e-493c-9b53-c05b78c6fd99Post:21b9b775-b91c-4a88-a1fa-a2de40ceaf18">Re: French Lesson/PSA</a>:
[QUOTE]My intention really wasn't to stir up trouble. The PSA wasn't directed at one person here, but it often is on this board. I just always roll my eyes a little bit every time someone comes on and asks a question and there's a response that like "I'll answer your question, but first I'd like to point out that you typed something wrong." I doubt that the intention is to make the OP feel dumb, but I though I'd let everyone know how this can come across to non-regulars. 
Posted by hanron007[/QUOTE]
Fair enough, but wouldn't you rather know so that you wouldn't continue making the mistake?  My DH speaks English as his fourth (yes, fourth) language and while he's got better grammar and spelling skills than just about anyone I know, yet he always asks me when he's unsure about grammar or spelling or pronunciation because he'd rather know than keep saying things incorrectly.  Same goes for me with Arabic--I don't want to mispronounce things, I'd rather do it right.  <div>
</div><div>Since the single quickest way to lose credibility online is to not use very basic spelling and grammar (I'm talking frequent offenders like "what roll should she play?" or "I'm at her beckon call" or "I have a dilemna"--very basic things that should have become second nature to you by age 10), why would you get upset by people trying to help you?</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: Typos are one thing.  Using the wrong word or spelling it completely wrong is quite another.  I don't harp on people for the former, I do point out the latter.</div>

banana468

It's all in how it's phrased.

If it's snarky in response then I'll buy that it could be perceived as rude.

But a friendly, "Hey here's what I think but just an FYI this is the right spelling" can work wonders. 

RebeccaB88

I just need a lesson in how to correctly pronounce fiance...

trix1223

I am a poster that will point out spelling mistakes to posters.   I guess I think that most people are like me, and would prefer to know when they're making a mistake.  I really don't mean to insult people.  It must be the teacher in me coming out.

When it's words that might just show up in a wedding program or invitation:  aisle, not aisle;  Canon in D not Cannon in D;  Officiant, not officiate (An officiant is the person who will officiate at a ceremony).....well, I'd want to know so that it was done correctly.

bablingbrooke

Think of it like walking around with food stuck in your teeth.  While it's embarrassing when it happens, aren't you glad when someone points it out to you so that you aren't walking around all day with it?  Same basic concept.

CTGirl30

Anyone with an education that surpassed the 5th grade should be able to differentiate between rolls and roles in weddings (drives me nuts as well to see that)...and I know it can be confusing with the fiance / fiancee thing...especially since most people probably don't have reason to use those words much until they're engaged.

If your first language is English, do yourself a favor by not embarassing yourself with terrible grammar. And if your spelling is subpar, we have a handy little ABC button when creating new posts.

Proper spelling and grammar just makes posts much easier to sift through. And yes, it lends credibility to the poster as well if they can express themselves clearly. Since we can't hear your tone of voice or see gestures or facial expressions, all we have online is what you type.