I get the e-mail from the correction inbox as part of my job. And the grammar mail … it is mean. Factual corrections are often just fine in terms of tone and helpfulness. Grammar corrections are often not. So what it is about grammar that brings out the meanest in people?

• Some examples of factual corrections vs. grammar corrections from our inbox
• Holly’s rage when faced with the nonword “mischevious”
• Offering helpful advice vs. shaming
• The importance of grammar vs. the understanding that humans make errors
• Peer tutoring as a collaboration for better writing
• The surprisingly large number of adults with low literacy skills in America
• Your, you’re and yore
• Spelling and grammar and their importance on résumés
• The mobile world and its ability to make many errors
• There, their, they’re
• Bob the Angry Flower and other things best used as inside jokes among other grammar people
• Mail about hobbits! And our episode about hobbits. It’s from Jackie.
• Grammar quiz: Do you know your commas? and 10 Completely Wrong Ways to Use a Comma
• Episode link: Grammar sticklers: Why so mean?

My research:

• A Humble Request For The Grammar Nazis
• Literacy Privilege: How I Learned to Check Mine Instead of Making Fun of People’s Grammar on the Internet
• Literacy Privilege, Part 2: But Wait… You’re an English Teacher
• Literacy Privilege, Part 3: A Few Final Points Before I Let This Topic Die
• ‘No soup’ for self-titled ‘Grammar Nazis’
• National Center for Educational Statistics Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey

Holly’s research:

• TV Tropes: Grammar Nazi
• Bob the Angry Flower Apostrophe Poster
• A Humble Request For The Grammar Nazis

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