That Girl from Derwent dwells on the value of religion this Christmas.
That Girl from Derwent has learned a few more things about prejudice since moving up North.
That Girl From Derwent reckons if you're going to be offensive, you should find a better reason.
That Girl from Derwent considers why it is that some words have wider implications than others.
...spelling, punctuation and grammar.
As many of you will have realised from my previous blogs, I have trouble with the old spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG). I take a fair amount of responsibility for this, I’m sure the editors have better things to do than try and correct this tripe. However, this is my weakness.
Many people have trouble with mathematics; I’ve always excelled in that arena from a young age. SPAG I’ve always had trouble with. As a child I was in the remedial group for this subject and by the end of high school I’d dragged myself up to the top tier of English. I’m not looking for any sympathy; what I’m saying is that this weakness is not looked upon the same way as some others.
I bring it on myself, I’ll admit, by choosing to write as a hobby. However, I enjoy it vastly and won’t be letting this hold me back - so there, nay sayers. The abuse should be thrown towards my long- suffering friends who encouraged me in the direction of writing after I initially only wrote this type of crud on Facebook for their amusement. Many will say ‘use spell check’ or ‘proof read’ but if it was that simple it would be avoided – having trouble with SPAG means you have trouble picking up on your errors.
However, my point remains that things like a weakness in mathematics are rarely mocked and seen as the norm. Struggling with numbers and failing to solve the area under a curve are not seen as anything to comment upon - yet with my weakness of SPAG I’m constantly picked up on. It’s very frustrating knowing you have improved through the years and put a lot of effort into getting to the stage you are at, to be knocked back by your peers.
What I’m saying is, cut me a bit of slack readers, I try my best. Resist from commenting about SPAG and stick to the issues of my pieces.
Hate me for my content, dear chaps, for that I have no qualms. My spelling is weak, you’ll have to get over it – I’m going nowhere.
I agree, attacking others' spelling and grammar instead of their arguments really just boils down to ad hominem attacks. It's like saying "You can't spell, therefore your points are invalid". While often on the Internet one DOES encounter poorly spelled and poorly thought out diatribes (looking at YOU YouTube commenters), bad spelling does not necessarily make bad arguments...
I don't think the main issue here was your spelling and grammar, it was the evident lack of proof reading or editing on behalf of the editor. Also even if your arguments in an article are good (I agreed with you about tattoos), people are inevitably going to take them less seriously if there are mistakes because it just looks sloppy. Take the time to get it checked and then maybe you won't get so many abusive comments about it and you won't have to write a whole article in retort!
True #1, but then again this ISN'T youtube. It's a site for student publication, and therefore I think people expect correct spelling and grammar to be honest, just as you would in any newspaper.
"I’m sure the editors have better things to do than try and correct this tripe."
Why would you become an editor if you couldn't be bothered to proof read articles?
"...won’t be letting this hold me back."
This is a pet hate of mine. Why not just say 'won't let'?
Part of being a good writer, among other things, is having the humility to get someone else to look at your work before it's published, and editors should be proofreading, so really this article is pointless. To be honest, the problem with your writing doesn't lie in the 'SPAG' errors but with the fact that the content is unoriginal and too bitter to be funny.
Also, solving an area under a curve, something most people learn at 17 or 18 if at all, is not to be equated with correct use of an apostrophe, something most people learn at 5.
I haven't read your previous articles, but I think your basic point in this one is sound. Although initially my reaction was, "Well you're a writer you should be able to actually write!" on reflection I don't think that's fair. Interesting content is the main requirement of any writing, closely followed by an engaging style. SPAG (Ugh! What an ugly acronym.) is what sub-editors are for, although of course they do appreciate it when people use commas and the like.
An interesting example of a professional journalist with frankly unbelievable SPAG issues is AA Gill. He is severely dislexic, so much so that he has to dictate all his writing to an assistant who types them up. His full article on it is here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article7067419.ece But in my opinion he is one of the best British journalists writing today - he always has something interesting to say and does so in an entertaining way with flair.
So your final paragraph sounds about write to me. 
@ #5"correct use of an apostrophe, something most people learn at 5." I have a friend in her second year at University who still can't use apostrophes correctly and couldn't all the way through A level English.
I don't think it's fair that you get all the stick for having lapses in SPAG. Some people pick just random spellings or whatever up naturally, and other don't. That doesn't stop them being good writers. However, I am a complete grammar Nazi, and I think the fault lies with the editors. Articles should be proofread carefully before being published; it's not fair on the writer to be continually attacked for something that isn't his or her responsibility (to an extent). Yorker editors, I offer myself as a proofreader! Anything to stop the bad spelling!
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