I don't want to single anybody out or embarrass anyone, so I am posting this as a new thread. 

There are many posts that I try to read that contain NO puntuation. It makes it very hard to understand the post as well as the questions being asked. Keep in mind that a sipmle way to puncuate a sentence is this; when you finish a thought, put a period at the end of it. These paragraphs that run on with no periods or commas are VERY hard to read. I am only bringing this up as a way for all of us to better communicate our thoughts. I'm not trying to be condesending or critical. I would just like to be able to understand what I am reading. It may not seem important to the poster because you know what you are trying to say, but the rest of us don't. Lets all try:)

Grace and Lila:

really badly writed paragraphs

OK, sorry but couldn't resist.  written 

Grace and Lila:

It's not that hard!!!!!!

Actually it is quite hard for some people if they have dyslexia or a speech problem.  Most of the time though it is just not taking the time to punctuate (sp?).  But it is always best to give someone the benifit of the doubt.  I have a friend who has a lot of trouble with this type of thing because she was in a really bad horse accident and was supposed to die according to the doctors but she pulled through by the grace of God.  She has some minor memory problems and has alot of trouble with spelling and punctuation.

I'm not trying to be argumentative just asking you to be a tiny bit more understanding. 

 thatwindow, I think you were very kind to post this in a seperate post and you were also very kind about explaining yourself.  I do agree that it is very hard to read long run on paragraphs.

 As a former English teacher (and Special Ed, at that, so I'm not letting dyslexics off the hook that easily!), I second thatwindow's suggestion.  I used to start each year by explaining to my high school classes that communication is all but impossible. When you speak face-to-face, the other person really only "gets" about 40 - 60% of what you're trying to convey because we all come from a different sphere of reality.  Face-to-face you have hand gestures and expressions to help with interpretation.  If you have a common vocabulary and good grammar, that's the best you can  hope for.

On the phone the comprehension level drops to less than 30%. Minus the gestures and expressions, we have only common definitions of terms and basic grammar to rely on.

Written work communicates AT BEST about 15-20% of its meaning!  And that's with correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and a common database of vocabulary.  Deduct any of those contributions, and you're down to virtually NO communcation and lots of misunderstandings and resulting conflicts.  

SO . . . if you're not sure, keep your sentences short and put periods after each thought.  Compound-complex sentences without punctuation can't be understood.  

 Here's the exercise I used with my classes every September:

Punctuate this statement correctly

THAT THAT IS IS THAT THAT IS NOT IS NOT IS THAT IT IT IS

If someone has a problem and gives everyone a heads up right from the start that English isn't their first language or they have some problem, and are working on it, I'm willing to cut them some slack.  It's the folks who can't be bothered to at least make the effort to use proper grammar, puncutation, and spelling that annoy me.  If they can't take the time to produce a readable posting, well then, I'm not going to take the time to read the post and offer help or suggestions.  Then they wonder why they aren't getting any responses to their postings.  A forum like this isn't a chat room where text speak is needed to keep up with the conversation, it's more like slow motion chat where you do have the time to properly set down your thoughts in a clear readable manner.  It doesn't take that long to proof read your post before posting and making sure that it is something that is readable and makes sense. 

Spotted Pony

JMFriedman:

Here's the exercise I used with my classes every September:

Punctuate this statement correctly

THAT THAT IS IS THAT THAT IS NOT IS NOT IS THAT IT IT IS

Okay, I'll attempt your challenge.

THAT THAT IS, IS.  THAT THAT IS NOT, IS NOT.  IS THAT IT?  IT IS!

How'd I do? (and don't be afraid to be brutal!)

Dang you beat me to it. I was going to do it too. I just wanted to prove that a learning disability doesn't matter. I failed english miserably. I didn't even graduate high school. I got my GED and went from there. I passed the english part of the GED test only because it wasn't hard. You have to be a complete moron to fail that test. I scored a 98 on math and all te rest were high 80's except english. It was a high C I believe. But All through school I had problems. I couldn't stay awake or pay attention. If I was paying attention I didn't understand what was being taught because they didn't explain things for my understanding. On top of this I am ADD. My spelling isn't real bad but I realize I'm not an expert. The only reason I can spell certain words is because I know what they look like. Not sounding it out or just knowing. I also took a class about spelling teaching me what prefix and suffix meant and the root of words. If your a bad speller this actually helps a lot. And it helps understand words. I am also very bad at vocabulary but because of knowing what I know about etymology.

My punctuation isn't very correct but like it was stated before thats why I use a lot of periods.

Squeaksmom:

Okay, I'll attempt your challenge.

THAT THAT IS, IS.  THAT THAT IS NOT, IS NOT.  IS THAT IT?  IT IS!

How'd I do? (and don't be afraid to be brutal!)

Perfect!  Have you seen that exercise before?  If not, you're definitely good at patterns and word grouping!  Good for you!

Squeaksmom:

Okay, I'll attempt your challenge.

THAT THAT IS, IS.  THAT THAT IS NOT, IS NOT.  IS THAT IT?  IT IS!

How'd I do? (and don't be afraid to be brutal!)

Perfect!  Have you seen that exercise before?  If not, you're definitely good at patterns and word grouping!  Good for you!

Cowgirlchic, you're fabulous!  

I spent 25 years teaching HS SpEd, and I am pleased on their behalf to report that LOTS of my kids went on to four-year colleges and have great careers in everything from medicine to law.  They were the ones who caught on to the idea that a learning disability means you have to work HARDER, not that you should be excused from working altogether.  You should be very proud of the effort you've put in.  It shows!  

My wonderful son-in-law was diagnosed dyslexic in around second grade (a dead giveaway that it was the wrong diagnosis, btw), and struggled all through public school b/c his parents couldn't deal with his problems.  Then came college (he got in by a squeak) where he met my daughter and felt compelled to drag himself up for her sake. Mind you, his IQ is through the roof, as is the case with many LD kids.   It wasn't till he got to med school (yep!) that he was finally tested and found to have severe ADD.  Medicated, he took off like a rocket!  Top of his class, and later chief resident at his hospital.  He scored second in the country on his licensing exam.  He's a brilliant surgeon.  Oddly, his ADD helps him tremendously.  He can keep up with eight things at once without batting an eye and barely needs to sleep!  LOL  I sometimes proofread some of his written work for him when he's really worried that he's not coming across accurately, but generally he's fine. His research has been published in medical journals at least a dozen times. He should be the ADD poster child!   Isn't it amazing what a little help and hard work can do?  

 You go, Girl!

How about watching your own spelling?

 Morgan....touchy, touchy. I would hardley compare 1 typo to some of the posts I am referring to. And I didn't say anything about spelling in my org. post. I am talking about puncuation and grammer. I think we can all figure out a mis-spelled word now and then.

JMFriedman:

.  

 Here's the exercise I used with my classes every September:

Punctuate this statement correctly

THAT THAT IS IS THAT THAT IS NOT IS NOT IS THAT IT IT IS

That's a sentence? When I get back from my weekend in SF, I'll have to try and wrap my brain around that one.

amberp11703:

Grace and Lila:

It's not that hard!!!!!!

Actually it is quite hard for some people if they have dyslexia or a speech problem.  Most of the time though it is just not taking the time to punctuate (sp?).  But it is always best to give someone the benifit of the doubt.  I have a friend who has a lot of trouble with this type of thing because she was in a really bad horse accident and was supposed to die according to the doctors but she pulled through by the grace of God.  She has some minor memory problems and has alot of trouble with spelling and punctuation.

I'm not trying to be argumentative just asking you to be a tiny bit more understanding. 

Sorry, but I didn't mean antthing against peoplpe with learning problems. I think that people that can write well should write well. I understand that some people can't write well, but most people on here can, and they are being lazy. I do understand that sometimes you can't spell something, forget or miss a key, I don't have a problem with that. If you do spell things wrong a lot in one post, it is hard to read. So, for most people, it isn't any harder than rereading.

Grace and Lila:

I think that people that can write well should write well. 

I agree.