Is it worse to correct someone's grammar, or to let them continue to sound stupid

Question

my mother is a college educated woman, so i can't believe some of the stuff that comes out of her mouth.

the one that is the absolute worst is "supposebly" OMGosh, NAILS on a CHALKBOARD! and the other is "real good" or "real fast," basically using real instead of really.

i don't know how to politely tell her these are wrong. for one thing, she does not take criticism very well (or as she would say "she does not take criticism very good"). for another, i know it is considered impolite to correct other people's grammar.

what do you think?

Answer 1

Girl, I am so with you on this! I am constantly correcting people. I have done it to strangers before. I know it's rather rude, but I can't help it. I can't beleive some things that come out of people's mouths! Ok, since she is your Mother, you should just be brutaly honest. That's the way to go when it comes to family. That's what I do. Trust me....my family has horrid grammar.

Answer 2

I think as long as you correct her in private, just you and her, in a kind manner, there's nothing wrong with it.

Answer 3

It's nice if you do it in a nice way, like in a joking matter, or something.

Answer 4

I think by correcting her it will only achieve one thing, make you feel superior.  Your mother is not going to change her speaking pattern for you, but may be 'real good' at holding a grudge for the rest of her life.

Answer 5

let it go.  it's not like she's writing a novel.  

Answer 6

I think it's rude to correct people's grammar more than once.

If they keep making the same mistake let them be wrong. It's their problem.

Answer 7

Privately is a good way I agree.  If not adults know how they speak and perhaps choose to do so that way.  I invoke the slang all the time.  You aint never gonna change that.

Answer 8

I think that you need to just let it go.  Its not really that big of a deal.  Correcting people on their grammar is rude and makes you sound like an uptight b*tch.

Answer 9

Yikes...I would just tell her what she says is wrong.  I wouldn't be able to let her continue using bad grammar and mispronouncing words.  My daughter thinks it's rude when I correct people's grammar and she asks if that's the mountain I want to die on.  So my new thing is, and I want a button that says this..."I'm going to die on grammar mountain."

Answer 10

Well, first off, start correcting her in a joking manner. That always takes the edge off. Next, if you are correcting her seriously, do so in private. Third, figure out if she's serious or not. I also say "supposebly" as a joke, because obviously I know that it is incorrect. However, I HATE when people say snuck (because it is "sneaked") and I correct them all the time. However, if I have found that repeated corrections only get people's backs up, then I stop, because that means that they know what they are doing and want to sound stupid. I can't help that.

Answer 11

It's considered impolite because it IS impolite; besides that, she's your mother.  There are some things we just have to live with no matter how much they might annoy us.  Just let these minor slip-ups pass you by.