Why the global elite gave up on spelling and grammar

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Why elite writing looks sloppy

  • Many argue it’s just how busy people text and email, especially on phones with bad keyboards and autocorrect.
  • Others counter that earlier eras’ casual letters (pre-digital) often had better grammar and penmanship, partly because physical letters had high “activation energy” and latency.
  • Some say modern short-form chat encourages incomplete thoughts, missing context, and no punctuation, which then spills over into email.

Power, class, and signaling

  • One strong theme: bad grammar from elites is seen as a status flex.
    • If you’re untouchable, you don’t need to perform care or courtesy in writing.
    • A terse, error‑filled message can signal that your time is too valuable to waste on polish.
  • Others think this is over‑theorized: it’s just “how everyone writes on their phone” rather than deliberate signaling.
  • Some note that “authentically human” errors now help distinguish people from AI, and some bots intentionally use poor grammar to seem real.

Competence and meritocracy

  • Several comments argue that many “global elite” aren’t especially smart or articulate; they rose via luck, connections, family wealth, or sociopathic traits.
  • Others point out they may be unintelligent in academic or linguistic terms but skilled at power games (blackmail, manipulation, backstabbing).
  • There’s debate over whether poor writing is low-signal, no-signal, or meaningful evidence of weak thinking; some report costly confusion caused by inarticulate leaders.

Grammar, courtesy, and exclusion

  • One camp: spelling and grammar are primarily about clarity and respect for the reader; leaders should model high standards.
  • Another camp: many rules (especially capitalization) are arbitrary, anxiety‑inducing, and mainly serve as class markers or gatekeeping tools.
  • Dyslexia, neurodivergence, non‑native status, and uneven education are cited as reasons grammar is a weak proxy for intelligence or expertise.

Context: when correctness still matters

  • Formal contexts (college admissions, YC applications, academic writing) are seen as places where errors still carry real cost and act as proof‑of‑work.
  • Informal chats, internal quick emails, and texts are where most participants accept lower standards, though some worry this erodes thinking over time.