We’ve all seen them, the self-proclaimed grammar police, in the comments on social media. They might pepper their words with lol’s or proclaim they are only concerned for the author, but it’s all the same. They found a grammar or spelling mistake in the post and they are calling you out in public. 

This happens to me from time to time. Usually I’ve typed a caption on my phone and not followed my own advice to proofread one more time before hitting post. Sometimes autocorrect can be rough. Inevitably, someone takes it upon themselves to let me know of my error, usually through public comments, although I’m not likely to react any differently if corrected by private message. 

I see typos, grammar errors, misspellings, commas gone awry, subjects and verbs out of agreement, incomplete sentences, incorrect sentences, etc. every single day. It’s my job and I can’t really turn it off. So of course I notice them when I’m scrolling through Instagram stories, or reading someone’s blog or social media post. Excluding the fact that I do not offer edits for free in my spare time, here’s why I don’t typically call someone out for an error on social media:

1. We all make mistakes. Today it was them, tomorrow it could very well be me. Even those of us who write and proofread professionally make mistakes. Even when we do everything to ensure a document or other written statement is free of all errors, errors happen. 
2. Was the meaning still clear? Yeah, I know he used the wrong word there. They should have said “steak” not “streak.” But did you know what the post was about even with the wrong word? Probably, yes. In which case, it didn’t have to be perfect to do its job. 
3. I don’t have permission. This is the biggest reason, right here. They didn’t ask for my help and unsolicited advice is very rarely well received. 

As an editor, my job is to stand in for the reader, advocate for the author, and protect the piece. In the words of Carol Fisher Saller, an editor should first and foremost DO NO HARM. And whether we intend it or not, offering up suggestions for someone without their permission is more likely harmful than helpful. What if your well-meaning grammar critique actually silences a voice instead of refining it? 

I like to think most grammar police are not sitting at their computers or staring at their phones just waiting for an opportunity to feel superior to the rest of us. Maybe each of them means well and they just want to see the quality improve for all of our written words, even vanishing social media stories. I get it, I do. I don’t like the errors either. But unless you have permission to edit, don’t.