Can I write this? Can I say this? Can I speak like this? and e.t.c

Question

I'm starting to notice questions of this kind more and more often. It seems to me that what most people want is to ask us to allow them to do whatever they want to do but not exactly answer their questions.

They ask us whether they can do/say/write/speak something instead of asking whether it is correct and appropriate to do/say/write/speak something.

A crude instance:

Can I write this? "My need now blue pen"

The adequate answer should be, "Yes, if you want you can". And this is a proofreading question, which is off-topic.

But in fact the question asks whether it is correct and appropriate to write something like this, whether it obeys grammar rules or is accepted in any way.

So why do users most often ask us for permission rather than explanation?

Answer 1

That's being awfully pedantic in the face of someone seeking help regarding the proper use of English. If someone says, "Can I write {x}?", you can safely assume they mean "Is it proper to…"

There's an old joke that starts, "Can you tell me how to get to the airport?" — where the respondent says "Yes!" and walks away.

Don't be that person.

Why not routinely fix these posts in your role of helping people learn proper English rather than playing coy and calling them out?

Incidentally, I have no idea what e.t.c means in your title, so perhaps this post should be closed as unclear what you're asking. See what I mean? <smirk>