Hey guys,

I stumbled upon a topic about which is correct, 'Hope this help' or 'Hope this helps'? Someone even pointed out both are grammatically incorrect, is that right? I am unsure as to why "hope this helps" would be incorrect as I, myself, often use this phrase. Perhaps it is simply incorrect because it should be "I hope this helps".

LordPhip, welcome to the Forum!

Some of this may come from translation software, which always isn't perfect. I know, because I've read foreign articles converted into English, there were many misspelled words. And this is a worldwide forum.

On the other hand, this is the way that some communicates. I've stated "hope this helps" many times.

As long as I can understand what's being stated, that's what matters to me.

Cat

I'm sure it is a grammatical thing, and all apps that check grammer, will point this out as being incorrect because it is not a complete sentence. I don't care, we use abbreviations and slang all the time to make posting easier. Ya knows whats I's means? (Sorry TM, trying to make a point)

English is my second language and I will always keep learning. In my opinion, who cares about the grammar? It's OK, if you can understand what I am trying to express myself.

Naru, thank you for your contribution. It's good to hear from those whom English is their second language. This goes back to my post above, this is a global forum.

I don't care about the grammar, as long as I can understand the postings. That's all that matters to me.

This type of thread has the potential to outrage some, as long as it remains civil, we'll leave it open. But if it turns into a shouting match, it'll be locked down.

Don't we have other things to be concerned about?

Cat

I use "hope this helps" often. It is an expression I have used over the last 2 years on this site when I have given an answer to a contributor's question.

Ted is "The Terminator" and I'm "The Editor".

When some thread title is so messed up that it makes no sense, I try to fix it.
When a post is riddled with misspelled words, I try to fix it.
And yes, I'll do that for moderators as well.

I applaud anyone who tries to post in English when that's not their native language.
It's not an easy language to master. I'll fix what I can.
I personally tried to learn two foreign languages and failed miserably at both.
So I just do the best I can with English.

And yes "hope this helps" is incorrect English grammar. It has no explanation of WHO is doing the hoping, or who is being helped.
Even more complete, would be "I hope this helps you". That designates who is doing the hoping and who is the recipient of the help.

That's the kind of thing I try to fix, but of course I don't read every post in every thread.

So if you see 'edited by TechnoMage' at the bottom of one of your posts, you will know I've been there, even if I only had to fix one letter in one word. Eh?

Cheers Mates!
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g90/DrWho1943/Computer%20Stuff/deviloldbeer.gif

English is my second language and I will always keep learning. In my opinion, who cares about the grammar? It's OK, if you can understand what I am trying to express myself.

American English grammar is extremely difficult and even the best of us mess it up regularly. There is so much slang that has found its way into our conversations, I feel sorry for anyone trying to learn the language. I get a kick out of the character in the tv show NCIS - Ziva David. Her character is a great example of what English as a second language people have to deal with. As hard as she tries, she always manages to get something wrong.

Golddust,
I have assumed the role of the forum text editor. Why? Well, because of the language barrier, where one person from India makes a verbal mistake that I can understand but the guy from Lower Slobovia is left guessing.

So I try my best to fix things so everyone can understand them. It doesn't always work, but I do try.

I fix misspelled words, lack of capitalization and punctuation and yes.... grammar. Profanity is promptly removed, along with the potty mouth that typed it.

I strongly encourage EVERYONE to use a spell checker (Firefox has a great spell checker, built in) and write as if your high school English teacher was looking over your shoulder. :rolleyes:
It's simple....read what you just wrote and see if it really makes sense. That's not too hard! Eh?

From the time I uttered my first word, my trilingual mother was on me to pronounce words correctly and form complete sentences, not just words.

Besides the spell checker, I read every post, of my own, two or three times, mentally checking every word, to not only make sure it's spelled correctly, but that it's the correct word. From what I read every day, it would appear that very few members do that.

As the original subject suggests, , "I hope this helps" is a short form for "I hope this does help", where the S from the word does, joins up with the word help, to form "Helps". It's one of those loose contractions that have developed in the American-English language and we don't all sound like "Mr Data" when we speak.
Yes, Miss Ziva David is a total doll, and I love her struggles with the idioms and idiosyncrasies in the English Language.
Puns would probably be beyond her, but she's still a babe! I love that program and watch it almost every day.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage :cool:

I think "Hope this helps" is correct.

It is correct. Our language has a number of accepted variations. In this case, the subject "I" is understood even though it is not present. In some cases, where a stricter adherence to grammar is required, you might not be able to get away with an understood subject, but, in general conversation and writing, it is accepted.

That pretty well wraps it up.... Eh?

Case Closed