A light hearted view of common spelling mistakes, Which ones get yer goat? Options

[Simon Kirby]

Mute and moot: To mute a idea is to silence it, but to moot an idea is to propound it.

My spelling was quite bad, though it's improved - spell-checkers help - I've embarrassed myself with plenty of stupid mistakes, like idear, and accross, and I'm afraid spelling mistakes do undermine the message.

[Andy Capp]

You missed an 'an' in that!

I agree, my spelling is hopeless, or at least far worse than I would like (thanks to whoever created spell-checkers). It makes so much difference between well written work and one that is littered with 'mistakes'. It is so much easier to read and understand when text is well written. So often though mistakes are only realised after the email or post has been sent or posted!

Having said that, one of my pet hates is when people nit-pick mistakes on forums, you can grantee a waspish reply from me when that happens!

Another thing I find difficult is the use of colons and semicolons. I know the basic rules but I still sometimes find myself being not sure how to use them!

[Simon Kirby]

You missed an 'an' in that!

D'oh!

Having said that, one of my pet hates is when people nit-pick mistakes on forums, you can grantee a waspish reply from me when that happens!

Couldn't agree more. Poor spelling and grammar does weaken the strength of an argument, but it's poor form to comment on it - though it's open season on the spelling and grammar of anyone who does choose to nit-pick, and it's curious how Skitt's Law in invariably proved right.

[Andy Capp]

To be fair, if I was guilty of making a repetitive error, I'd like to be made aware of it; however, like many things in life, it is the approach that would normally offend. Sometimes, nit-picking of spelling and grammar forms a part of an ad hominem (or feminam ) attack which is really what I don't like to see, or if the comment is delivered in a condescending manner.


I'd like to add that sometimes I realise later on that my posts might appear unintentionally brusque or arrogant, but if I do, usually try to make amends and will go back and change it if I can.

[JeffG]

plenty of stupid mistakes, like idear,

Of course, if you're from Bristol, that's an ideal, as in "I've just had a good ideal".

[Exhausted]

We are sure where it goes in most cases, but plural possession can be confusing! I say the rule should be to rearrange the sentence if unsure!

Hand's up, that's what I do, I also think up another word to use if I'm not sure of the spelling of my first choice word.

[Exhausted]

Of course, if you're from Bristol, that's an ideal, as in "I've just had a good ideal".

One actually hales from 'Brissle'. Having worked down there for several years, I found that some of their word revisions were quite amusing.

[JeffG]

Thee do speak proper now, though.

[x2lls]

One actually hales from 'Brissle'. Having worked down there for several years, I found that some of their word revisions were quite amusing.

Oooer


Yes, that may be true, but someone who hails, rather than hales from 'brissle' would spell it Bristol.

[Andy Capp]

Thee do speak proper now, though.

[JeffG]

Book

Online dictionary

[x2lls]

Book

Online dictionary

Yes, that's very true stuff, but the OP was regarding 'spelling'.


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary...-from-somewhere

[Nothing Much]

Just a light anecdote .
From the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/apr/21....artsobituaries.
**** Vosburgh, an American wrote West End Reviews. After a show went on he would take out a small can of
brown and a small can of gold. All boards outside Theatres were brown with gold characters.

He would correct the misspellings.
Happy New year. ce

[Nothing Much]

Sorry folks It should have been Richard Vosburgh.
You do have to think ahead.