...to a piece on the radio a few mornings ago, they were talking about spellings, and how some people have blind spots on certain words. Even the simplest words can go amiss, and be complicated to those who use them every day. The expert mentioned the most commonly misspelt word is "definitely". It's a word I love...it means so much, and is so misused.
The most common misspelling is using an "a" instead of the second "i"...spelling it definately...it's the way our differing dialects make it sound...but the English language doesn't work that way, it very often throws the phonetic rules out the window...my Mum keeps telling me that the Americans have it right in saying "lieutenant", it hasn't got an "f" in it! (more about the lieutenant later) A phonetic catastrophe...
And don't think spell-check will help...if you misspell it gives you many choices. Going back to definitely...I had a friend who had spell-checked it, and it had given him defiantly...it made for interesting reading. I think after awhile he left it on purpose...he liked a good joke.
Now...about lieutenant. If anyone ever gets close enough to Canterbury Cathedral for a visit, go down into the crypt, walk around looking at the walls...and there you'll find an old memoriam...it's to a lefftenant. Now is that the correct pronunciation?
Sorry about this, but the weirdest things peke my interest...one day I might bore you with my intense dislike of "two times"...where did twice go?
8 comments:
...or even 'pique' your interest...
(ducks behind the sofa) :0)
I understand you xxx
Re the spelling you're dead rite Suze but sometimes it just needs to be written down quickly to go with the flow.
Exactly Gretel...I could get the dog to chase the ducks! ;)
Yup sister...all too well! hehe
Rick, I think texting doesn't help, it makes us lazy...
I have another one...gaol. Always a good one!
Hi Suze,
This made me laugh - you sound just like my Auntie Shirley - she hates "two times", also the saying "gone missing" (don't know why) and her pet hate is people saying "train station" instead of railway station. Fascinating stuff.
Vicky
We "aunties" have to stick together...
I can understand the "gone missing" too, though it's not a particular grievance.
The train station made me smile...or rather, railway station...it reminded me of a friend from New York...and Grand Central Terminus, not station...as he has informed me!
That is definitely the most common mistake I come across in blogland..and I'm too polite to correct. That and 'Sneak peak'
Arrggghhh!!!
Oh..not counting misuse of their there and they're; your and you're; hear and here....just don't get me going.
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