I think maybe using interchangeable 'there', 'their' and 'they're', but I'm open to suggestions.
2007-01-08 10:28:30 · 25 answers · asked by johninmelb 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Aaaargh. I'd put my vote in for people using "it's" as a possessive (as in, "Every story has it's mushy moment"). I've even seen it on packaging for products, in books, and other stuff that's supposed to be well proofread. Seriously, just writing my example sentence made me cringe.
UPDATE: I just checked back to see what other people had replied, and I'm sooo glad to see there are other people who pay attention and are irritated by idiocy. I graded papers at a prestigious university, and had college students turning in papers with the "have/of" mistake. I was appalled. Stick to your guns, grammar police!
2007-01-08 10:35:06 · answer #1 · answered by espresso! 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My worst word is 'misled' because I think it should be spelt 'missled'. I was the laughing stock when I read the word out as 'mizled'! I think we can sympathise with genuine spelling mistakes, but, I have been reading some of the questions in the 'MUSIC' category and both the spelling and grammar really make me cringe. What is happening to our beloved English language? These people can't use the spell-check provided because they are not using what we and the spell-check know as English!
2007-01-08 19:08:41 · answer #2 · answered by ? 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say any misuse of apostrophes -- Not technically a misspelling, but way too common, and it drives me crazy! People think they need apostrophes everywhere, so they use them all the time, like using an apostrophe to make some poor noun plural. Aagh!
2007-01-08 18:41:21 · answer #3 · answered by barjesse37 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The most annoying misspelling I have seen, and it is still there, Is a shop which sells Government surplus. The signwriter had spelt it as GOVERMENT SURPLUS.
2007-01-08 20:13:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought it was cute when my daughter who may be dyslexic and heard this word in the context of her spelling, said, it is not my fault I'm obalistik! Some spellings mistakes irk but some make me laugh! The standard of English language is going down.
2007-01-08 19:57:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There/their/they're is annoying, it's not that complicated if you stop and think. Also it annoys me when I see "definitely" being spelt in any variety of ways definatly/definately etc. Although misspelling in general puts me off.
2007-01-10 16:23:30 · answer #6 · answered by scattycat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My first thought was for There, Their and They're. It really narks me when people don't make the correct distinction. Also 'of' instead of have. Normally people are quick to shorten words, eg. should've, but they pronounce the incorrectly placed 'of' full-bodied. It really gets my goat.
One that I have noticed more increasingly of late is people saying 'everythink ' instead of 'everything'. Why?
egs.
Loose for lose
To for two or too
Of for off
Here for hear
Were for we're
Were for where .....
I just love it
2007-01-08 19:37:43 · answer #7 · answered by breezinabout 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have a couple:
the "ie" or "ei" misspelling; especially in foreign.
the take out the "e" when adding "ing"; like writing or bouncing.
the ending of the word: ious, ous, tion, sion, cian.
the last one is commonly misspelled.
2007-01-08 18:44:12 · answer #8 · answered by no 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mischievious instead of mischievous - well, to me it's definitely the most annoying pronunciation. It's pronounced to sound like 'misschevus" folks, not "mischeevius". (chuckle)
2007-01-08 23:07:16 · answer #9 · answered by Nel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm bothered when people use "they're" as opposed to "their" - As in "It's their car."
Also to Ray M: it's spelled Phelgm not flem, but I'm sure you realized that and were just making a point.
2007-01-08 18:56:00 · answer #10 · answered by Chris D 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋