Why is it that people can't get the difference between "loose" and "lose"?

Question

I am going crazy, not only with the silly questions on this site that mean that people are just much less intelligent that I thought (and I had no high view of human intelligence to begin with), but also with the grammatical errors from people who are clearly native English speakers (non-native speakers are easy to spot. I don't hold these errors against them). Isn't it clear when you read the word "loose" that the middle two "o"s are long and when combined with an "s" they should sound like "moose" or "goose"? Am I confused? So why are there so many people here asking how to "loose" weight? I have even gotten e-mail from co-workers with the same error (and we have PhDs)..."Lose" weight is the correct spelling...make a note, write it down, take a picture. Sheesh!

Answer 1

I teach, and it drives me crazy too, but I think there are several reasons. First of all, many people never learned any general rules of grammar or pronunciation, so they don't have any sense of how things are supposed to be spelled. Secondly, in place of teaching rules, many teachers and parents just tell their kids to spell it like it sounds, forgetting that many people mispronounce half the words they use! I know that many of my students elide over much of what they say and swallow the rest, in addition to adding syllables to some words which make no sense at all! Finally, many people read very little, and since they have had little exposure to the language as it is written properly, they bring to bear things which look vaguely familiar, not realizing that it is only peripherally related to the word they want. They have seen something spelled loose, and since that looks like it "might" be the correct spelling, that's what they use, not realizing that the word "lose" even exists.

Answer 2

I don't feel there is any special reason in connection with the words 'loose' and 'lose'. It's just a matter of spelling education in general, and whether mistakes are corrected or not in school. Incidentally I'm quite happy with my weight (not my wait). It's as low as it should be.

Answer 3

I beg to differ with regards to the word 'goose'. I have lived in places where the 'goose' in gooseberry is pronounced to rhyme with lose rather than loose.

Your basic point, though, is correct, and sad, because laziness in speech (and writing) often indicates laziness in thought, which becomes a vicious cycle. That is when the demagogues and oligarchs are able to usurp democracy (a bit farther down the road, yes, but still and all).

Answer 4

large question madhavi:) you comprehend in spite of the indisputable fact that those words sound synonimous yet nevertheless there lies a "deep" distinction !! Happiness may be chanced on of issues which won't additionally be effective to our non secular or psychological factor like we would bypass out & have our well-known dish & outfits and so on., we would experience chuffed. yet delight comes from a form of achievent, if we get sturdy grades in examine we would get a appropriate feeling that asserts "no longer basic notice paid off" now thats greater effective isn't it ;p[ Now peace.... i think of it relies upon on what techniques-set we undertake towads the "activities" we do for "happiness" or the two "delight", peace rather exist in our self, it purely must be chanced on via us. a individual of lack of knowledge would experience peace jointly as a no longer basic worker would desire to be strresed. this is even oposite to that . So peace desires to chanced on via us.

Answer 5

Thank you!!!!! I thought I was going to lose it if I saw another person do that!!! They're, their & there is also really bad!

Answer 6

well at least the ppl who email ME know how to spell.

Answer 7

because theyre stupid