Why do so many people use the wrong prefixes when they talk?

Question

They say "unorganized" and "uninterested" It is "disorganized" and "disinterested".
Are they ignorant or did they flunk English?

Answer 1

both uninterested and unorganized are words according to the AHD and RH dictionaries. Here is a usage note for the former:

Disinterested and uninterested share a confused and confusing history. Disinterested was originally used to mean “not interested, indifferent”; uninterested in its earliest use meant “impartial.” By various developmental twists, disinterested is now used in both senses. Uninterested is used mainly in the sense “not interested, indifferent.” It is occasionally used to mean “not having a personal or property interest.”
Many object to the use of disinterested to mean “not interested, indifferent.” They insist that disinterested can mean only “impartial”: A disinterested observer is the best judge of behavior. However, both senses are well established in all varieties of English, and the sense intended is almost always clear from the context.

Answer 2

They are two different words with differnt meaning.

Main Entry: un·or·ga·nized
Pronunciation: -'or-g&-"nIzd
Function: adjective
1 : not organized: as a : not brought into a coherent or well-ordered whole b : not belonging to a labor union
2 : not having the characteristics of a living organism

Main Entry: dis·or·ga·nized
Pronunciation: -"nIzd
Function: adjective
: lacking coherence, system, or central guiding agency : not organized

The differences are very subtle, but those of high education and/or high breeding know the difference and when to use each word correctly.

Answer 3

You're wrong; people are neither ignorant nor did they flunk English. They're correct, in most situations -- both "unorganized" AND "uninterested" are real, acceptable words that mean what one would assume them to mean.

Answer 4

The english langue has had many transformations over it's excistence. It has nothing to do with ignorance or stupidity, it's just how they speak. The meaning is basicly the same no matter what prefex you use.

Answer 5

You asked "are they ignorant or did they flunk English?". Since the grammar police are on duty, the two are one and the same. Also, your question is pessimistic in it's offer of possible answers.

Answer 6

well girl u cant blame them i lokk in some text books and i see the same thing i wonder at times what the english language is going to be like in the next few years.. i think that text msg and im has alot to do with it. ....

Answer 7

It's partly the result of the illegal alien invasion of our puiblic schools. Then there are all the other diversions like: video games, TV, iPods, the internet, and other useless activities.

Answer 8

They're lazy. Instead of using proper english, they use a convenient term.
i.e. instead of trying to figure out the plural of goose, they'll refer to them as gooses.

Answer 9

Well..i dont think that people are saying the real english..not like william shkspeer. ,

i am going ..i am gonna

i gotta..

its depends on where they live and how they learnd there language..

i speak english..but my spelling is horible..everyone understand me though..

Answer 10

unorganized is when you come upon a closet that is in disarray.disorganized is a work in progress.