posted on April 2, 2008 05:38:21 PM new
I have a theory about "wrong words" like this. We're living in an increasingly audio world; people hear words on TV, radio, etc., and the words sink in but the spelling doesn't. And because people want to sound intelligent, they use these words either speaking or writing--often in the wrong context--and have no idea when writing the words how the spelling would be, because (my theory) we're increasingly non-readers. We have to see a word for its spelling to have a chance to sink in.
Take the word "surrogate," for instance. More often than not, I hear people say "sairogate" probably because they've heard it said that way.
I'm wandering now, not sure if I've made myself clear!
_____________________
posted on April 2, 2008 06:40:10 PM new
I like my freecycle emails:
"Does anyone have a chesterdrawers?"
"I'm looking for some pompous grass."
Bless their hearts.
I do think roadsmith is correct about not "seeing" but rather hearing. Those of us whose native tongue is not English generally spell better and don't seem to have issues with apostrophes. Because we saw words, and learned grammar.
posted on April 2, 2008 08:36:28 PM new
Gas guy - to spell it out - instead of using the word "liable", she used "I am not relieable", a misspelling of reliable that contains the word "lie". She has this in all of her listings. I would think twice before buying from her.
posted on April 4, 2008 02:41:56 PM new
pixiamom: I'd think three or four times before buying from her, especially with her feedback. It seems she is "not relieable."
