[DechanDawa]

I see this a lot! Allot means to parcel out something such as to allot a piece of land. "A lot" means frequently or often. Sometimes people use "alot" but there is no such word. It is two words: a lot. I think I am just going to start using the slang word "lots" as in "gimmie lots of hugs" -- because I have never liked the use of words a lot, allot, or alot. Yeah, it's a pet peeve I should get over it, I know. Do you have a pet peeve about something you see lots online? (Besides irritation at someone who points out spelling errors.)

[Fresia]

I see a lot of missing punctuation and run-on sentences. It is not so much a pet peeve as it is hard to read.

I loved the saying on this one t-shirt that I saw:

Commas save lives:

Let's eat Grandma.
Let's eat, Grandma.

Affect Vs Effect. grrrr

[IrisBloom]

I have a few facebook friends that I went to high school with. I know we all learned the same things from the same teachers. Yet most of them can't spell, use punctuation or use the right "there, their, they're".

Two things that cause prickles to go down my spine are: Using seen instead of saw, and using are in place of our.

If it's a post more than 4-5 lines and no punctuation or really bad spelling I can't read it at all. I refrain from pointing out grammar and spelling mistakes, as some people get offended easily, and they will continue to do the same thing anyway.

[DechanDawa]

I was writing a post and spelled "pedal" as peddle!!! I must have been posting in the middle of the night or in my sleep! -- or something! I was mortified. But if you wait a day here on PC you can't go back and edit, which is infuriating.

I am not sure why people use "n" instead of and. Is it that hard to type and?

I'm not a stickler on grammar.

I get the gist of every post.

[-jimi-]

I used to be very careful with spelling and grammar. I realized how that just made me feel bad about myself and in an informal environment I simply don't care anymore. Being correct can be a trap.

[guilloche]

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

I think I am just going to start using the slang word "lots" as in "gimmie lots of hugs" -- because I have never liked the use of words a lot, allot, or alot.

Thanks for the correction. I'm usually pretty good with words, but for some reason, I constantly write "alot"... spell check keeps correcting me, and I keep fighting it!

BTW, if you're going to go to the dark side, you might want to go all the way, with "lotsa!" As in, "Gimme lotsa hugs! Now!"

My pet peeve... and I hope I don't offend anyone here... I see people writing "weary" (instead of "wary") all the time. I thought, maybe, it was a cultural thing at first... but after poking around, I now think that people are just confused.

Like this... "I was weary of his motives."

Nope! You might be weary of dealing with his bad behavior over decades, and I'm certainly weary of entering my time for work in 17 different systems every week for work (oh, so weary!)... but you're probably WARY of his motives. As in... aware and beware.

weary = tired, exhausted
wary = watchful, cautious, suspicious

My pet peeve. Thanks for letting me put it out there!

[*Laurie*]

"Should of", meaning "should have".

[EnglishDave]

What one must always remember is that this is an International Support Forum, peopled by those of all ages and backgrounds. It is not a place where spelling, grammar and punctuation is scrutinised - if it were then many who are not confident with the written word would not come here for the support they badly need.

I am of an age where I abhor 'Textspeak', I even avoid contractions for the most part - but that is my way - yet I have never come across a Post I could not understand, either here or on our Sister Site NeuroTalk.

We may have pet peeves when it comes to use of the English Language - I cannot understand why Americans miss the 'U' out of words like colour and favourite - but is bringing it up on a Support Forum, where people could be embarrassed by having the quality of their English pointed out really the right thing to do?

Dave.

[-jimi-]

I have to admit after looking inside there is something that bothers me a little. It is when people write plural form with apostrophes like if it was genitive. My main bother isn't the error in itself but that they made effort putting a mark in vain, LOL.

[Artchic528]

If anything bothers me it's when someone uses really atrocious text speak or that speak where you put numbers that look like letters in the place of the actual letters in a word. I try to read it, but the whole time my brain is like "DOES NOT COMPUTE! INPUT ERROR!" and I wind up feeling like the poor organ overloaded or something.

[healingme4me]

See, the apostrophes on plural can be appropriate.

My son's family.
My sons' family.

How many sons do I have?

Alot instead of a lot used to stump me, as well.

Weary v. Wary could be a phonetic misinterpretation. Not that I'm not weary.

[IrisBloom]

I remember hearing somewhere long ago that we read by recognizing the shape of the word, so using symbols and numbers as letters can really confuse some, like me. I see them as symbols and numbers next to letters.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by EnglishDave

What one must always remember is that this is an International Support Forum, peopled by those of all ages and backgrounds. It is not a place where spelling, grammar and punctuation is scrutinised - if it were then many who are not confident with the written word would not come here for the support they badly need.

I am of an age where I abhor 'Textspeak', I even avoid contractions for the most part - but that is my way - yet I have never come across a Post I could not understand, either here or on our Sister Site NeuroTalk.

We may have pet peeves when it comes to use of the English Language - I cannot understand why Americans miss the 'U' out of words like colour and favourite - but is bringing it up on a Support Forum, where people could be embarrassed by having the quality of their English pointed out really the right thing to do?

Dave.

Sorry, didn't mean it to be too serious of a thread, Dave.

Language is fresh and alive. It doesn't "know" right from wrong. A friend of mine who is a language teacher told me this fact and it pierced my heart with joy. I never before saw language as something living, breathing, morphing, growing, always in flux, and never wrong. So there is no right or wrong but rather a consensual reality. This thread was not meant to be a critical diatribe but rather an airing of pet peeves. It would be like discussing manners. I might find it disgusting if a guest belched at my dinner table. Yet in other cultures it would be considered a compliment. As one poster pointed out...others will do what they want.

I am sorry if this thread troubles you, Dave. By the way, I could never understand why the British need to stick a U into words were it is clearly unnecessary.

Yes I cringe a lot - even rereading my own posts - but I know we represent a wide variety of knowledge and education. I admit though, sometimes I find it very difficult to read lengthier posts that aren't very articulate. My apologies but that is me.

On a similar note, how many of you experience 'brain fog' dumbing down your ability to write? I find myself thinking one thing and often typing and writing something entirely different? For example I just typed out 'frog' instead of fog. My spelling too, as a result, has become awful.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by rcat

Yes I cringe a lot - even rereading my own posts - but I know we represent a wide variety of knowledge and education. I admit though, sometimes I find it very difficult to read lengthier posts that aren't very articulate. My apologies but that is me.

On a similar note, how many of you experience 'brain fog' dumbing down your ability to write? I find myself thinking one thing and often typing and writing something entirely different? For example I just typed out 'frog' instead of fog. My spelling too, as a result, has become awful.

I typed peddle instead of pedal...and left it! When I went back and saw it I could not believe it! And because it was the next day here on PC I couldn't correct it, which does not sit well with me. But yeah, this kind of thing really disturbs me, rcat.

[Onward2wards]

We should of started a thread like this ages ago. One sees alot of annoying grammer, spalling, word mixup and puncturation arrears in this day and ages. It's quite waring on the sole. Never the less; I understand the issue of bain frog.

kthxbye.

[DechanDawa]

bain frog! OMG I am laughing! Thanks!

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

See, the apostrophes on plural can be appropriate.

My son's family.
My sons' family.

How many sons do I have?

Thanks for trying to misunderstand me. I'm pretty sure you understood what I meant.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

Thanks for trying to misunderstand me. I'm pretty sure you understood what I meant.

How did I "try to misunderstand"?

Hmpphhhh... Who are you to imply what I do and do not understand?

If you feel misunderstood is snarky defensive approaches like this truly necessary?

[sabby]

Unfortunately, we seem to end up with hurt feelings whenever the subject of spelling and other grammatical faux pas irk us and we post about it. Even if the posting is in jest or not meant specifically towards a member, some members do feel hurt.

Since we are a support site, this thread will now be closed.