# Aarghhh! It's not that hard to spell the damn word! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554 "2004-11-07T23:20:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/21 "2004-11-08T04:58:27Z")
> [@Marsie](#): > > Me to. Same hear. Man, I can actually hear **Gaudere** ’s Law kicking into overdrive. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/22 "2004-11-08T05:32:52Z")
I just noticed that “misspelling” is misspelled in the OP. What are the odds? ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/23 "2004-11-08T05:43:24Z")
My jaw-clencher of choice is “woah.” I don’t know what the hell that’s supposed to mean. I think it’s the word that some people think you’d say to make a horse stop. But that word is “whoa” and I will harp on this for a long time, because “woah” is not only stupid, if you have ever heard of Noah, the dude with the boat, you’d have to know that “woah” would end up being a two-syllable word, the last sound of which would **not** be a long O sound. A minor irritant, to be sure, but so is that grain of sand that gets trapped in the little fold of skin between your big and second toes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/24 "2004-11-08T09:56:41Z")
Loose for lose drives me crazy too. I always have to re-read it. I can forgive a non-native speaker, but everyone else should have learned that in third grade. Don’t get me started on people who say off-ten. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/25 "2004-11-08T10:14:56Z")
Now, now… thats no way to behave. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/26 "2004-11-08T10:31:36Z")
> [@absolute](#): > > “Ludacrist” instead of “ludicrous”! Bah, that’s nothing, try having one of your superiors actually describe your behaviour as… get this… and i’m not kidding… ludacrisp. I laughed so hard I almost puked. But it was when I asked “That the new breakfast cereal?” through my howling laughter, that HIS superior called the meeting on account of stupid. This is the same chap who uses, on a regular basis “theirselfs” mixed in with a chorus of “dees” “dems” and “doze” (which I can properly attribute to the Chicago dialect, but still). ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/27 "2004-11-08T12:38:29Z")
**DanBlather** : How do you pronounce _often_? “offen”? It is pronounced as you described–at least it is in British English. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/28 "2004-11-08T12:57:51Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Children should cover their eyes, the squeamish should look away, parental discretion advised, it’s: > > “Ludacrist” instead of “ludicrous”! > > GAAHH!! I usually don’t make a big deal about this type of thing, but whenever I see that particular abomination on the web I feel compelled to find out where the offender lives, hop on a plane, and stuff the illiterate little twit into a dumpster. To be fair, this is probably the fault of Ludacris the rapper; it’s not entirely surprising that some might see his name and think that’s how the word is properly spelled, as opposed to inventing the spelling from scratch. “Ludacrisp” is still magnificent, though. 🙂 My peeve of the moment is the overuse of reflexive pronouns. E.g.: “You want the package? Certainly, I’ll come round and give it to yourself.” or “Myself and James are going to play squash.” or “That’s very kind of yourself.” _twitch_ ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/29 "2004-11-08T13:15:20Z")
I definately hate it when people screw up spelling. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/30 "2004-11-08T13:36:49Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > I just noticed that “misspelling” is misspelled in the OP. What are the odds? Priceless - well spotted! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/31 "2004-11-08T14:31:44Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I think your getting upset over nothing. \*This \* is the one that gets me all riled up. :tears out hair: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/32 "2004-11-08T16:06:52Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > **DanBlather** : How do you pronounce _often_? “offen”? > > It is pronounced as you described–at least it is in British English. I suppose he’s talking about the “offen” vs the “offten” pronuncations. A quick trip will reveal both pronunciations correct. Also, this usage note from [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com): > [@](#): > > Usage Note: During the 15th century English experienced a widespread loss of certain consonant sounds within consonant clusters, as the (d) in handsome and handkerchief, the (p) in consumption and raspberry, and the (t) in chestnut and often. In this way the consonant clusters were simplified and made easier to articulate. **With the rise of public education and literacy and, consequently, people’s awareness of spelling in the 19th century, sounds that had become silent sometimes were restored, as is the case with the t in often, which is now frequently pronounced.** In other similar words, such as soften and listen, the t generally remains silent. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/33 "2004-11-08T16:08:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I believe that the quadruple initial “a” is an accepted spelling in the States, while the OED lists the double “a” as the accepted English spelling. But you are right in one thing…the triple terminal “h” is just sloppy grammar. 😃 Except that the triple terminal ‘h’ is not an issue of grammar. It’s to do with orthography/spelling. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/34 "2004-11-08T16:21:23Z")
**Shrinking Violet** : I _wondered_ if anyone was ever going to spot that 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/35 "2004-11-08T17:54:30Z")
Remember, no matter how obvious the misspelling is to you, that means YOU likely make a misspelling that’s just as heinous looking to others. “Loose” for “lose” looks VERY obvious and stupid to me, but I tend to make the “it’s” vs “its” mistake. So I have no right to complain. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/36 "2004-11-08T19:27:10Z")
[QUOTE=LilyoftheValley] To get back to the OP… It’s _a little bit_ hard. My dear intelligent husband – speaker of 5 languages, graduate of prestigious universities – has trouble spelling it. It’s the whole “lose rhymes with choose” issue. Loose, lose, choose, chose – he’s always asking me which is which. English is not his first language, so I’m cutting him some slack. Since living with him, I’ve cooled down a bit on the Spelling Nazi front, and I’m even willing to ignore these spellings in most folks’ everyday writing. [QUOTE] I love it that most ESL websites use [The Chaos](http://www.learnenglish.de/EZine/Joke3.htm) by G. Nolst Trenité to teach English pronunciation. If I were confronted with something like this at the beginning of a language class I would just give up. I do, however, continue to have problems with which past-tense to use. I understand hanged/hung, but what about burned/burnt, lighted/lit, etc? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/37 "2004-11-08T19:28:51Z")
I rarely see mantle/mantel used correctly. There is a local commercial running now that starts out with the printed words, “Is your child **sufferring** from…” The first time I saw it, I yelled out, “Whatever you’re peddling, I don’t want any!” It was a commercial for a division of the college I work for. :smack: I just don’t understand why someone would put together a TV commercial and pay to have it run several times a day for months on end without checking it for spelling errors. This is how you are presenting your business to the public! Sloppy bastards. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/38 "2004-11-08T19:44:31Z")
Microsoft’s motto “better everyday” makes me want to stick pins in my Bill Gates voodoo doll (well, more pins anyway…). “Everyday” means mundane or ordinary. “Every day” means just what it sounds like. Don’t even get me started on “anyways.” It’s bad enough to hear it spoken, but when people write it down it makes me think very evil thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/39 "2004-11-08T20:31:12Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Actually, the correct spelling is _aaaarrghh_. You are correct that it is not difficult to spell, but you still seem to have messed it up in the title. > > (Your secondary complaint about _loose_ for _lose_ is spot on, of course.) Perhaps he died while carving it. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554/40 "2004-11-08T21:32:09Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > “Ludacrist” instead of “ludicrous”! > > I mean, how dumb do you have to be to both a) think it’s actually pronounced that way, and b) not notice your mistake when you see the word spelled correctly at least several times a week? That’s the problem. The person obviously doesn’t read anything that would even use that word. I think that’s why I tend to (unfairly) judge someone’s intelligence by certain misspelled words. I can get over “its” and “it’s”, because it’s easy to leave out an apostrophe once in a while. But “lose” and “loose” drive me batty. I tend to think that the people who make that mistake don’t read anything that’s not on a message board or IMed to them. :rolleyes: Oops, there I go being judgmental again! Another one that irks me (albeit to a much lesser extent) is when someone refers to a decade as the 80’s. It’s 80s with no apostrophe, as far as I’m concerned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aarghhh-its-not-that-hard-to-spell-the-damn-word/273554.md?page=3)