# Avoid Typos In The Subject Line, Please **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178 "2000-10-08T20:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/1 "2000-10-08T20:47:37Z")
Someone decides to start a brand new thread. So, they ask their question. But why can’t they take the time to proofread the SUBJECT LINE? This is how your thread will be known for generations to come. It’s not going to be buried away in the body, where only people who are interested will see it. This is hanging out there in the open where everyone will see it, and associate you, the thread starter, with it. You obviously thought it was important enough to click the “start thread” button. Why can’t you spell things correctly??? You fuckers. (P.S. I’ve checked the subject line in this thread five times. If it has a typo that I haven’t noticed, I’m prepared to kill myself in shame.) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/2 "2000-10-08T20:52:25Z")
I have to say I’ve been guilty of this. My only excuse is a misspent youth and a habit of posting while shitfaced. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/3 "2000-10-08T23:55:38Z")
I protest strongly. What is wrong with mentioning newbies in the heading?! Oh, sorry, I thought you said tyros 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/4 "2000-10-09T00:08:05Z")
Waht’s wrogn iwth ytspo? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/5 "2000-10-09T00:23:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monster104 \* > \*\*Waht’s wrogn iwth ytspo? \*\* eWll, it kinda hleps ofr peole to undestand yo. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/6 "2000-10-09T00:46:52Z")
Don’t see it as a major problem, I. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/7 "2000-10-09T14:33:45Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lemur866_ > **I’ve checked the subject line in this thread five times. If it has a typo that I haven’t noticed, I’m prepared to kill myself in shame** Since the word “typo” is merely a shortening of the phrase “typographical error”, you should use an apostrophy in substitution of the missing letters, thus making the plural: “typo’s.” What time’s the wake? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/8 "2000-10-09T16:41:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by Lemur866_ > > **I’ve checked the subject line in this thread five times. If it has a typo that I haven’t noticed, I’m prepared to kill myself in shame** > > Since the word “typo” is merely a shortening of the phrase “typographical error”, you should use an apostrophy in substitution of the missing letters, thus making the plural: “typo’s.” \*\* Typo’s is possessive. It is NOT a contraction, like “it’s.” Example: That typo’s face is sure scrunched up! Typos is plural: I corrected many typos in this post. See the thread on Language Peeves… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/9 "2000-10-09T16:44:59Z")
Busted. Okay, I was reaching. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/10 "2000-10-09T21:37:51Z")
I remember learning in grade school how, with the exception of proper nouns, capitalization only occurs at the begining of the sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/11 "2000-10-09T21:59:45Z")
Aha! I thought of that too, but the rule goes out the window for titles. However, I think “the” is never capitalized in titles. But then again, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/12 "2000-10-10T05:14:38Z")
Yep, I think capitalizing the “The” will have to suffice here. Not a big deal, but after all, it is customary that if someone complains about grammar or spelling, that everyone turn their grammatical eagle eyes on their post and pick it apart. ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/13 "2000-10-10T05:16:40Z")
Also, if I recall correctly from high school grammar, shouldn’t words ending in “o” be pluralized with “-es”, with the exception of music-related words (radios, sopranos, etc.) So shouldn’t “typo” be pluralized “typoes.” Looks wierd as hell, and it could very well be wrong, but I can’t find my dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/14 "2000-10-11T00:04:43Z")
**ty-po** , _n., pl._ **-pos.** a typographical error. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/15 "2000-10-11T00:10:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\* > But then again, who cares? \*\* oooh oooh. I do. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/16 "2000-10-11T16:26:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by Lemur866_ > > **I’ve checked the subject line in this thread five times. If it has a typo that I haven’t noticed, I’m prepared to kill myself in shame** > > Since the word “typo” is merely a shortening of the phrase “typographical error”, you should use an apostrophy in substitution of the missing letters, thus making the plural: “typo’s.” > > What time’s the wake? \*\* I believe the correct spelling for apostrophe is apostrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/17 "2000-10-11T17:45:38Z")
Here’s the thing. I’m not making a general rant against typos and misspellings, I know that many people just don’t write that way. But I am asking, please, try make the subject line in the new thread correct. And it doesn’t have to be perfect, just good enough _that I don’t notice any typos_! All I want is to read a thread title and not have a glaring hideously mis-shapen mis-use of language slap me in the face. I would think that simply looking back at the subject line once or twice before hitting the submit button would be enough. So why are there so many threads with botched titles? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-typos-in-the-subject-line-please/36178/18 "2000-10-11T18:36:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dolores Claiborne \* > \*\* > I believe the correct spelling for apostrophe is apostrophe. \*\* Oops. Hey, I never proclaimed a desire for accuracy.