# Definately, Definitly a Huge Pet Peeve **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374 "2003-03-22T15:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/1 "2003-03-22T15:56:56Z")
Why is it that no one can manage to spell the word **D E F I N I T E L Y** correctly? I swear, only one in ten times I see this word written in a student’s paper, on the web (even here at SD) or anywhere is this word spelled as it should be, with no A and with an E between the T and the L. Why can’t people spell this word? Do you have any other major spelling pet peeves that drive you absolutely bonkers? I’ll mention another one, while I’m hot: the use of the apostrophe. When I see signs like “Puppie’s for Sale” or “Resource Room’s” HANGING UP IN MY SCHOOL :eek: or sentences such as “I alway’s liked her” or “The dog run’s away” or “Do you like flower’s?” written by intelligent people who should know better, I feel a twinge of despair only another English teacher or grammarian could understand. Yes, I know it’s not a big deal and I should just take a deep breath and think about world peace instead, but you know, once you’re trained to see these things, you start seeing them everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/2 "2003-03-22T16:00:07Z")
“Definitely” and the apostrophe thing are two of mine as well. Than an the improper use of “myself” and “anymore”. As for myself, I’ll definately be hanging around here anymore, 'cause I love Doper’s. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/3 "2003-03-22T16:01:09Z")
Of course you know I meant “that and”, not “than an” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/4 "2003-03-22T16:48:41Z")
I run a web site and I receive contributed materials from people who submit their own stories. The writing mistakes I see in them are absolutely appalling. The misspelling of “definitely” only scratches the surface. A lot of them don’t even know to capitalize the I when referring to themselves. They’ll combine “a lot” into one word. They use commas where periods should go and vice versa, they confuse the proper uses of there/their/they’re and where/were/wear. They don’t capitalize the first word in each sentence, that is if I can even tell where the sentence is supposed to start. I could go on with dozens more examples, but my blood pressure is too high right now just from thinking about the previous examples to list any more. The point is that either my web site attracts marginally literate people, or our education system has seriously dropped the ball (I’m afraid it’s the latter). I assume most of these people are adults. but their writing resembles something a second grader would have written. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/5 "2003-03-22T21:51:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > **They use commas where periods should go and vice versa, they confuse the proper uses of there/their/they’re and where/were/wear.** Just have to ask – was this misuse of a comma intentional? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/6 "2003-03-22T22:52:37Z")
I lose a year off my life when I see signs for “ATM Machines.” _There is no such thing as an “Automatic Teller Machine Machine!”_ ---
**Author:** ![iconoplast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3d9bf3/32.png) [@iconoplast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iconoplast)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/7 "2003-03-22T23:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*I lose a year off my life when I see signs for “ATM Machines.” _There is no such thing as an “Automatic Teller Machine Machine!”_ \*\* Then just where do you think baby ATMs come from? The Great Mother ATM Machine, that’s where. I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you that it wasn’t the stork, but someone had to sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/8 "2003-03-23T00:07:19Z")
I had to train myself to spell definitely correctly - I was one who had a terrible time spelling it correctly. Now I’m trying to figure out why I overuse commas so much and how I can fix that. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/9 "2003-03-23T03:31:56Z")
My big peeve is alright. No such word. When I was younger, a mascara ad had text on their commercial that said, “If you want alright lashes…” I wrote them, pointed out their mistake, and got a “You’re right” letter and some free makeup samples. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/10 "2003-03-23T03:40:18Z")
> [@](#): > > alright > > adj : nonstandard usage adv 1: reinforces an assertion, as in “It’s expensive all right” [syn: all right, without doubt] 2: sentence-initial expression of agreement [syn: very well, fine, all right, OK] 3: (informal) in a satisfactory or adequate manner; “she’ll do okay on her own”; “held up all right under pressure”; (`alright' is a nonstandard variant of `all right’) [syn: okay, O.K., all right] From [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=alright) ---
**Author:** ![Teaira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9d8465/32.png) [@Teaira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teaira)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/11 "2003-03-23T03:43:22Z")
Another reformed misspeller of the word “definitely”. =) ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/12 "2003-03-23T03:53:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*From [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=alright) \*\* > [@](#): > > (`alright' is a **nonstandard** variant of `all right’) (bolding mine) It still give me the heebie jeebies. ---
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/13 "2003-03-23T04:06:40Z")
I had to train myself to spell definite too…by thinking of the word finite whenever I spelled it. I have two other grammatical peeves as well. I hate people who misuse the word “that”. “He wrote it in a letter that I received”… I also hate to leave prepositions haning at the end of a sentence. It is my biggest peeve…and I am very guilty of it at times. I oftentimes have to find myself backspacing to change sentence structure in order to put the preposition in its place. “She doesn’t know who she spoke with” sounds much better phrased “She doesn’t know with whom she spoke”. I overlook a lot of those dangling prepositions because there are so many slang terms in our culture that utilize such structure. However, there are many cases where I think a new sentence should be starting when I find a preposition at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/14 "2003-03-23T04:09:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bjohn13 \* > **I have two other grammatical peeves as well. I hate people who misuse the word “that”. “He wrote it in a letter that I received”…** How is that a misuse? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/15 "2003-03-23T04:14:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Usage Note: The standard rule requires that that should be used only to introduce a restrictive (or defining) relative clause, which identifies the entity being talked about; in this use it should never be preceded by a comma. Thus, in the sentence The house that Jack built has been torn down, the clause that Jack built is a restrictive clause identifying the specific house that was torn down. Similarly, in **I am looking for a book that is easy to read** , the restrictive clause that is easy to read tells what kind of book is desired. From [Dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=that) ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Burn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@Acid\_Burn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Burn)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/16 "2003-03-23T06:54:57Z")
I cannot believe no one has addressed this one yet… “you’re” vs. “your” This has to be the ultimate, I simply cannot stand it. Especially when people go out of their way to type more by using “you’re” when “your” is the version they should be using. As well, now that I think of it “irregardless.” A double negative, not a word. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/17 "2003-03-23T08:38:18Z")
I think the main reason people can’t spell is because they don’t read. I can understand typing errors here and there. We all do it. (BTW - notice **errors** not **error’s** ) But there’s just no excuse for misspelling _definitely_ or confusing _your_ and _you’re_. Anyone who reads knows the difference. (another BTW - notice it’s "anyone **who"** reads, not “anyone \*\* that\*\* reads”. GRRRRRRR!! Burns my ass when I hear a so called educated person talk about “people _that_” do something.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/18 "2003-03-23T08:43:30Z")
I think the main reason people can’t spell is because they don’t read. I can understand typing errors here and there. We all do it. (BTW - notice **errors** not **error’s** ) But there’s just no excuse for misspelling _definitely_ or confusing _your_ and _you’re_. Anyone who reads knows the difference. (another BTW - notice it’s "anyone **who"** reads, not “anyone \*\* that\*\* reads”. GRRRRRRR!! Burns my ass when I hear a so called educated person talk about “people _that_” do something.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/19 "2003-03-23T08:51:33Z")
I think the main reason people can’t spell is because they don’t read. I can understand typing errors here and there. We all do it. (BTW - notice **errors** not **error’s** ) But there’s just no excuse for misspelling _definitely_ or confusing _your_ and _you’re_. Anyone who reads knows the difference. (another BTW - notice it’s "anyone **who"** reads, not “anyone \*\* that\*\* reads”. GRRRRRRR!! Burns my ass when I hear a so called educated person talk about “people _that_” do something.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374/20 "2003-03-23T08:57:18Z")
:eek: How embarrassing. :o A triple post when all I wanted to do was preview. It’s the hamster I tell ya, the hamsters! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definately-definitly-a-huge-pet-peeve/163374.md?page=2)