# How hard can it be to spell? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 16, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515 "2003-08-16T02:07:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/1 "2003-08-16T02:07:18Z")
I’m looking in the different British web-sites of coverage on the blackout, just to see their perspective and what they have to say about it. I noticed that the Register spells it wrong right away, while the BBC spells it right on the first try; but it’s fucked up in their picture. Fuck, people! You call yourselves journalists yet you can’t even fucking spell the name of a city that’s a fucking capital of a country! It’s OTTAWA, not OTTOWA!!! Goat-felching fucktards! > **[US power brown-out causes Net, phone chaos](https://www.theregister.com/2003/08/15/us_power_brownout_causes_net/)** > > Chain reaction [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3155791.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3155791.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/2 "2003-08-16T03:08:01Z")
That’s in Cannada, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/3 "2003-08-16T03:18:14Z")
I’m with you, **Locks.** Why can’t people spell correctly? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/4 "2003-08-16T03:32:55Z")
BBC’s website is notorious for spelling mistakes and gramatical errors. In _titles_ ---
**Author:** ![Ex-PFC\_Wintergreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ex-PFC\_Wintergreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex-PFC_Wintergreen)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/5 "2003-08-16T04:03:15Z")
The capital of Canada is Toronto, dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/6 "2003-08-16T04:07:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ex-PFC Wintergreen \* > \*\*The capital of Canada is Toronto, dumbass. \*\* ::blink:: ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/7 "2003-08-16T04:10:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*::blink:: \*\* Perhaps he was _signing_ his comment? :o ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/8 "2003-08-16T04:13:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > BBC’s website is notorious for spelling mistakes and gramatical errors. In _titles_ Paging Gaudere ;). Commiserations **Lockz**. There’s a Feedback link at the very bottom of the BBC’s page that will enable you to mail them about their mistake. **Ex-PFC Wintergreen** – how dumb do you feel? ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/9 "2003-08-16T04:21:07Z")
Perhaps **Ex-PFC Wintergreen** was just joking and you’ve all been whooshed…? I really hope so. I really really really hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/10 "2003-08-16T04:23:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by everton \* > \*\*Paging Gaudere ;). Maybe they will employ me. ---
**Author:** ![Ex-PFC\_Wintergreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ex-PFC\_Wintergreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex-PFC_Wintergreen)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/11 "2003-08-16T04:31:22Z")
Christ. This is why I don’t post much. I hate to disappoint everyone, but I was joking. Hasn’t anyone seen “Canadian Bacon”? [The Mountie explains that Honey has been taken to the capital.] Boomer: The capital Toronto. Mountie: No, the capital of Canada is Ottawa. Boomer: Yeah, right. Do we look that stupid? Ottawa! Roy Boy: Nice try, Dudley. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/12 "2003-08-16T04:34:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ex-PFC Wintergreen \* > \*\*Christ. This is why I don’t post much. > \*\* It might have something to do with calling someone a dumbass in the hope that they will get some obscure joke. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/13 "2003-08-16T05:11:35Z")
Just yesterday in my summer school class, I asked one of the students what the capital of Canada was. He responded “Michigan”…SO you all must be wrong! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/14 "2003-08-16T05:13:08Z")
It’s ‘C’ duh. ---
**Author:** ![ProjectOmega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@ProjectOmega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProjectOmega)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/15 "2003-08-16T05:30:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ex-PFC Wintergreen \* > **Christ. This is why I don’t post much.** _I_ thought it was funny, but intellectual floggings are all the rage around here, and if you don’t meet your quota, you can’t sit at the grown up table. ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/16 "2003-08-16T05:51:51Z")
Geesh, you expect them to know things about CANADA? I mean, come on, I’m surprised they even know where it IS, all tucked away down there… ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/17 "2003-08-16T06:39:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ex-PFC Wintergreen \* > \*\*Christ. This is why I don’t post much. > > \*\* I hate using emoticons/smilies but they serve a necessary purpose on the faceless web. You should post more often, at least you have a sense of humour. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/18 "2003-08-16T06:59:05Z")
Isn’t Canada one of the United States? Right after Alaska and Hawaii?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/19 "2003-08-16T10:55:01Z")
Yes, I think you’re right. You’re talking about the 25th and 13th provinces to join Confederation, aren’t you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515/20 "2003-08-16T12:21:28Z")
Are they part of the Union or the Confederacy? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-can-it-be-to-spell/195515.md?page=2)