# If your not gonna spell properly, then stick it up you're ass. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 3, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385 "2004-03-03T21:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/61 "2004-03-05T18:35:01Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > Sorry, but this sentence reminded me of one of my pet peeves: it’s “people who,” not “people that” … “humans who,” not “humans that.” Feel free to point out any errors in this post. I deserve it. At least this change makes sense - using “that”/“which” instead of “who” would sometimes remove and never add ambiguity, if I’ve thought it through right. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/62 "2004-03-05T21:18:12Z")
> [@Shade](#): > > At least this change makes sense - using “that”/“which” instead of “who” would sometimes remove and never add ambiguity, if I’ve thought it through right. Perhaps, but it’s a sore subject with me, because in one of the first newspaper columns I ever wrote, my boss criticized me for using “people that.” I haven’t used it since, in writing at least. I have a co-worker who only uses “that,” or should I say, a co-worker that only uses “that.” It just grates on my nerves, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/63 "2004-03-05T21:35:23Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > Perhaps, but it’s a sore subject with me, because in one of the first newspaper columns I ever wrote, my boss criticized me for using “people that.” I haven’t used it since, in writing at least. > I have a co-worker who only uses “that,” or should I say, a co-worker that only uses “that.” It just grates on my nerves, that’s all. _blink, blink_ Oh, looky, I did do that too, didn’t I? Meh. Gaudere’s law. In any case, the pamphlet said we eat the sponsors. Mmmm. Executives. Not used to actually thinking of those folks as “human” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/64 "2004-03-05T22:27:19Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > _blink, blink_ Oh, looky, I did do that too, didn’t I? Meh. Gaudere’s law. > > In any case, the pamphlet said we eat the sponsors. Mmmm. Executives. > Not used to actually thinking of those folks as “human” 😉 Ah, well why didn’t you just say that in the first place? By all means, continue to call them “thats.” I won’t stand in your way! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rkts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@rkts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rkts)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/65 "2004-03-06T03:14:14Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > Sorry, but this sentence reminded me of one of my pet peeves: it’s “people who,” not “people that” … “humans who,” not “humans that.” The [American Heritage Dictionary](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=who) disagrees with you. > [@](#): > > Some grammarians have argued that only _who_ and not _that_ should be used to introduce a restrictive relative clause that identifies a person. This restriction has no basis either in logic or in the usage of the best writers; it is entirely acceptable to write either the _woman that wanted to talk to you_ or _the woman who wanted to talk to you_. And **EddyTeddyFreddy** , > [@](#): > > And while we’re at it, “disinterested” does NOT mean “uninterested”! It’s the difference between having no interest (being impartial) and having no interest (not caring). Says Merriam-Webster: > [@](#): > > **dis-** > Function: prefix > . . . > 2 : opposite or absence of \ \ > 3 : not \ > [@](#): > > **un-** > . . . > Function: prefix > . . . > 1 : not . . . > 2 : opposite of : contrary to > . . . Sounds like the two should be the same to me. And no, I did not look up every complaint in this thread. I just knew these two were wrong, and looked them up for evidence. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/66 "2004-03-07T14:21:41Z")
How about the misuse of “less” and “fewer”? While I’m at it, the constant use of “highly” where “very” would be more appropriate jangles my elderly nerves something awful. ---
**Author:** ![Wildcatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@Wildcatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildcatz)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/67 "2004-03-07T15:14:15Z")
Allow to me to add my _favorite_ misspelling: prolly. WTF is that?? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/68 "2004-03-07T15:36:43Z")
Normally, I just fill my shotgun with punctuation loads and fire away at the post - hoping to get most of the things in the correct place. EXAMPLE; > [@TaxGuy](#): > > I’v`e said this., befo're in these thre"ads and I here I go say`ing it again: when m,'ost people '.type a m.‘`essa"ge to a message board, t.'`hey thin’,.k the`'. word"s in their h.'ead?s and then type w..hat they "hear." .'` > Most peo`ple do k`now the d?iff…‘erence bet.,ween your/you’‘re, it’s/its, to/too/two’, t’he`y ju,st typ?e t.'he w,ron!g one a,nd don't no.tice the mistake. Also, I don'.t th'ink? it's re"ason'able to expect people to metic.ulously proof!read? an e'ntr'y on'to a me'.ssage b.oa,rd; it's not ,`like t.his is goi`ng out to `a clie.nt or "I’m .going to get g.‘raded on this. I expect’ reasonable!! people t?o know that I k’now the diff.‘erence between to and to.o and tha"t I just m"ade a m’istake…’ > ';. > .The point is **'blo!wero** , you are the on`‘e. with the problem dude. You s’hould see’;lk co.‘unse’.lling? if it bothers you that m.uch. Perhaps you have a real n’eed to or,de!r yo’ur su’rrou.ndings to! your liking. because you’re parents beat y.ou or som’ethi!?ng. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/69 "2004-03-07T16:01:46Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > I think it has peeked already. It’ll go downhill from here. And I for one will be very grateful when it does. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385/70 "2004-03-07T21:20:41Z")
> [@TaxGuy](#): > > I’ve said this before in these threads and I here I go saying it again: when most people type a message to a message board, they think the words in their heads and then type what they “hear.” > > Most people do know the difference between your/you’re, it’s/its, to/too/two, they just type the wrong one and don’t notice the mistake. Also, I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect people to meticulously proofread an entry onto a message board; it’s not like this is going out to a client or I’m going to get graded on this. I expect reasonable people to know that I know the difference between to and too and that I just made a mistake. > > \ If your habit is to type sloppily and not proofread and correct, then you will do the same when it _does_ matter, or you will be so out of practice that you won’t even recognize the mistakes you’re making. Grammatical/spelling/punctuation skills are like anything else; the more you practice, the better you get. The only way we communicate on a message board like this one is by the written word. When your communication is limited, I would suggest that it is in everyone’s interest to make that communication as accurate and precise as possible to minimize miscommunication. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-not-gonna-spell-properly-then-stick-it-up-youre-ass/232385.md?page=3)