# It's spelled "definitely", not "definately" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 30, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358 "2001-01-30T03:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/1 "2001-01-30T03:41:35Z")
Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/2 "2001-01-30T03:46:22Z")
Most definitely, Unnamed Man. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/3 "2001-01-30T03:46:26Z")
populace…not populous. independent…not independant. separate…not seperate. lose…not loose. (as in “lose your virginity”) …and so on. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/4 "2001-01-30T03:52:25Z")
Hey, “Unnamed Man” is actually cooler than the user name I’ve got. Maybe I’ll start going by that now. Oh, and on the subject of cool: when you spell it “kewl” you come off like some retarded refugee from a teen chat board. Please stop it. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/5 "2001-01-30T04:01:35Z")
And while we’re at it: **your** - belonging to you **you’re** - abbreviation of ‘you are’ **yours** - belonging to you (again) **your’s** - not a real word ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/6 "2001-01-30T04:07:32Z")
Also, there is no excuse by now not to know the difference between “then” and “than,” and “affect” and “effect.” Also, bone up on “there,” “they’re,” and “their.” (I’m just waiting for the first person in this thread to fall prey to Gaudere’s Rule. Hope it isn’t me.) ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/7 "2001-01-30T04:17:56Z")
I know, it’s so irratating. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/8 "2001-01-30T04:20:25Z")
Also, it’s “should’ve/would’ve/could’ve”, not “should _of_/etc.” It’s short for “should _have_”, in case it isn’t glaringly obvious. “Should of” is nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/9 "2001-01-30T04:21:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*I know, it’s so irratating. \*\* There’s always gotta be a smart-ass. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/10 "2001-01-30T04:22:24Z")
**Cranky** , don’t make me hurt you. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/11 "2001-01-30T04:28:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by woodstockbirdybird \* > \*\*Hey, “Unnamed Man” is actually cooler than the user name I’ve got. Maybe I’ll start going by that now. > Oh, and on the subject of cool: when you spell it “kewl” you come off like some retarded refugee from a teen chat board. Please stop it. \*\* I cannot see the spelling “kewl” without IMMEDIATELY thinking of Eric Cartman. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/12 "2001-01-30T06:57:07Z")
and it’s hella not wicked. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/13 "2001-01-30T10:52:08Z")
What everyone else said. **Lux Fiat** , what is Gaudere’s Rule? ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/14 "2001-01-30T13:12:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by oldscratch \* > \*\*and it’s hella not wicked. \*\* It is so wicked. Don’t listen to **Oldie**. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/15 "2001-01-30T13:28:39Z")
Hey Lux,get back here. WTF is Gaudere’s rule. Me and Carina42 wishes to nose. anyone wanna clere this up? ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/16 "2001-01-30T13:40:55Z")
Oooh!! \ Can I add my grammar peeve? 😃 My best friend continually messes up the usage of “when” vs. “whenever”. When refers to a specific event…whenever refers to a unspecific event. For instance, it is correct to say “When I went to the store today, I bought bread.” or “Whenever I go to the store, I buy bread.” It is **not** correct to say “Whenever I went to the store today, I bought bread.” Grrrrrr… ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/17 "2001-01-30T14:23:24Z")
For all of the above, I apologize. :(:(☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/18 "2001-01-30T15:19:25Z")
I also apologize for the definately/definitely debacle. It’s one of those words I’ve never been able to spell. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/19 "2001-01-30T16:49:04Z")
**it’s book** =it is book (which makes no sense). **its book** = it is in possession of a book. Any others we should clear up? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358/20 "2001-01-30T17:00:45Z")
If I may add… The words you’re looking for are **a lot** not **alot**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-spelled-definitely-not-definately/52358.md?page=2)