# Let's all try to spell "hamsters" without a "P", shall we? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 8, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808 "2003-05-08T01:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/1 "2003-05-08T01:38:28Z")
This is really mundane and pointless, but I find I must share. I have noticed a disturbing trend of late of people on this very board, who should know better, spelling the word hamsters thus: hampsters. There is no such word. The proper spelling of the official SDMB animal is “hamster”. The little guys do so much for us, and they ask so little in return. Just food, fresh water, and clean cedar shavings every other day. We need to nip this trend in the bud, and this forum dedicated to fighting ignorance is the place to start. There is evidence that the “hampster” abomination is [on its way to becoming an accepted alternate spelling.](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=hampsters&btnG=Google+Search) BTW I looked in several online dictionaries and hampster wasn’t in any of them. If someone can find a reputable dictionary entry for it, I withdraw my rant. ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/2 "2003-05-08T01:50:25Z")
NO! HamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster hamPster hamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster HamPster hamPster hamPster ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/3 "2003-05-08T01:56:07Z")
The little guy who runs this board spells his name with a P. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/4 "2003-05-08T02:12:05Z")
Sorry, no. It’s **hamster**. The OP’s link is to a Google search on the incorrect spelling, which shows only that 9,280 pages have webmasters with limited spelling skills. Notice that the Google search asks, “Did you mean to Search for _hamsters_?” which returns 253,000 hits for the correct spelling. 3.6 percent hardly calls for stopping the presses at Merriam-Webster. And let’s please remember that Google searches are useful only as a general guide to usage, not a concrete reference. I’d surely be interested in a cite from a bona fide dictionary that allows “hampster” (because I seriously doubt that one exists). Neither of my Merriam-Websters has it. We don’t keep our cedar chips in your toilet – so please don’t P on the hamsters. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/5 "2003-05-08T02:19:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\*We don’t keep our cedar chips in your toilet – so please don’t P on the hamsters. Or something like that. \*\* Wow! That was _really_ bad! Well done! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/6 "2003-05-08T02:33:21Z")
There is a creature known as a Hampster: a student or graduate of Hampshire College. At least, that’s what we called ourselves. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/7 "2003-05-08T02:39:15Z")
Thanks, **Davebear,** I aim to please. (Must . . . refrain . . . can’t . . . resist . . . aaaaagh!) You aim too, please! :: Scarlett bitch-slaps herself, then goes to sit in the corner :: ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/8 "2003-05-08T03:08:55Z")
Oh my god, it really _is_ spelled hamster. Well, it’s official, my formerly championship spelling skills have gone to seed. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/9 "2003-05-08T03:09:45Z")
It is true. The guy in the wheel in the bowels of the Chicago Reader is named Hampster the Hamster. Sorry to break it to you. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/10 "2003-05-08T03:14:20Z")
I’ll accept that ONLY if he went to **paperbackwriter** ’s alma mater. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/11 "2003-05-08T03:17:32Z")
Biggirl is absolutely right. You’d better hope that Hampster doesn’t decide to take offense at your insistance at misspelling his name. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/12 "2003-05-08T03:33:05Z")
\ When my son was 3, we brought home a hamster. He gleefully shouted “Mouse!” We, rationally, explained that this was a hamster. “See the little tail?” “See, it’s bigger and fatter.” He, disdainfully, shouted “Mouse!” “No, honey, this is a hamster.” “Mouse.” “Hamster.” “MOUSE!” So, Mouse the hamster lived happily with us for several uneventful years. \ ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/13 "2003-05-08T03:55:35Z")
Can’t remember what thread I read it in, but way back when this board was started (AOL days), “hamsters” was misspelled as “hampsters” so often that it has become a sort of in-joke for some members of the board to spell it that way. And even if people are starting to horribly misspell “hamster” I still don’t see it as a big deal, just another blip in the evolution of language. Were there grammar Nazis before the twentieth century? ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/14 "2003-05-08T04:35:38Z")
Well, yes, but of course they weren’t called that. “But… but… does that mean I throw the trash in the Dumster?” ---
**Author:** ![Daughter\_Of\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Daughter\_Of\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daughter_Of_Arden)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/15 "2003-05-08T04:43:05Z")
Maybe we should ask the Mathis Bro.? (If you don’t know already you don’t want to) Wait, I don’t think they would know either. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/16 "2003-05-08T05:14:53Z")
I always figured that a hampster was a hamster that lived in a hamper. And I wouldn’t want to tamper with that, because hamsters in hampers kind of freak me out–puts a damper on things–and then I’m not a happy camper. Or a cappy hamper. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@Dragonstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonstar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/17 "2003-05-08T05:20:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BraheSilver \* > \*\*“But… but… does that mean I throw the trash in the Dumster?” \*\* No, silly, throw the stupid people in the Dumster. ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/18 "2003-05-08T05:54:33Z")
[1337]Ur teh looser, there called _HAMPSTERS_. this is rediculous.[/1337] ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/19 "2003-05-08T06:59:57Z")
The [Doctor](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2369007#post2369007) says his name is Hampster. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808/20 "2003-05-08T12:00:50Z")
> [@](#): > > and clean cedar shavings every other day \ Cedar shavings are [very bad](http://exoticpets.about.com/library/weekly/aa011501a.htm) for Hamsters…Aspen is the best kind to use. \ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-all-try-to-spell-hamsters-without-a-p-shall-we/173808.md?page=2)