# The most frequently misspelled words online (your spelling pet peeves) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158 "2003-02-01T20:53:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/1 "2003-02-01T20:53:02Z")
If you’re a “speling notsee” like me, you can’t help noticing misspelled words everyplace online these days. Message boards, e-mail, web pages, blogs, newsgroups, etc. Before I got online, I was used to reading mainly printed text that an editor had already cleaned up. Once online, you see the unmediated semiliteracy of our nation full force. So let’s list here the most frequent spelling errors we see all the time, in hopes that the misspellers will read the list and wise up. (Yes—you! You know who you are!) [ul]\*\* [li]it’s\*\* (used as a possessive)**[/li][li]Ghandi[/li][li]tounge[/li][li]definately[/li][li]rediculous[/li][li]anti-Semetic**[/li][/ul] I don’t know why, but there’s just something about these words especially that is impervious to corrections, no matter how many times they’re corrected by well-meaning “speling notsees.” Jomo (wondering if this thread will turn into a big Gaudere-fest). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/2 "2003-02-01T20:57:06Z")
The cite/site/sight interchangeable\* trio. Pretty much any group of homonyms. (Which includes the its/it’s pair.) (\*why isn’t this word in my dictionary?) ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/3 "2003-02-01T20:58:36Z")
Theirs to many of tehm. Wiegh two many! Chow. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/4 "2003-02-01T21:37:44Z")
Definately. Alot. I think “tehm” qualifies as a typo, rather than a spelling error. Same goes for “teh” “becasue” and “amy” (as in “I amy go see that movie.”) ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/5 "2003-02-01T21:55:43Z")
It annoys me to see “lose” spelled “loose” and “rogue” spelled “rouge”. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/6 "2003-02-01T21:56:58Z")
I follow a bowhunting message board. A lot of guys talk about “knocking” an arrow (instead of nocking). Drives me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![thi6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@thi6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thi6)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/7 "2003-02-01T21:57:20Z")
The two that immediately jump to my mind are “loose” instead of “lose” and “your” instead of “you’re.” I make my share of mistakes, but those two irritate me to no end. thi6 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Wrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Mr.Wrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Wrong)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/8 "2003-02-01T22:20:52Z")
Thank you, **thi6** , the “your/you’re” thing is so epidemic, I find myself questioning whether, just maybe, I’ve got it wrong. Screws with my head. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/9 "2003-02-01T22:26:24Z")
“Hey u goat-felcher!” It’s “Hey, you goat-felcher.” YOU! NOT U! FELCH! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/10 "2003-02-01T22:27:51Z")
Oh yeah, **“loose”** replacing “lose”. I forgot that one. Thanks, **Kat** and **thi6**. That has got to be the second worst offender of all, after “it’s”! Also, “you’re” has got to be near the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/11 "2003-02-01T22:34:25Z")
Cliche. It’s ‘this movie is cliched’, not ‘this movie is cliche’. Drives me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/12 "2003-02-01T22:55:17Z")
Your/you’re Effect/affect Misplaced apostrophes (its/it’s, depending on context) MISUSED QUOTATION MARKS!!! Example: This ice cream is “excellent.” All of these make me crazy. Especially the apostrophe and quotation mark errors. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/13 "2003-02-01T23:13:00Z")
I am alway’s astounded that normaly rational people get so bent outta shape by the english used in a vernaculer sense. I don’t think poster’s need to get to worked up over this sort of thing… ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/14 "2003-02-01T23:14:31Z")
Speach. ---
**Author:** ![Monalisa9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@Monalisa9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monalisa9)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/15 "2003-02-01T23:14:43Z")
'rabbit, you stole my thunder…there is a sign on a business near me that says “Ballons” for “Rent” ! Not only are the quotation marks unnecessary, but one doesn’t rent these ballons, the person whose job it is to deliver the ballons I suppose was rented, but not the balloons. I pointed this out to the proprietors of the business, but they were strangely disinterested in what I had to say. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/16 "2003-02-01T23:39:20Z")
A typo rather than a misspelling but I see it all the time, **don;t**. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/17 "2003-02-01T23:50:39Z")
Signs observed around town: “Restaurant, fully equiped” and “Facility equipted completely”. _Grumble_ why isn’t there a literacy test for sign painters? My personal peeve (in addition to those listed) is the interchange of good and well. You did good. (Oh, really? Was that working with Habitat for Humanity, by chance?) Grr. ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/18 "2003-02-01T23:59:31Z")
Discreet/discrete “Refute” used as a synonym for “deny” “U” for you - (just looks childish to me) But more, much more than this, exclamation marks!! All over the place!! For no particular reason! And even used instead of question marks!!! BTW, why do I ALWAYS type Britian for Britain? ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/19 "2003-02-02T00:06:42Z")
The most amusing mistake I’ve seen may not count as a spelling error, but it is worth mentioning nonetheless. In a real estate ad, a house advertised with **“all immunities”.** Yeah, I like my dwelling to be vaccinated before I move in. I know “amenities” is a tough word, but OMG, have a clue. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158/20 "2003-02-02T00:43:01Z")
I was just thinking about this topic last night. The part that bothers me most about frequent misspellings isn’t the actual misspelling, but that as a result, I start questioning my own spelling on words I never would have in the past. The loose/lose is a great example. I now find myself double checking and had never felt the need to do this before. The last time I posted in one of these threads, my top vote went to ect./etc. I make my share of mistakes so I can’t say this drives me ballistic, but I do flinch on that one occasionally. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-misspelled-words-online-your-spelling-pet-peeves/152158.md?page=2)