# Those things that stop your car are not BREAKS, you moron! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 23, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719 "2009-06-23T14:46:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/1 "2009-06-23T14:46:22Z")
I’ve seen a few people online mis-refer to their car brakes as “breaks” over the years. All of a sudden, this error is everywhere, including at the SDMB! Cut it out, morons! If you need a “break job”, I would be happy to do the honors with a baseball bat! ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/2 "2009-06-23T14:50:55Z")
Don’t loose your temper so easily. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/3 "2009-06-23T14:53:16Z")
I really don’t understand a lot of common misspellings and incorrect usages. If I had a nickel for every incorrect “your” I’d be fucking set. Do people not read? Anything? It’s how I picked up the right way to spell common words. I’m not perfect but come on. Even if you read signs while you drive but never books or anything, you should see plenty of car repair places advertising BRAKES that you think you’d pick it up eventually. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/4 "2009-06-23T14:54:13Z")
Yesterday we saw an example of a sheriff who had used his “breaks”. He broke several trees and shredded some bushes as he crossed the median at what must have been a fairly high rate of speed. He also broke the windshield of his cruiser into a lot of fragments that were luckily clinging together. Since he was obviously okay it was fairly amusing. It was also fun to speculate how he might explain his bad “breaks” to his commanding occifer. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/5 "2009-06-23T14:58:10Z")
Their just mistakes. Don’t let it affect you to much… its going too addle you’re brain. 😛 (And yes, seriously, I totally agree with you. It sets my teeth on edge; that and lose/loose. As one who all too often has to go back and edit for your/you’re and their/there/they’re, I can’t get **too** worked up about those, though :o) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/6 "2009-06-23T15:01:30Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > Their just mistakes. Don’t let it affect you to much… its going too addle you’re brain. 😛 Don’t you mean _effect_? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/7 "2009-06-23T15:07:13Z")
What happens when your brakes break? On the way to the brake shop ,you are driving breaks. (at least brokens) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/8 "2009-06-23T15:09:15Z")
I don’t see this problem to often. I think its a thing of the passed. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/9 "2009-06-23T15:09:25Z")
[Braking news!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=514467&highlight=brakes) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/10 "2009-06-23T15:11:30Z")
The brakes/breaks typo makes me all stabby, too. Note that there are no deliberate typos in this post. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/11 "2009-06-23T15:22:42Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Don’t you mean _effect_? D’oh! :smack: 😃 > [@Anaamika](#): > > Note that there are no deliberate typos in this post. You’re such a Spoilsport 😛 That is, I mean, “Your such a Spoilsport” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/12 "2009-06-23T15:22:54Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > Do people not read? Anything? It’s how I picked up the right way to spell common words. Since when does reading have anything to do with knowing or caring how words are spelled? I don’t look at letters when I read. I look at words. Clusters of them. Just like most people who can read without sounding out each word aloud as they struggle through a sentence. If anyone wants to feel all big and smart every time he or she notices someone else’s misspelling, go for it. Me? I’ve got better things to do. If I need to make sure something is mistake-free, that’s what our editors get paid (poorly) to do. Gotta run. More drug candidates to isolate. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/13 "2009-06-23T15:24:28Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Don’t you mean _effect_? Eye thank you bean woo-shed. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/14 "2009-06-23T15:25:50Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Since when does reading have anything to do with knowing or caring how words are spelled? I don’t look at letters when I read. I look at words. Clusters of them. Just like most people who can read without sounding out each word aloud as they struggle through a sentence. If anyone wants to feel all big and smart every time he or she notices someone else’s misspelling, go for it. Me? I’ve got better things to do. If I need to make sure something is mistake-free, that’s what our editors get paid (poorly) to do. > > Gotta run. More drug candidates to isolate. your sew rite ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/15 "2009-06-23T15:26:49Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Eye thank you bean woo-shed. Nah, she’s right, I missed the misspelling :smack: “Affect” is actually the **correct** spelling of verb, which I (quite obviously) put in by mistake… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/16 "2009-06-23T15:30:39Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Yesterday we saw an example of a sheriff who had used his “breaks”. He broke several trees and shredded some bushes as he crossed the median at what must have been a fairly high rate of speed. He also broke the windshield of his cruiser into a lot of fragments that were luckily clinging together. Since he was obviously okay it was fairly amusing. It was also fun to speculate how he might explain his bad “breaks” to his commanding occifer. I think you mean a Sheriff’s deputy. Sheriffs don’t have commanding officers. > [@Anaamika](#): > > The brakes/breaks typo makes me all stabby, too. We know. Somebody linked to your thread about this already. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/17 "2009-06-23T15:31:17Z")
I would of been very unhappy if I’d seen someone use this misspelling today. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/18 "2009-06-23T15:41:50Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Since when does reading have anything to do with knowing or caring how words are spelled? I don’t look at letters when I read. I look at words. Clusters of them. Just like most people who can read without sounding out each word aloud as they struggle through a sentence. If anyone wants to feel all big and smart every time he or she notices someone else’s misspelling, go for it. Me? I’ve got better things to do. If I need to make sure something is mistake-free, that’s what our editors get paid (poorly) to do. > > Gotta run. More drug candidates to isolate. But it’s not spelling. It’s the wrong word! It’s the same thing I said in my other thread. It’s the wrong word, and that means something. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/19 "2009-06-23T15:53:27Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I’ve seen a few people online mis-refer to their car brakes as “breaks” over the years. All of a sudden, this error is everywhere, including at the SDMB! > > Cut it out, morons! If you need a “break job”, I would be happy to do the honors with a baseball bat! Thats rediculous. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719/20 "2009-06-23T15:57:12Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > Nah, she’s right, I missed the misspelling :smack: “Affect” is actually the **correct** spelling of verb, which I (quite obviously) put in by mistake… 😃 Just wanted to give you the opportunity to add one more misteak. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-things-that-stop-your-car-are-not-breaks-you-moron/500719.md?page=2)