# What's the deal with all the people spelling coworker as cow-orker?or funny spellings

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 7, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558 "2003-02-07T20:58:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/1 "2003-02-07T20:58:57Z")

</div>

Do they bother your cows? The cow-irker that is.

What are your spelling pet peaves?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/2 "2003-02-07T21:09:16Z")

</div>

I absolutely hate pee soup. 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cyrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Cyrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyrin)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/3 "2003-02-07T21:11:00Z")

</div>

Then a cop whizzed by me with it’s lights flashing and a very loud Çyrin blaring!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/4 "2003-02-07T21:18:38Z")

</div>

Cow-orker is apparently something from the _Dilbert_ comic series.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/5 "2003-02-07T21:19:43Z")

</div>

[Here.](http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/c/cow_orker.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/6 "2003-02-07T21:20:35Z")

</div>

I believe they may, to some extent, dislike or disrespect the people with whom they work.

[sub]and it’s [/sub]peeves.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/7 "2003-02-07T21:23:31Z")

</div>

I’m sorry, but I just can’t except that answer.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/8 "2003-02-07T21:27:54Z")

</div>

[http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/c/cow\_orker.html](http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/c/cow_orker.html)

It started on Usenet. I first noticed it in alt.folklore.urban, where the “cow-orker” in question was generally someone who enjoyed spreading or forwarding ridiculous urban legends. Looks like Scott Adams picked up on it, and its use has spread.

It would be like seeing “3. Hi Opal!” outside this message board.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MrPeabody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@MrPeabody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrPeabody)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-all-the-people-spelling-coworker-as-cow-orker-or-funny-spellings/153558/9 "2003-02-07T21:43:13Z")

</div>

Most of the people who use the spelling cow-orker are members of the DNRC.

If you are not a member, lets just say your future employment will never be in doubt. 🙂