words; Options

[Smarmosaur]

what are some words you get mixed up? (other then they're/there/their and you're/your and such)

i get my "american" and english words mixed up a lot. i started thinking about it because of the whole realized topic.
i find myself using a lot of english words, even though i grew up in the US. (i'm 100% scottish)
my most common ones are color/colour and realized/realised.

[jaeman]

I have a tendency to spell out "theatre" over "theater." Aside from the words, I had to get used to the American style of using punctuation marks, especially at the end of a sentence because I got used to the British style.

For example:

American: When it comes to periods and quotes at the end of a sentence, the American style requires you to put the last punctuation mark within the "quotations."

British: When it comes to periods and quotes at the end of a sentence, the British style requires you to put the last punctuation mark after the "quotations".

[Smarmosaur]

really? that's one i didn't know. my mom still uses the english way.

[synthase]

Oh gosh when I was in 5th grade I thought "emo" was "emu" so I would be like, "What?! That kid doesn't look like an animal"

[MissHygienic]

I don't really get confused, but I hate alternative spellings that is "accepted" anyway.

Travelled/traveled
Cancelled/canceled

I think, after about junior high, people need to get "their/they're/there" down.

I also don't like it when Americans who don't speak French use French expressions AND MESS IT UP. It's painful to witness, and it's an insult to me. I don't butcher their language, and they probably should not do it to mine.

[deplorable]

in canada the proper way to say "z" is zed. i always pronounce it the good ol' american way zee

also, i always say "h' as hey-ch, rather than hai-ch. people never fail to point it out. i mean how lame are you if you can pick out one tiny, barely noticable lisp? urgh. ha ha

[tokyo-rose]

I also don't like it when Americans who don't speak French use French expressions AND MESS IT UP. It's painful to witness, and it's an insult to me. I don't butcher their language, and they probably should not do it to mine.

For example, it's pronounced "Oh la la," NOT "Oooh la la."

[MissHygienic]

For example, it's pronounced "Oh la la," NOT "Oooh la la."

There are so, so many of them that Americans screw up. If you don't know how to use it, then you probably shouldn't.

The most recent screw-up that was painful was a misspelling. "Crem de la crem," instead of "crème de la crème." Oh, it hurts and the error just made her look like a jackass. "Crem."

[Cattt]

I always think that century is spelled centuary for some reason.

[DoubleJ]

There are so, so many of them that Americans screw up. If you don't know how to use it, then you probably shouldn't.

The most recent screw-up that was painful was a misspelling. "Crem de la crem," instead of "crème de la crème." Oh, it hurts and the error just made her look like a jackass. "Crem."

I am going to sound very dumb, but how do you get that special looking e like that? I have been trying to figure that out for years.

[MissHygienic]

Alt + 0232, baby. I know it by heart.

[jaeman]

Alt + 0232, baby. I know it by heart.

I try to memorize some ALT codes here and there too.

For the record, I remember I had a real tough time spelling "purpose" in the 3rd grade. For some reason I always put down "porpoise" and the teacher always that I was trying to write a story about a dolphin.

[kawaiiPANDA]

=='
I don't even know how I write..
I guess I change all the time.. gets confusing especially for me.

[Smarmosaur]

oh! speaking of french and such!
i got a PM from a chick saying my signature should be Je rêve à toi, not de. which one is it?
i told her if she could find a website with a good explanation of it, i would change it. but i got the "quote" from a book and i looked it up (just to make sure it was right) and everywhere i looked assured me it was "de".

[jaeman]

oh! speaking of french and such!
i got a PM from a chick saying my signature should be Je rêve à toi, not de. which one is it?
i told her if she could find a website with a good explanation of it, i would change it. but i got the "quote" from a book and i looked it up (just to make sure it was right) and everywhere i looked assured me it was "de".

I don't know French but "de" sounds cooler.

[kawaiiPANDA]

I don't know French but "de" sounds cooler.

Mmmm I concur =)

[1angel3]

oh! speaking of french and such!
i got a PM from a chick saying my signature should be Je rêve à toi, not de. which one is it?
i told her if she could find a website with a good explanation of it, i would change it. but i got the "quote" from a book and i looked it up (just to make sure it was right) and everywhere i looked assured me it was "de".

I am curious. What does it mean?

[Crash2]

I mispronounce irrelevant. I usually say "irrevalent" the first time.

[jaeman]

I mispronounce irrelevant. I usually say "irrevalent" the first time.

Especially words like "perspective" and "prospective", "perception" and "preception."

[MissHygienic]

oh! speaking of french and such!
i got a PM from a chick saying my signature should be Je rêve à toi, not de. which one is it?
i told her if she could find a website with a good explanation of it, i would change it. but i got the "quote" from a book and i looked it up (just to make sure it was right) and everywhere i looked assured me it was "de".

I don't know who this girl is, but tell her that she's absolutely wrong in her usage, and she should probably learn her English rules before she corrects someone's French. Oh, and that she's an idiot. There is no possible way it could be "à" unless "dream" was used in a different way as to describe a manner or characteristic. You're right, and it's de.

[jaeman]

I don't know who this girl is, but tell her that she's absolutely wrong in her usage, and she should probably learn her English rules before she corrects someone's French. Oh, and that she's an idiot. There is no possible way it could be "à" unless "dream" was used in a different way as to describe a manner or characteristic. You're right, and it's de.

Show them who's boss!

[MissHygienic]

Show them who's boss!

Damned right. I get irritated when I see people who come out of high school with four years of foreign language and think they are hot shit.

[Smarmosaur]

Damned right. I get irritated when I see people who come out of high school with four years of foreign language and think they are hot shit.

my school only offers spanish. i do try to teach myself a little french every now and then, though. (don't hate me...? :] )

I am curious. What does it mean?

I dream of you. :]

[MissHygienic]

my school only offers spanish. i do try to teach myself a little french every now and then, though. (don't hate me...? :] )

You're cool with me.

I'm pretty positive, though, the girl who attempted to correct your French wasn't a native French speaker. Or she was in Year 3 and thought she knew it all.

[lkajsfklajskds]

i get mixed up with commas and the word and. for example:

for lunch i had a sandwich, coke, and a bag or chips.
or is it
for lunch i had a sandwich, coke and a bag of chips.

this thing kills me in school! because the teachers dont seem to notice, but when we take the state exams, you can get points off.
personally, i think the first one makes more sense.

[MissHygienic]

i get mixed up with commas and the word and. for example:

for lunch i had a sandwich, coke, and a bag or chips.
or is it
for lunch i had a sandwich, coke and a bag of chips.

It's never the second one, by the way. The second one is for those lazy f****ts who have no sense of what the comma is for and think that it's okay to make it seem as if the last two items are a unit when it should be separated.

Use the first, and this goes for anybody who think the second one is correct.

Reference: http://www.swcp.com/info/essays/serial-comma.htm

[austinoutloud]

ah, how i love grammar.
but i spell a lot of things the british way too.
especially colour, favourite, and theatre.

It's never the second one, by the way. The second one is for those lazy f****ts who have no sense of what the comma is for and think that it's okay to make it seem as if the last two items are a unit when it should be separated.

Use the first, and this goes for anybody who think the second one is correct.

edit: you use the second one in journalism. it saves space :)

[MissHygienic]

Eh, however they choose it. I don't think the fact that it's for journalism should be an exception to the rules.

[austinoutloud]

Amen to that. There is this entire book of exceptions to grammar rules for journalism, and they all bug the crap out of me. (I'm in a journalism class)

[MissHygienic]

Oh, tell me about it. I wouldn't be so uptight about this if I didn't see mistakes and exceptions to the English language all over the place. Not to mention all of the alternative spellings because we sample from every language around the world.

You and I should start a revolution, starting here on CreateBlog to improve grammar, style, and punctuation.

[jaeman]

Is this a grammar and punctuation usage debate!?

[tokyo-rose]

I am going to sound very dumb, but how do you get that special looking e like that? I have been trying to figure that out for years.

Alt + 0232, baby. I know it by heart.

Of if you're lazy, open up Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, go to Symbols, and copy and paste.

oh! speaking of french and such!
i got a PM from a chick saying my signature should be Je rêve à toi, not de. which one is it?
i told her if she could find a website with a good explanation of it, i would change it. but i got the "quote" from a book and i looked it up (just to make sure it was right) and everywhere i looked assured me it was "de".

I know this was cleared up already, but "de" is right. "Je rêve à toi" means "I dream to you," so I don't know what her deal was. O_o

Ah, the Oxford comma. I'm so accustomed to using it; it makes me feel funny not to.

[DoubleJ]

see sea Not me, but I know people who do.

[JCLore]

im australian
and ive lived here all my life
but i have american books at school
so

Meter/Metre
Liter/litre
Center/Centre
Color/Colour
etc

[DoubleJ]

Dessert and Desert I got that one confused for a quick min.

[JCLore]

Jupiter and Saurn

[DoubleJ]

Jupiter and Saurn

WHAT THE f**k! LMAO

[jaeman]

Uranus and your anus.

Just kidding, that doesn't even make sense.

[DoubleJ]

Uranus and your anus.

Just kidding, that doesn't even make sense.

meet meat

[JCLore]

WHAT THE f**k! LMAO

hey i dunno
i just sit there trying to remember which has the rings
i still don't know

[jaeman]

hey i dunno
i just sit there trying to remember which has the rings
i still don't know

For the record, Saturn has the bigger ring.

[JCLore]

For the record, Saturn has the bigger ring.

oh ok
wait does that mean that they both have rings??

[jaeman]

oh ok
wait does that mean that they both have rings??

Yep, they both have rings.

[MissHygienic]

NEWS FLASH: PLUTO IS NO LONGER A PLANET.

Is anyone else as distressed as I am? My life changed then.

[*Steven*]

Hasn't been a planet for a while.

[MissHygienic]

Oh, yeah, I knew about it for a while. I just spoke of it in present tense since we were on the subject of planets.

[Jennifer]

im australian
and ive lived here all my life
but i have american books at school

Eh same here. I've always been accustomed to the English way, (colour, favourite, realised) but as I'm getting older I'm basically just using the first way that comes to mind. Plus nearly all the books I read are American, so then that way of spelling sticks in my head more.

One of the main words though, is center/centre. Gets me everytime I'll sit there for minutes thinking which one I should use haha

[MissHygienic]

One of the main words though, is center/centre. Gets me everytime I'll sit there for minutes thinking which one I should use haha

Speaking of which, "every time" is two words.

[jaeman]

NEWS FLASH: PLUTO IS NO LONGER A PLANET.

Is anyone else as distressed as I am? My life changed then.

When they announced Pluto was no longer a planet, I immediately thought, "They're going to start rewriting the science books! I better keep my old one, so when I'm a fraile, old man, I can tell children that Pluto was once a planet and I'll get weird looks and reactons."

[JCLore]

Eh same here. I've always been accustomed to the English way, (colour, favourite, realised) but as I'm getting older I'm basically just using the first way that comes to mind. Plus nearly all the books I read are American, so then that way of spelling sticks in my head more.

One of the main words though, is center/centre. Gets me everytime I'll sit there for minutes thinking which one I should use haha

the -er and -re is a big one for most ppl

[deplorable]

oh! speaking of french and such!
i got a PM from a chick saying my signature should be Je rêve à toi, not de. which one is it?
i told her if she could find a website with a good explanation of it, i would change it. but i got the "quote" from a book and i looked it up (just to make sure it was right) and everywhere i looked assured me it was "de".

i speak french. and you are actually both right. its just a matter of what you consider proper and what you consider slang.
you really can't translate word for word.

[tokyo-rose]

Speaking of which, "every time" is two words.

It annoys me that most of the people I talk to don't know it's two words, but I've learned to ignore it otherwise I would have killed somebody by now. ERGH. I blame it on Britney Spears's song "Everytime."

[MissHygienic]

It annoys me that most of the people I talk to don't know it's two words, but I've learned to ignore it otherwise I would have killed somebody by now. ERGH. I blame it on Britney Spears's song "Everytime."

I blame it on her, too. You would expect something "published" to be correct, but no, everyone screws it up.

Same with "every day," except when it's used in the right context. "Every day" is normally two words unless you're using it as an adjective of sorts. Like, your everyday clothes. But not the clothes you wear every day. God.

[tokyo-rose]

I blame it on her, too. You would expect something "published" to be correct, but no, everyone screws it up.

Same with "every day," except when it's used in the right context. "Every day" is normally two words unless you're using it as an adjective of sorts. Like, your everyday clothes. But not the clothes you wear every day. God.

I'm sure that people used "everytime" as one word before her song came out, but it was then that people assumed it must be one word since song titles are supposed to be right. Pft.

"Everyday" vs. "every day" just depresses me. I've given up trying to teach people the difference between the two.

...we're such grammar freaks.

[MissHygienic]

I'm sure that people used "everytime" as one word before her song came out, but it was then that people assumed it must be one word since song titles are supposed to be right. Pft.

"Everyday" vs. "every day" just depresses me. I've given up trying to teach people the difference between the two.

...we're such grammar snobs.

It hurts me when people mess it up constantly. Where have you been all of my life?! I've never met anyone who was on the same level as me about this grammar shit.

There are a ton of mistakes that I'm sure you and I agree about, but I've learned to accept their ignorance. We need to start some grammar revolution.

[tokyo-rose]

It hurts me when people mess it up constantly. Where have you been all of my life?! I've never met anyone who was on the same level as me about this grammar shit.

There are a ton of mistakes that I'm sure you and I agree about, but I've learned to accept their ignorance. We need to start some grammar revolution.

You hadn't joined CreateBlog yet! It's fate.
I've only met one other person who's as much of a freak about it as I am.

It annoys me so much to see people using commas where semicolons or colons would be correct, especially in long sentences. End comma abuse!

[MissHygienic]

You hadn't joined CreateBlog yet! It's fate.
I've only met one other person who's as much of a freak about it as I am.

It annoys me so much to see people using commas where semicolons or colons would be correct, especially in long sentences. End comma abuse!

Or when people use semicolons incorrectly because that always happens, and it's chic now to replace commas with semicolons.

Who's/Whose
Who/Whom

All incorrect usage bothers me. I see it too often here on CreateBlog.

[ChristyChaos]

I mix up words just because of my clumsy hands!
I do have problems with putting commas before the word
"too" when I shouldn't.

I've always envied English grammar, though. Words such
as "favourite" and "colour" are just, so.. awesome?
Gah, I'm random.

[jaeman]

From what I've seen on the forums lately, some people need to pay more attention in English class.

[tokyo-rose]

Or when people use semicolons incorrectly because that always happens, and it's chic now to replace commas with semicolons.

Ah, yeah, especially when they're doubled like this with a space before them ;;
It doesn't even look good!

[LoveToMySilas]

I really hate 's, I never know where or when to put them. Ayeayeaye.

[Smarmosaur]

You hadn't joined CreateBlog yet! It's fate.
I've only met one other person who's as much of a freak about it as I am.

It annoys me so much to see people using commas where semicolons or colons would be correct, especially in long sentences. End comma abuse!

or the other way around...

[jaeman]

Ah, yeah, especially when they're doubled like this with a space before them ;;
It doesn't even look good!

Everybody who's anybody does that ;; !

[tokyo-rose]

Everybody who's anybody does that ;; !

Obviously.

It confuses me why people use "anyday" as one word. Unlike "everyday" and "every day," there is no one-word form. It's always "any day."

[MissHygienic]

Obviously.

It confuses me why people use "anyday" as one word. Unlike "everyday" and "every day," there is no one-word form. It's always "any day."

You tell 'em, girl.

What about the hyphen? No one knows how to use it.

"Self esteem."
"Self worth."
"12 years old."
"Ex boyfriend."
"Non Asian."

[tokyo-rose]

Omg, that too.

Actually, it's correct if you say "She is 12 years old." It's "She is a 12-year-old" that requires hyphens. :)

Then there's using hyphens when they aren't needed, like "non-existent" and "non-stop." I don't know if it annoys me more when people never use them or when they're used where they don't apply.

[MissHygienic]

It's so much more annoying when people don't apply them when they should because I see it much more often. Commas are abused, hyphens are not.

The improper use of effect/affect also bothers me. People can never seem to get that one correct.

I've also seen, "would of," "should of," and "could of" a lot around here. That just hurts me. I thought that mistake ended a long time ago.

[tokyo-rose]

I've also seen, "would of," "should of," and "could of" a lot around here. That just hurts me. I thought that mistake ended a long time ago.

I can understand that error up until the person writing it is a certain age. It bothers me that high schoolers still make that mistake.

Another one of my favorites is "anymore" vs. "any more"; similar to "everyday" vs. "every day." People just don't know that "anymore" is about time and "any more" is about quantity.
Anymore: "I can't eat this anymore."
Any more: "I can't eat any more of this." TWO WORDS.

[Crash2]

The improper use of effect/affect also bothers me. People can never seem to get that one correct.

I've seen teachers make this mistake, which is sad.

I see people use "alot" instead of "a lot" and confuse lose/loose.

[jaeman]

The improper use of effect/affect also bothers me. People can never seem to get that one correct.

That's very annoying.

[tokyo-rose]

I see people use "alot" instead of "a lot" and confuse lose/loose.

"Alot" just pisses me off. My first- or second-grade teacher drilled it into my and my classmates' heads that it's two words; I assume that other teachers would have done the same for their students. sfasdjdjdl

[MissHygienic]

"Alot" just pisses me off. My first- or second-grade teacher drilled it into my and my classmates' heads that it's two words; I assume that other teachers would have done the same for their students. sfasdjdjdl

You assumption is far from reality. Fewer teachers take the time to teach grammar to their students. Most adults today wouldn't know what a proper noun is or a prepositional phrase or even a clause. I did not learn grammar through school, needless to say.

I keep seeing nonsensical errors around on the internet. "Eachother," or "atleast," or words that were never meant to be put together.

"All together" and "altogether" are different, as well, speaking of which.

[tokyo-rose]

You assumption is far from reality. Fewer teachers take the time to teach grammar to their students. Most adults today wouldn't know what a proper noun is or a prepositional phrase or even a clause. I did not learn grammar through school, needless to say.

I keep seeing nonsensical errors around on the internet. "Eachother," or "atleast," or words that were never meant to be put together.

Hm, yeah. I guess that's why it's called elementary school instead of grammar school now. :/ I think we should consider ourselves lucky that we have a good grasp of grammar (yay, alliteration!).

You're bringing up a lot of my pet peeves! Both the phrases you listed really annoy me when they're used as one word. So does "bestfriend."

[jaeman]

You assumption is far from reality. Fewer teachers take the time to teach grammar to their students. Most adults today wouldn't know what a proper noun is or a prepositional phrase or even a clause. I did not learn grammar through school, needless to say.

I keep seeing nonsensical errors around on the internet. "Eachother," or "atleast," or words that were never meant to be put together.

"All together" and "altogether" are different, as well, speaking of which.

You should get an English teaching credential and show people the way, especially with the future generations that grow up with sticky caps and cellphone texting language.

[tokyo-rose]

Lmso, MissHygienic and I should teach together.
GRAMMAR FOR THE MASSES!

[coconutter]

I lways made fun of my boyfriend when he said zed. I was like spelling xabra or something and he said zee?

I'm like what the hell is zed.

[MissHygienic]

You should get an English teaching credential and show people the way, especially with the future generations that grow up with sticky caps and cellphone texting language.

I've considered such things, but I can't deal with whiny parents who don't believe that children should focus so much on grammar/English, but a combination of counting/clapping games/recesses/nap time. Give me a break; I really can't deal.

[tokyo-rose]

"Supposedly, "supposively," and "supposably."

Ladies and gents, only the first one is right.

[MissHygienic]

"Complement" versus "compliment."

There is a difference, people.

[tokyo-rose]

"Complement" versus "compliment."

There is a difference, people.

Mhm. Colors complement each other; people give compliments.

[livwho]

Meh.

I hate that most people don't know how to spell "experience" and "definitely".

[JCLore]

i hate it when you think about the stucture of a word for so long, that it just sounds wrong or weird, or even when theres a really easy word but you just cant remember how to spell it.

[xoxo_proud]

experience/experiance

I write theatre instead of theater

I also get 'to' and 'too' mixed up.

[JCLore]

I write theatre instead of theater

there big ones
anything with either -re or -er
its like
why did they have to make the same word but spell it differently on the opposite side of the world

[xoxo_proud]

I know. I always have a tendency to spell some words the English way

There's actually some really big differences in spelling.

I also write dialogue.

[JCLore]

oh yea haha
actually a friend and i talked about that yesterday
dialogue - dialog
we could't remember which was the English one

[xoxo_proud]

I had no idea that dialog was the American spelling. I always thought dialogue was right!

Well it is right but not in the US

[JCLore]

haha
so dialog is the american spelling?

[tokyo-rose]

I hate that most people don't know how to spell "experience" and "definitely".

The numerous misspellings for "definitely" infuriate me. It is not "definately" (the most common misspelling), "deffinitely," "deffinately," "definatly," "definitley," "defiantly" (my favorite, because it's actually a whole other word), or whatever else you can come up with.

DEFINITELY. One "F," no "A"!