Pet peeve #523

***Craig*** · 08-21-2002 12:37 PM

I really hate it when people use the incorrect word for what they are trying to say/write. I think that spell checking features in email and word processing programs are to blame for my latest pet peeve:

Using "loose" when "lose" is the appropriate word.

loose (transitive verb)

To let loose; release: loosed the dogs. </li>
To make loose; undo: loosed his belt. </li>
To cast loose; detach: hikers loosing their packs at camp. </li>
To let fly; discharge: loosed an arrow. </li>
To release pressure or obligation from; absolve: loosed her from the responsibility. </li>
To make less strict; relax: a leader's strong authority that was loosed by easy times.
</li>

lose (transitive verb)

To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; mislay: He's always losing his car keys.
</li>
To be deprived of (something one has had): lost her art collection in the fire; lost her job. </li>
To be left alone or desolate because of the death of: lost his wife. </li>
To be unable to keep alive: a doctor who has lost very few patients. </li>
To be unable to keep control or allegiance of: lost his temper at the meeting; is losing supporters by changing his mind. </li>
To fail to win; fail in: lost the game; lost the court case. </li>
To fail to use or take advantage of: Don't lose a chance to improve your position.
</li>

Okay. Done with my rant for the day.
Cheers,
Craig

**sallearmourer** · 08-21-2002 01:05 PM

I must drive you insane with my spelling. Even spell check goes blank on me.

Tim

PS When possible my daughter will read over my shoulder and correct my spelling

**HilandDoug** · 08-21-2002 01:14 PM

Craig, you and I must have had similar high school English teachers. Oet Peeve #1? Use of the apostrophy for plural, rather than to show ownership. I lose (spelled correctly) all respect for those that don't get it right. Sure sign of low intellect.

**counter riposte** · 08-21-2002 01:15 PM

I don't want to go on a rant here but:

He has cast loose the dogs of war and cast aside all obligations to lose with honor and civility to his fellow webchatters. Keeping one's spirit alive in the desire to continue to chat, the loss of such loosely held beliefs has failed to maintain such control.

One does not wish to be deprived of such deeply held beliefs such as losing one's loosed desires, for to lose what is lost can be regained by loosing ones restrictions of such verbs. but to maintain such strict interpretations of such loosely held convictions shall only lose your following, because noone likes to work for someone who is tight, but perform for those whom are loose, and shall not lose. For you cannot loosen what has been lost.

End Rant.

***Craig*** · 08-21-2002 01:44 PM

ROTFLMAO

**Purple Fencer** · 08-21-2002 03:14 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by HilandDoug:
Craig, you and I must have had similar high school English teachers. Oet Peeve #1? Use of the apostrophy for plural, rather than to show ownership. I lose (spelled correctly) all respect for those that don't get it right. Sure sign of low intellect.<hr /></blockquote>How about one that chaps MY hide...lack of understanding of the contraction for "you are." How many times have I seen -- in published works -- the phrase "Your great"? ARGH!!!!

'Course, there WAS the greeting card I saw years back that said "Later, Homes." Urf...white guys should NEVER be allowed to incorporate slang from other ethnic groups into products aimed at whites.

Tim...I think you've got a bye from Craig!

**Moonitic** · 08-21-2002 05:00 PM

Don't even let me get started on the abuse of the English language & grammar. What are schools teaching kids nowadays??

My choice of life (as a writer) forces me to near perfection when it comes to the written word. After all, I'm submitting to publishers. Yes, I slip up...but man, I've seen butchering that doesn't even come close to "slip ups."

**epeemike81** · 08-21-2002 05:32 PM

well my pet peeve is people who confuse the meanings of less and fewer.

no, wait.... thats not MY pet peave....

gee, where have I heard a rant about that before???

However, I have been annoyed by lack of grammatical prowess lately.... I have been temping in a word proccessing department, and some of the writing that is submitted by these engineers for formatting is absolutely atrocious.

-m

[ 08-21-2002, 09:36 PM: Message edited by: epeemike81 ]

**Moonitic** · 08-21-2002 05:57 PM

Too funny...some time back I did a book critique for an engineer who wrote a novel. Let me tell you, it was painful!

**Inquartata** · 08-21-2002 06:02 PM

And then there's "I could care less" when in fact the speaker means just the opposite...

**Catlady** · 08-21-2002 06:37 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Moonitic:
Too funny...some time back I did a book critique for an engineer who wrote a novel. Let me tell you, it was painful!<hr /></blockquote>I've come to the conclusion that engineers speak an entirely different language.

I'm embarassed to admit that I've turned into my high school English teacher to some degree--the one I was absolutely not going to be.

My primary hang up lately though is hung/hanged. The villian may well have been hung, but if you're referring to the manner it which he was executed, the word is hanged. Anyway hanged has always sounded more gruesome to me.

I cringed in sympathy when a professor of mine reported that her daughter used to get in fights with kids in school because she kept correcting their grammar. When/if I have kids, they'll probably do that too.

**Inquartata** · 08-21-2002 07:43 PM

"Villian"? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

**Blade** · 08-22-2002 06:27 AM

while most of my peeves are covered here's one of mine

definitely spelled definately

its D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y

**D'Artagnan1673** · 08-22-2002 07:02 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Inquartata:
And then there's "I could care less" when in fact the speaker means just the opposite...

<hr /></blockquote>That is not improper grammer or word usage. That is sarcasm.

Although I use them from time to time, I do not like conjuctions. They are lazy to me.

[ 08-22-2002, 11:03 AM: Message edited by: D'Artagnan1673 ]

**edew** · 08-22-2002 07:35 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Inquartata:
And then there's "I could care less" when in fact the speaker means just the opposite...

<hr /></blockquote>That is not improper grammer or word usage. That is sarcasm.

Although I use them from time to time, I do not like conjuctions. They are lazy to me.<hr /></blockquote>Written by the person who abuses the loose/lose and difinitely/definately mistakes...

**HilandDoug** · 08-22-2002 09:06 AM

OK, let's give Counter Riposte the Dennis Miller Award for best/most clever rant! It's too bad Dennis' HBO show is leaving the air, or CR could get a writing job! That was very well done, and I, too, laughed my tucas off!

[ 08-22-2002, 05:55 PM: Message edited by: HilandDoug ]

**three_hundred_fifty_five** · 08-22-2002 09:14 AM

Sometimes, people make typos. Sometimes, people misspell words or use improper grammar without knowing it. Sometimes, people don't like it when you point out their mistakes. Then, they go nuts. In retaliation, they write a 400-word speech about how society, their environment, Microsoft, and whatever else hampered their writing skills. That's usually followed by a 200-word paragraph that revolves around how you aren't better than others.

**mfp** · 08-22-2002 09:22 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by edew:
Written by the person who abuses the loose/lose and difinitely/definately mistakes...<hr /></blockquote>Difinitely?

The board's search function shows D'Artagnan1673 is certainly up there in the "definately" sweepstakes, but he is fighting some strong competition from several others. It's amusing to see "webmaster" has a few "definately" hits as well.

***Craig*** · 08-22-2002 10:14 AM

Which is another reason why I'm hoping to put a spell checker option on the next version of this board!

It · 08-22-2002 10:28 AM

Waht's wong with our spelling?

(Sorry I couldn't help it) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

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