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soapdodger · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 203

Here's an interesting site that catalogues common manglings of the language, malapropisms etc. Essential reading for some posters !

http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

This sort of thing is a regular feature in the Dilbert newsletters, which should be a mine of examples.

One that annoys me is "rack" for "wrack", as in "a racking cough". I'll post it on Eggcorn next time I see an example in the wild.

I imagine we'll see some of these errors here on Dave's. We are enjoined not to call attention to our colleagues' flaws, but there's nothing to say we can't forward them to Eggcorn! Twisted Evil

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

I wish I still had a copy of a CV for a government inspector (OFSTED for UK types) who visited a college I was at. It was used in our staff-room as entertainment: 'see how many mistakes you can find'... it was that appalling.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Supposably you can teach English irregardless of the mistakes you make.

MO39 · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

Nice link, Soap, but one of the best places to see mangled language is still Dave's!

quoi_de_neuf? · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 48

...I guess it has to be in a very spacific context, n'est-ce pas?

Wink

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

MO39 · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject:

Ah, the English - she is funny:

supposable

Main Entry:
sup�pos�able
Pronunciation:
\sə-ˈpō-zə-bəl\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1627
: capable of being supposed : conceivable
� sup�pos�ably \-blē\ adverb

irregardless

Main Entry:
ir�re�gard�less
Pronunciation:
\ˌir-i-ˈg�rd-ləs\
Function:
adverb
Etymology:
probably blend of irrespective and regardless
Date:
circa 1912
nonstandard : regardless
usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that �there is no such word.� There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.

Chancellor · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject:

soapdodger · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 203

A few years ago the "Average Joe" would have had some grudging admission that becoming a "wordy geek" might result in an improved standard of living, a better salary and so on. Thanks to enormous amounts of money carefully invested in such things as rap music, Superstar ( there's even a version of Superstar in Slovakia, for God's sake!), and MTV " culture", the accepted philosophy is that being an oaf actually pays. Buffoonery is IN, to stay....

johnslat · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:27 am Post subject:

"Buffoonery is IN, to stay...."

Ah, I KNEW my day would come.