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AIBU?

Advance apologies - a spelling one!

122 replies

TheListingAttic · 30/01/2015 15:08

Okay, I'm being one of those posters, and am thereby effectively basting myself and willingly stepping onto the grill for a flaming.

But: when did this "ect" business start?! Every third post I read these days is "ect" this and "ect" that. It's "etc", people! E-T-C! For "et cetera"! I'm developing a nervous twitch every time I see it, and am actually going to pop before too long.

I'm done. Unleash the pedant-strength flame throwers.

OP posts:
MaidOfStars · 30/01/2015 15:26

In return, I am being one of those posters who scours the original post for spelling or grammar mistakes, as if that negates the entire post.

I am also checking my own post very carefully.

I think the comma between "...posters, and am..." is superfluous. The same charge applies to the comma between "...I see it, and am...". However, I accept that use of commas in these locations may be regarded as stylistic (I still don't like them though).

"Flamethrower" is one word.

Grin

More seriously, "ect" is annoying. Perhaps I don't find it quite so tiresome as you though.

squoosh · 30/01/2015 15:33

I haven't noticed 'ect' being used in place of 'etc.'

Are you sure they aren't just indicating that they're clearing their throat in a ladylike manner?

LillyEvans · 30/01/2015 15:34

I know what you mean!

I have been wondering if it's a strange auto-correction, changing etc to ect for no reason whatsoever.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 30/01/2015 15:40

It's a very natural typo, though, isn't it?

squoosh · 30/01/2015 15:43

There are some words that I type incorrectly but that's down to my fingers going off in a different tangent to my brain. 'From' always ends up as 'form'.

curlyweasel · 30/01/2015 15:43

You mean The Oxford Comma?

YvetteChauvire · 30/01/2015 15:43

I have noticed this too OP. YANBU.

notnaice · 30/01/2015 15:43

I'm with you op and also agree about the commas

TheListingAttic · 30/01/2015 15:45

MaidOfStars and others: I'll give you "flamethrower" as one word, but you shall not take my Oxford commas!

OP posts:
manchestermummy · 30/01/2015 15:46

People put ect because they think that is correct. Like they use que for cue (as in "cue me ranting about poor written language skills"). Or put apostrophe's after word's to turn them into plural's.

I work with several people who are guilty of all of the above and more. It gives me the rage. I work in an educational setting and some of the things I see appall me. I point it out to.

manchestermummy · 30/01/2015 15:49

Argh too.

I might be pedantic but apparently I cannot use autocorrect on this phone.

editthis · 30/01/2015 15:49

Oh, I love an Oxford comma. I think they're rather stylish.

I also prefer "&c." to "etc" (or indeed "ect").

Alexmummy2012 · 30/01/2015 15:51

Ooh I love a good debate about the Oxford comma

amicissimma · 30/01/2015 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheListingAttic · 30/01/2015 15:54

(Unfortunate lack of capitalisation for an image about grammar, but I think the point still stands.)

Advance apologies - a spelling one!
OP posts:
miaowmix · 30/01/2015 15:56

I've just used an Oxford comma at work, I love an Oxford comma Smile.

"&c" is indeed very elegant and I'm going to adopt that.

"ect" is very depressing. I don't think it's just a typo...

fredfredgeorgejnr · 30/01/2015 15:58

Why is flamethrower a single word but ect as an abbreviation for et cetera invalid? flame thrower was two words until really very recent times:

books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=flame+thrower%2Cflamethrower&year_start=1900&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cflame%20thrower%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cflamethrower%3B%2Cc0

Language changes, etc is pretty new (&c was the original abbreviation I believe, but the corpuses aren't very good at reporting that) maybe ect is the new spelling.

editthis · 30/01/2015 15:58

Thank you, GreyGardens.

[preens]

manchestermummy · 30/01/2015 16:00

I was once accused (by e-mail, to several colleagues including my line manager) of making some "typo's" [sic]. That was a happy day. I was very, very restrained...

Ineedacleaningfairy · 30/01/2015 16:01

I actually can't see a difference in the way the words etc and ect look as in dyslexic and letters insist of doing an elaborate dance/game of hide and seek when I look at them.

I would like to congratulate you for having so few concerns in your life that you find time to concern yourself regarding other people's spelling.

manchestermummy · 30/01/2015 16:01

Fred because etc. is an abbreviation of et cetera. Not ectterea.

HappyAgainOneDay · 30/01/2015 16:07

Actually, manchestermummy, 'typo's' is correct because an apostrophe indicates one missing letter or more.

As far as 'ect' is concerned (which I found hard to type like that), people type that because they just do not know where it came from so do not know how to spell it. Yes, it's from Latin for 'and the rest' - et (and) c etera (the rest or the others). Please take it on board, those who have now learned.

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editthis · 30/01/2015 16:08

I have managed to make a career out of correcting people's spelling. Blush It's sort of like being a criminal barrister.

fredfredgeorgejnr · 30/01/2015 16:09

not all abbreviations have to be built up of one word followed by the first letter cwt for example doesn't follow that pattern for latin originated abbreviations. And viz. includes a letter not even in the original.

miaowmix · 30/01/2015 16:13

I'm in a similar profession Editthis Smile.

Fred I don't understand your posts, sorry. Are you asking why "ect" (sic) is not valid as an abbreviation for et cetera, or do you mean "etc"?

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