Pedant's Amnesty.

[gillybeanz]

I have been meaning to do this for ages and another thread has reminded me.

Just thought it would be nice to have a long running thread where we could ask questions from those who are good at English.
I know we can google but thats not the same as knowing somebody has helped you or that you have helped somebody else.

There are lots of reasons why some people aren't so good at English and some people carry on obliviously through life, whilst others like to learn.

So if you want to help or have a question I thought it would be nice for us to join together rather than just being outraged that some don't know the correct word, spelling, or definition.

Not sure if this will take off, but I have a question.

Fair? Fare? Fayre? I'm not sure if all are correct spelling, nor where they are used. I have seen all three for school/ church events, they can't all be right.

[Lweji]

Definitely not fare!

Fair or the older version fayre.

Fayre could also be synonymous with fare, but with a different meaning:
"an old-fashioned spelling of fare, used to talk about the type of food served somewhere:
a chance to sample fine local fayre"

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fayre?q=Fayre

[DadDadDad]

gilly - but I think the kind of thread you describe is precisely one of the functions of Pedants' Corner.

Sure, some people use PC as a place to vent about misuse, but there are plenty of threads where someone genuinely comes on for help and clarification and gets some well-informed responses. So, if you started a thread with "Fair, Fayre, Fare" in the subject line, you would see a few people respond.

I think having it all in one place (PC) but having separate threads for each question makes it easier for others to find in the future.