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Original poster

Given that he's probably going to be our next PM, why can't people spell his name correctly?

117 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 13:39

I'm on a number of social media threads, including here on MN, discussing politucs/GE/last night's debate. The number of people who cannot spell Keir Starmer's first name is staggering.

It's four letters. It's not difficult. You don't see people writing Tnoy Blair or Brois Johnson, so why oh why are people writing Kier Starmer.

And before anyone says it's because of the "i before e rule" I've never seen Keith spelled Kieth.

AIBU to think that, if you're going to discuss someone, get their name right. Or should that be thier name?

OP posts:
Verite1 · 05/06/2024 14:45

EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 14:30

@MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding that's interesting. I'm in East Anglia and pronounce it as one syllable, rhyming with near or dear (or even weir!). I'm now trying to pronounce it as two syllables but I'm making it sound like "Kee-ur".

In my accent it is two syllables. Lots of things are two syllables in my accents that are only one syllable in other accents. Phonetically it sounds more sensible for me to spell it Kier. I know that is wrong but I have to make a conscious effort to write Keir instead of Kier every time (and I am sure sometimes I forget if in a rush).

VickyEadieofThigh · 05/06/2024 14:45

It annoys me far more that so many people refer to Sunak as "Rishi", as if he's a personal friend. Loads did it with Johnson too, calling him "Boris" routinely - especially the press who - in all my adult years (I shall soon be 66) - have never referred to any Labour leader by his first name.

whatkatysdoingnow · 05/06/2024 14:41

People spell names the way they think they should be spelt.

Say you know someone who pronounces her name 'Sarah' but spells it Sara. You'll default to writing down all Sarahs as Saras even though that's more commonly pronounced Sa-ra.

With Keir, I don't think it's a very common name. So, without an existing frame of reference, people go for what fits what they do know. Pier, Kier.

I never remember how his name is written as I don't tend to use it very often. So I have to look it up. Same with Rihanna. I can pronounce both, but I can never remember how to spell them.

It's a nice life when you're in the same league as Rihanna for anything!

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 14:30

@MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding that's interesting. I'm in East Anglia and pronounce it as one syllable, rhyming with near or dear (or even weir!). I'm now trying to pronounce it as two syllables but I'm making it sound like "Kee-ur".

OP posts:
Lonelycrab · 05/06/2024 14:26

Because they’re spelling it like it’s pronounced I think.

MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding · 05/06/2024 14:24

EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 14:19

But it's not an "er" sound, it's more of an "ear" sound. I appreciate English is a complicated language when it comes to spelling, which is why we have to learn so many spellings, but we manage with lots of other words.

Show quote history

I pronounce it as 2 syllables, last one sounding like ‘er’ so I can see why people get it wrong. It was only another thread not too long ago talking about this that made me realise I would have spelt it wrong.

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 14:23

@IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece I think you're right about it not being common, which is why people are confused. But his name is everywhere at the moment, so I thought people would get it right.

OP posts:
IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 05/06/2024 14:20

If you spelt Boris Brois then it wouldn’t sound like Boris or look vaguely correct.

Same with Tony/Tnoy

There is a building company Called Kier with vans everywhere which is what a lot of people, esp Londoners see for a representation of the name Keir

It sounds like the first half of Kieran

If you taught a child to spell it, it would make more sense phonetically to spell it Kier

It doesn’t actually sound like it’s spelt Keir

My best friends son is Keir, I’ve known him for about 15 of his 24y and I still have to do a double take with his name each time.

Frankly, the spelling makes no sense and I completely see why people get confused

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 14:19

Dramatic · 05/06/2024 14:14

I think it's the "er" sound that confuses people, phonetically it should be Kier really

But it's not an "er" sound, it's more of an "ear" sound. I appreciate English is a complicated language when it comes to spelling, which is why we have to learn so many spellings, but we manage with lots of other words.

OP posts:
marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 05/06/2024 14:19

There are bigger things to worry about, and I'm a stickler for spelling!

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/06/2024 14:18

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

This is an example of Muphrey's Law (that spelling).

MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding · 05/06/2024 14:18

**right not tight.

MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding · 05/06/2024 14:17

I do think it is probably a genuine mistake in most cases. It doesn’t seem to be a common name and the whole ‘i before e’ thing will come into it no matter what you say. It also sounds like it ends with ‘er’. I bet he’s a lifetime of it though tight from being a child.

I tend to just call him Starmer. 😅

keffie12 · 05/06/2024 14:17

Cuppateatea · 05/06/2024 13:50

Let’s just hope (pray etc etc) that he won’t be our new PM so we won’t need to worry! 🤞

The polls say millions hope Keir is the next PM. I'm praying he is. 14 years of this and shudders at the thought of anymore

Mercurial123 · 05/06/2024 14:16

Cuppateatea · 05/06/2024 13:50

Let’s just hope (pray etc etc) that he won’t be our new PM so we won’t need to worry! 🤞

Let's hope and pray he is our next PM 👍.

Dramatic · 05/06/2024 14:14

I think it's the "er" sound that confuses people, phonetically it should be Kier really

SallyWD · 05/06/2024 14:13

IWantToBeASleepingCat · 05/06/2024 14:11

Oh gosh.. I'm doing my cosmic ordering .. asking for him NOT to be our next PM.
God help us all if he is.

God help us if we're stuck with the current lot.

GameOfJones · 05/06/2024 14:13

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

Haha, poetic justiss 🤣

SallyWD · 05/06/2024 14:12

It's not a very common name and sounds like it should be spelt Kier to rhyme with Pier. That's why.

Isitchill · 05/06/2024 14:12

I know one and still can't get it right. Mental block with that name.

TheShellBeach · 05/06/2024 14:11

Cuppateatea · 05/06/2024 13:50

Let’s just hope (pray etc etc) that he won’t be our new PM so we won’t need to worry! 🤞

Well, Sir Keir IS going to be our next PM..........

IWantToBeASleepingCat · 05/06/2024 14:11

Oh gosh.. I'm doing my cosmic ordering .. asking for him NOT to be our next PM.
God help us all if he is.

TheShellBeach · 05/06/2024 14:10

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

🤣🤣

Crunchymum · 05/06/2024 14:09

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

😁

Hidinginbed · 05/06/2024 14:07

I thought it was like the construction company! It’s not a name I have come across often. It’s a fugly name IMO.

Also tbh I don’t really care whether he’s going to be the PM or not, it’s an unusual name and people will spell it incorrectly all the time. I’m sure he’s used to it.

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