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AIBU?

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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:
TeabySea · 05/06/2024 13:56

I've seen lots of examples of people not spelling names correctly. I've a friend, Michael. So many people write Micheal, it drives him mad.

Bramshott · 05/06/2024 13:53

ie/ei is notoriously difficult though!

Ineedanewsofa · 05/06/2024 13:53

Blame the construction company who spell it Kier.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 05/06/2024 13:52

I teach German, which has gazillions of words with 'ei' and 'ie'. It's by far the most common spelling mistake. I reckon they don't even get it right more than half the time - and the two don't even sound the same in German, unlike in English!

Blarneytalk · 05/06/2024 13:50

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

GrinGrinGrin

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! 🤞

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 05/06/2024 13:50

Your other examples are not at all comparable. I find the mistake a but annoying too, but it's obvious why people make it. Unlike the reversed letters in your other examples, 'ie' and 'ei' often make exactly the same sound as each other, and the 'ie' way around is far, far more common than the 'ei' one. No, I've never seen 'Keith' spelled 'Kieth' either (though I imagine it probably happens), but Keith is a much more well-known name than Keir. Even if it's not popular nowadays, there have been well-known Keiths.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 13:49

NoDice77 · 05/06/2024 13:47

ODFOD no one is buying these propaganda threads.

??? Its not a propaganda thread. Where's the propaganda?

OP posts:
EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/06/2024 13:49

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

ha ha, fair point!

But that was a typo which I can't edit. The Kier thing isn't as people repeatedly do it.

OP posts:
Cuppateatea · 05/06/2024 13:48

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

Love a bit of irony or should that be iriny?

NoDice77 · 05/06/2024 13:47

ODFOD no one is buying these propaganda threads.

Wolfiefan · 05/06/2024 13:45

I saw someone commenting on Ritchie Sunak earlier. 🤦‍♀️
I avoid threads like that.

OnceICaughtACold · 05/06/2024 13:45

If you’re only allowed to discuss subjects you can spell, you need to stay away from “politucs”.

OhmygodDont · 05/06/2024 13:45

Because we don’t care enough 🙃

MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding · 05/06/2024 13:44

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

🤣

WingSluts · 05/06/2024 13:43

Probably the same reason someone might misspell politics...

Snoopsteandcooper · 05/06/2024 13:43

But Kieran is spelled ie. So, can be confusing

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