For the love of God, everybody it's etc for et cetera. Not ECT

Moulez · 2026-02-01T21:40:13+00:00

I know I'm not being unreasonable, but just please agree so that we can educate people, Without rules, where are we?

auserna · 04/02/2026 21:50

Tryingtokeepgoing · 04/02/2026 07:45

Isn’t the word ‘envisage’ more appropriate in this situation (in the UK / Europe) given that that ‘envision’ means picturing a hypothetical future event, not contemplating different possible interpretations (in the quoted post) or future tangible events? Also, rightly or wrongly I see ‘envision’ as an Americanism and therefore something to be avoided when speaking English ;)

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I don't like "envision" because I see "vision" as a noun (er, because it is) rather than a verb.

auserna · 04/02/2026 21:49

x2boys · 02/02/2026 08:13

Sangles

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Sangaws.

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 04/02/2026 09:00

Tryingtokeepgoing · 04/02/2026 07:45

Isn’t the word ‘envisage’ more appropriate in this situation (in the UK / Europe) given that that ‘envision’ means picturing a hypothetical future event, not contemplating different possible interpretations (in the quoted post) or future tangible events? Also, rightly or wrongly I see ‘envision’ as an Americanism and therefore something to be avoided when speaking English ;)

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You may be right, but I am an American living in the UK so that probably explains it!

user1476613140 · 04/02/2026 07:53

Freysimo · 04/02/2026 07:14

My son then aged about 11, just at secondary school, did a great essay and the English teacher noted on it: "Well done, I was rivetted". There's no hope, I'm afraid.

🤦‍♀️

user1476613140 · 04/02/2026 07:49

Enough of this behavior!

user1476613140 · 04/02/2026 07:49

ECT is something very different, I agree....

Tryingtokeepgoing · 04/02/2026 07:45

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 02/02/2026 19:32

No, you’re right, I am not an English teacher! (?) but yes, I am aware of the type of little sayings you are asking about.

What I meant was that in this case, I couldn’t really envision how something like that would help, given that you already understand the difference in meaning and context between the words. The issue almost sounds more like a disconnect between spelling and pronunciation? So although the pp’s little saying about “don’t lose your loose change” is clever, if you struggle with these words, won’t you still end up hesitating over whether it’s “don’t loose your lose change”?

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Isn’t the word ‘envisage’ more appropriate in this situation (in the UK / Europe) given that that ‘envision’ means picturing a hypothetical future event, not contemplating different possible interpretations (in the quoted post) or future tangible events? Also, rightly or wrongly I see ‘envision’ as an Americanism and therefore something to be avoided when speaking English ;)

Ihatetomatoes · 04/02/2026 07:33

JaneIves · 01/02/2026 22:09

I think you need a lie down on a chez lounge.

Adjacent to a lovely set of 'draws'

Doingtheboxerbeat · 04/02/2026 07:24

Freysimo · 04/02/2026 07:14

My son then aged about 11, just at secondary school, did a great essay and the English teacher noted on it: "Well done, I was rivetted". There's no hope, I'm afraid.

I think it's the American spelling again 🫣 .

Freysimo · 04/02/2026 07:14

My son then aged about 11, just at secondary school, did a great essay and the English teacher noted on it: "Well done, I was rivetted". There's no hope, I'm afraid.

loislovesstewie · 03/02/2026 17:32

Rayburn · 03/02/2026 17:11

OK you don’t know.

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It's et cetera, meaning 'and the rest', the abbreviation is etc.

PleasantPedant · 03/02/2026 17:21

@Rayburn ,what is ectetera?

CaptainMyCaptain · 03/02/2026 17:15

Rayburn · 03/02/2026 17:11

OK you don’t know.

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What do you mean? The correct abbreviation is etc. That is what you asked.

Rayburn · 03/02/2026 17:11

CaptainMyCaptain · 03/02/2026 14:41

It isn't ectetera it's et cetera which abbreviated to etc.

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OK you don’t know.

grumpygrape · 03/02/2026 15:51

explanationplease · 03/02/2026 14:47

Yes but one could equally say Espana or Italia. It’s inconsequential.

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Not really because there are multiple Columbias, mostly in N America and Canada but the only S American country is Colombia.

HolyFocacciaa · 03/02/2026 15:45

Moulez · 02/02/2026 00:21

You lot need to put your sandles in the Chester drawers and go to bed.

Do you mean draws? ;)

Abitofalark · 03/02/2026 15:44

Takersgonnatake · 03/02/2026 14:50

The “of” in the second paragraph is superfluous, off makes perfect sense without it.
one word that always puzzles me is phase. Or maybe faze. As in “it doesn’t faze me”. I have a vague idea that phase in this context is incorrect but without knowing the roots of the word I’m unsure. And most people write “it doesn’t phase me”. Anyone know the rights of this one?

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It does faze me when people write that it phases them! According to the Online Etymology Dictionary it is from Old English:
"to frighten, alarm, discomfit" (mid-15c.), from Old English fesian, fysian "drive away,… See origin and meaning of faze."

Phase is a stage in a process or development: 'the phases of the moon'. Collins dictionary gives the origin as
"C19: from New Latin phases, pl of phasis, from Greek: aspect; related to Greek phainein to show."

Jackiepumpkinhead · 03/02/2026 15:43

Abitofalark · 03/02/2026 14:01

Yes but AIBU generally has numerous threads that should be posted elsewhere, such as Politics, Relationships, Education, TV, Books, Chat, as they have nothing to do with wanting advice or opinions about a dilemma. Mumsnet doesn't care, though. Someone started a thread the other night with the title 'Anyone fancy a chat?' Why not use Chat? And why is there a thread of about 20 parts and counting about a book and a film?

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That Salt Path thread! Are they still actually talking about the book/film, I did have a quick look and still haven’t a clue!

Doingtheboxerbeat · 03/02/2026 15:42

PleasantPedant · 03/02/2026 11:42

@dailyconniptions, Many of the Pedants' corner threads have posters who will argue that they're right when they are not.

@NunsOnTheRum , @explanationplease , @Doingtheboxerbeat , @Abitofalark
in English, the vowels in unstressed syllables tend to be said as a schwa, which is why affect and effect tend to sound the same.

Colombia isn't Kul-umby-a in Spanish. Bogotá sounds different too.

I absolutely adore your username, very fitting 🤗.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 03/02/2026 15:37

PleasantPedant · 03/02/2026 12:45

@steppemum , it does if you remember to link the sound to he meaning. Affect is usually a verb (Action), effect is usually a noun (End result).

How will this affect me? (Action)
What effect will this have on me? (End result)

That’s useful, I always struggle with effect and affect. Thank you.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 03/02/2026 15:34

Takersgonnatake · 03/02/2026 14:35

I could never buy a caravan or boat from anyone who described the number of sleeping spaces in terms of births. It would literally kill me to sleep in one of them.

I could easily understand that being an autocorrect fail, it happens on my phone all the bastard time . I think you mean birth rather than berth , type of energy, it clearly doesn't recognise many english words 😖.

BillieWiper · 03/02/2026 15:21

Yeah it is annoying. But it's low down on my pet peeves of that nature. I kind of get it as there are those letters in it, as if they think obviously there's an E, it skips the first T, then you have the C and then the second T?!

God knows why I'm trying to justify it. Haha. But not everyone knows its from the Latin do they?

How about people who put ChatGBT? 😂🥴

MagpiePi · 03/02/2026 15:13

Littlethatchedcottage · 03/02/2026 14:01

No, but they do say ground flat rather than ground floor flat which raises my heckles, I’ve just looked it up as to why they do this and according to Google it’s because ground flat is less technical for people to understand 🤦🏻‍♀️

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I'd think, why did they grind up a flat?

PleasantPedant · 03/02/2026 15:11

@explanationplease , No need to thank me. It sounds different that's all.

FullLondonEye · 03/02/2026 15:01

MyThreeWords · 02/02/2026 15:11

YABU to care so much. It's only a typo or an insignificant little grain of ignorance. It doesn't really reduce people's ability to communicate or think, like some errors do.

In the case of 'etc.' then you're right, if it's that alone then it's probably insignificant. In terms of spelling and grammar in general though then I disagree. My husband is a very clever man in terms of practical things but his language skills are appalling. At school it seems his teachers decided he was good at sport and ignored him in every other subject. It's never done him any harm in terms of a career but he is very aware that his communication skills - or lack thereof - have quite often led to misunderstandings or made situations more difficult than they needed to be, simply because the way he speaks or writes often does not accurately convey his meaning.

He is also aware that there have been times people have grossly underestimated him because his speech and writing does not reflect his intelligence. He understands why it happens but it makes me feel defensive on his behalf, even though I am someone who does at times judge people on their spelling and grammar. On the other hand, if he were writing on something like a forum and wanted people to understand him clearly then he would make more effort to communicate properly, either by asking someone else to help him (I often have to do this) or by working on his skills. I don't expect everyone to be brilliant at everything but I do expect them to show a bit of initiative at times or don't be too surprised or horrified when others judge. When I see posts with bad spelling or grammar I don't tend to judge that in itself as much as the lack of effort behind it.