Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It's "the worsT", not "the worse"

281 replies

Dovesono · 17/09/2026 20:51

Well not always, but most of the time when people write "worse", they actually mean "worst".

If the worst should happen.
If the worst comes to the worst.
The worst thing I have ever seen.
She is the worst person I know.

As in "bad, worse, worst."
Opposite of "good, better best."

Thank you.

OP posts:
LuckyHazelFox · 17/09/2026 20:52

Worse than that is people not being able to spell lose. It's not loose!

honeylulu · 17/09/2026 20:53

I agree. It's everywhere: "worse case scenario". No!!!

WearingBeautifulShoes · 17/09/2026 21:11

Yes, I've seen the "worse"/ "worst" error several times on here recently.
But the latest irritating thing I've seen a few times is "eachother" written as one word.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 17/09/2026 21:13

I keep seeing ‘been’ being used instead of ‘being’.

It’s very stressful.

MrsArcher23 · 17/09/2026 21:16

Did you all get lost on the way to Pedants’ Corner??

Original poster
Dovesono · 17/09/2026 21:18

MrsArcher23 · 17/09/2026 21:16

Did you all get lost on the way to Pedants’ Corner??

There's not much point preaching to the converted.

OP posts:
WearingBeautifulShoes · 17/09/2026 21:26

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 17/09/2026 21:13

I keep seeing ‘been’ being used instead of ‘being’.

It’s very stressful.

😆

Sporadica · 17/09/2026 21:32

English is not exactly a logical language. For example, why isn't "worsted" the opposite of "bested"?

Notsosweetcaroline · 17/09/2026 21:35

It’s the word draws for me, I cannot for the life of me fathom how people don’t know they are drawers, don’t they read, anything, from online articles to books, how on earth does anyone not know your cupboard or bedside cabinet has drawers, not draws.

sallyrhubarbbb · 17/09/2026 21:36

YES.

also, ‘should of’, ‘could of’, would of’, instead of ‘have’ makes my teeth itch.

LuckyHazelFox · 17/09/2026 21:37

So many spell words as they speak them.

Muffsies · 17/09/2026 21:42

I have a waist, not a waste. I've even seen it spelt like that in my mum's catalogues.

Cluelessmam · 17/09/2026 21:46

Roll instead of role today from someone who ought to know better 😑 apostrophe use is also out of control it seems.

UnctuousUnicorns · 17/09/2026 21:47

See also:

"Breath" rhymes with "death". You don't "breath"; you breathe (rhymes with "seethe"). Say "I breath", "I can't breath" etc. out loud and hear how wrong it sounds.

And breathe...

WearingBeautifulShoes · 17/09/2026 21:56

I've noticed lots of people don't seem to know the difference between bare and bear eg I can't bare it.

dreamingofgoodhair · 17/09/2026 22:19

sallyrhubarbbb · 17/09/2026 21:36

YES.

also, ‘should of’, ‘could of’, would of’, instead of ‘have’ makes my teeth itch.

I have to turn off my autocorrect to write should of. My phone automatically corrects it.
Possibly worse than you’re / your , which I think is the most common mistake anywhere.

Grumpyoldcat · 17/09/2026 22:19

Love a bit of grammar.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 17/09/2026 22:25

His and he's is a particularly annoying one I've seen a lot of lately

FunTimesInTheRain · 17/09/2026 22:31

Sporadica · 17/09/2026 21:32

English is not exactly a logical language. For example, why isn't "worsted" the opposite of "bested"?

Every day’s a school day as I didn’t ‘bested’ was a word!
I do struggle and have to check when I say bear with me (as bear with me has a very different meaning!!).

SukiPook · 17/09/2026 22:41

Also what's with people writing 'based' when they mean 'biased'.... that one is everywhere too

mumumental · 17/09/2026 22:41

True op, but you can say “the worse I feel, the more …”

mumumental · 17/09/2026 22:42

SukiPook · 17/09/2026 22:41

Also what's with people writing 'based' when they mean 'biased'.... that one is everywhere too

That just confuses people.

Original poster
Dovesono · 17/09/2026 22:48

LuckyHazelFox · 17/09/2026 21:37

So many spell words as they speak them.

Because they don't read.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dovesono · 17/09/2026 22:50

SukiPook · 17/09/2026 22:41

Also what's with people writing 'based' when they mean 'biased'.... that one is everywhere too

Gosh, that's one I haven't seen.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dovesono · 17/09/2026 22:51

mumumental · 17/09/2026 22:41

True op, but you can say “the worse I feel, the more …”

Hence the first three words of my OP!

OP posts: