My name is CurlewKate and I am a recovering pedant….

[CurlewKate]

After 30 years as an active pedant, I am now trying VERY hard always to look at what people obviously mean, and not the way they express it. Not everyone has been taught about apostrophes.

But for the love of GOD- please stop saying “stag doo” “birthday doo”. Any other “doo”! Where did that come from?

Well done you! We could all be a bit more you doo you at times 😉

Definitely something to undoo.

I hadn’t even seen this! 😱

Yes! I've seen "hen doo" on here loads of times and been a bit wtf every time

There's nothing wrong in typing stag doo's! You are just a snoob.

I think you're in denial about recovering as a pedant!

Whilst the extra o in 'doo' is incorrect, I think it actually rather nicely emphasises that the event being discussed is a big deal. Maybe 'do' just feels too small.

The other day I saw “Bach” on here repeatedly and it took me ages to work out they were referring to a hen “doo”.

I have to curb my inner/outer pedant or I would get banned. 😞

I legit enjoy Scooby Doo though.

I have seen this on occasion but I've always assumed it was a mistype- I do plenty of those myself. I didn't actually realise posters actually MEANT to say " doo".
How peculiar! Living up here in Scotland where a "doo" is of course a pigeon that's what I picture when I see the word.

Actually I hate ‘do’ used to mean ‘party’. It always makes me think of some kind of tragic affair where almost no one has shown up, and there are a couple of people in a giant, bare function room wearing party hats and trying to look as if they’re having fun.

I've always wondered why people write do's and don'ts.

I’m glad you’re trying to be less of a pedant. I think I have had run ins with you before and it’s great you’re trying to change your ways and be more pleasant.

I doo love a good doo though.

I saw a comment recently about teaching with phonics and how it has affected younger people’s ability to spell. English is tricky - I think we would all agree! The pronunciation of words is not predictable or logical. Hence “do” is pronounced the same as “too” but not the same as “to”. Let’s not get started on all the different ways to pronounce words containing “ough”. So if people are writing “hen doo” it may be because they are conscious of how it’s pronounced. Perhaps they are right!! (And I say that as a pedant myself)

Oh gawd, ‘s for plurals is becoming the norm.

Boohoo

typoos can be funny

@CurlewKate
I used to be a pedant until my child was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and now I hang my head in shame at my past horrified responses to incorrect written text. I see the very real struggle my 20 year old DC has with spelling, punctuation and grammar, despite her being beautifully articulate and eloquent in a way that captures listeners with her wonderful use of vocabulary and expression when she talks. But her written thoughts would have any pedant recoiling in horror at her spelling mistakes and incorrect grammar.
Millions of people have undiagnosed dyslexia according to DyslexiaUK.
So I wish you well in your continued recovery; I genuinely hope you make it.

Apostrophes are hard!
Spellings are hard!
Abbreviations are hard!

My problem is that I repeat the same word far too many times and use far too many exclamation marks. I often reread what I have written and annoy myself with my writing. 😂

Well done from stepping back OP. As long as the message comes across, it shouldn't matter so much about the delivery. It is hard though! 😉

"Do" and "too" and "to" are all pronounced the same though?

Hence “do” is pronounced the same as “too” but not the same as “to”

Actually do, and to, can both be pronounced either long or short depending on where they are in the sentence.

"What do you do?" That's a schwa do followed by a long do
"Where's he going to?" that's pronounced the same as too
"To the zoo" that's a schwa to

I think phonics is a starting point for learning then they build on it to learn spelling properly. If kids read enough they spot the patterns.

The problem is not the phonics teaching, it's that children and adults don't read enough

This thread will become unbearable as all the pedants will now add other things to it. The thread needs moving to repressed misanthropes' pedants' corner.

Now I’m puzzled. I do agree English is tricky, but I thought to, too and two all sound the same, hence some confusion.

I am going to the zoo
I hope Lou is going too
We can have a drink or two
Take the bus? I’m hoping to.

When I read this to, too and two all sound the same.

Wots yer problem wif it? I’ve neva seen doo used (apart from toddlers adding a second one and meaning to sh**)

That first to is short (a schwa), the last to is long

I am now trying VERY hard always to look...

If you are in recovery from pedantry, just split the infinitive; don't think we didn't notice!

I wish I was a pigeon, ah doo, ah doo
I wish I had a pigeon and id shit all over you.

🤭🤭🤭