To tell you that it's "rein" not "reign".

[FlyingElbows]

Because it is and it's doing my tits in!!

Rein. Rein. Rein. Rein. Rein.

Free rein. It's an equestrian term meaning to give the horse freedom of movement.

It is NOT reign. That's what the Queen does.

It's right up there with "intensive purposes" and "doggy dog world"!!

absolutely it was one of the best I've seen. I admit to sharing it elsewhere at the time and sparked a thread almost identical to this.

I feel this is a safe place to ask this question of you MNers more longstanding than me...

Do you think people use 'judgy' on here thinking it's the right word, or is it a MN colloquialism?

Just seen: 'never battered an eyelid'.

Change tack ... tack A nautical term referring to a change in direction. Not change 'tact'!

I know it isnt the same as op about bad spelling but my sister always thought it was Tequila Mockingbird 🙈

It's sooooooo hard not to be a grammar nerd when you deal with it every day (as I do) but you know what? let it go.

Apart from pacific instead of specific. That one really makes me physically cringe!

:-D

Pissedoffinsomniac. I need to get out more, but I totally agree with you. Why can't anyone spell the word definitEly, not definately or defiantly. I also totally don't get how anyone can have a seemingly reasonable command of the English language, but not know the difference between your and you're.

I feel this is a safe place to ask if anyone else hates that phrase brought out for the last olympics: "it's going to go to the wire"/"it's going to go right to the wire". I mean, where did that even come from? Maybe I'm just out of touch but I'm not sure I'd ever heard the phrase before and when I put the olympics on in the summer, bam, it was everywhere.

I'd guess the spell checker steps in and turns "definately" to "defiantly". This is why, although a useful tool, it shouldn't be relied on - like using a bilingual dictionary when you don't know one of the languages (hence the classical - apocryphal? - interpretation of "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" into "the vodka is good but the meat has gone bad").

Re "could of" etc, we can try that re-casting the sentence trick that works with "John and I/me". Would it or would it not make sense to say:

"Of you done it yet?"
"No, I of not."
"Well, let us know when you of, all right?"

I think I meant classic rather than classical up there. Please shoot me.

There was a boy at my school who, when reciting the Lord's Prayer said "Lead us not into Temple Station".

Hey Temporaryname137,
Don't panic when you see we've deleted your post, it as because Squirter's has gone at her request, so yours needed to go as a response.

Thanks Helen.

I'd just PMed Temporary.

My daughter is only 10 but she is annoying me by shortening Okay to "K" when speaking. Poor speech patterns lead to poor spelling in my opinion.

I give the benefit of the doubt with "defiantly" because it happens so often it has to be an auto correct thing. There can't possibly be that many people who genuinely think that's the correct choice. Can there?

Temple Meads Chocolate?

I'm picturing a class of Bristolians there!

OK I confess that I too am a grammar pedant.
'Impact' as a verb does my fucking nut in.
I proofread academic work for cash...and the amount of times I have struck out 'impact' (verb) and turned it into a noun...(''had an impact on something'' NOT fucking 'impacted something'!!).
Lately I have given up tbh, and just leave it.

I am afraid that this little job of mine has made me really cynical about university education. Essentially foreign students are buying a British degree, and turning in utter drivel. Probably home students as well.

I am talking 'Russell Group' btw!!

Thank you HQ and Squirter for letting me know!

Another one that drives me mad. "Buisness". How can you get that wrong? It just looks weird!

Brat - wisdom teeth can be impacted.

I was a sub-editor for nearly 20 years, and must have spent most of that changing impact from a verb to a noun. I shall Never Surrender.

The rest of the time it was removing the initial caps from the job titles of pompous asses.

Ouch, an impacted something sounds painful Brat or at least uncomfortable - I think you can have an impacted wisdom tooth? or something related to constipation?!

ok yes wisdom teeth and poo - that I could deal with....but that is not what they are talking about... for example...say...

'"This occurence impacted society"

It makes me want to smash my laptop up and buy a one way ticket to the Greek islands...

*occurrence

Saw someone a few days ago post that she felt her friend expected her to be "at her beckoned call".

My three favourite typos are business 'opportunties', which I saw on a billboard once, a street sign directing you to the 'salivation' army, and a real estate sign offering 'gilt-edged' assets.

DYAC They were 'guilt' edged.