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"!!

'Toe the line' is I believe term from bare knuckle boxing, a line was drawn on the floor and at the start of the bout the boxers both had to toe the line. Well that's what I have read.

I want to live in a Doggy Dog World

Fintress, thank you, I've been wondering about 'hear, hear'. I needed to write it the other day. And I'm guilty of the four syllabled 'mischevious', too. Three syllables just doesn't sound naughty enough, to me!

Oops, should have read the whole thread.

I love obscure English phrases , apparently the most prolific source is seafaring and boats which makes my heart swell about our plucky little island forefathers setting off in storm and wind to brave the elements.

Can someone enlighten me about the "damp squid"? I'm a big bad foreigner and thought that's the correct form.

It should it just not be used about fireworks.

I get free rein and free reign confused - because they are similar concepts but then I also say 'rein in' and 'reign in' would be nonsense....
I do think autocorrect/typing doesn't help - I often see I've made a mistake on here and even though I know it is wrong just leave it (eg there for their)...it isn't worth the fuss. I'd be more judgey if it was hand written incorrectly.
The other thing I find with typing is I start making a typo I do it all the time and have to keep correcting it. So thnaks instead of thanks - or when I used to (manual!) type menus chciken instead of chicken - but sometimes it just looks like I can't spell - currently acheive instead of achieve.
Also if I mistype some words I know they are wrong (and here I get a red line underneath!) but then can't work out how to correct them - eg negotiate - negoitate, negogitate etc (hand written I can).

This gets on my nerves, too.
Rein in your temper, impatience.

And don't get me started on didn't used to do something.

I err I errrrr did a really bad thing........

I wrote cueing! Instead of queuing the other day. I remembered after I'd pressed post.

Also emporerss.

I do completely forgot how to spell words. Because of my dyslexia, and phone sometimes doesn't suggest the word I'm looking for so I end up going it alone, or sometimes I think I've selected the right word but it's not.

No one has ever really pulled me up. The occasional walker doing it out of spite.

I often read these threads, to help remind me.

I agree with PPs that derailing a thread where someone's looking for support, with comments about spelling and grammar, is extremely insensitive. So I am really glad this thread started so I can moan without upsetting anyone.

My new pet hate is confusing "on her behalf" with "on her part". On her behalf=someone did it for her. On her part=she did it herself. More or less.

I agree. Came across it recently - probably same thread as you OP.

Trouble is trying to tell anyone just leads people to call you a range of names as anyone who tries to teach anyone anything is by definition evil!!

What's wrong with "used to do" Abraiid?

How else would you say it?

someonestole it should be a damp SQUIB - a squib is a type of firework and a squid is a lovely lunch

unlucky - I agree about typos - my laptop keys are sticky so makes it worse. But I do exactly that!

A squib, ie a firecracker, is kind of useless when damp, which is what the saying is for. A squid, on the other hand, is kind of useless when not damp, as it would very soon be dead.

I like threads like this. It is bad form to correct someone asking for advice on an emotional topic as it puts them even further on the back foot, but "taking it outside" and talking about it here, wittily, can be informative.

I couldn't agree more. This mistake is made all the time and even the pedantic Mumsnet doesn't pick people up on it. And I am not bossy enough to do it..so very glad you have posted this.

Abroad, the British Council says that "used to/didn't use to" is standard English.

Damp squid should be damp squib, as in a small, fairly pathetic firework, which is damp.

The occasional walker doing it out of spite.

Let me guess, a polite autocorrect!

And breath op

I was sat and I was stood are becoming very common indeed.

Also ect for etc.

I agree with huls as ever. I like these threads. I think it's fine to have a bit of ponder of our fine language and its usage.

What is 'intensive purposes'?

Reign rain rein-
English is a pain.

I like it on here that almost everyone writes in standard English.

What I don't like is that if a poster makes spelling mistakes, half the thread is loads of goady piss taking about this, even if it's clear that the OP is upset about something. I wonder how many people have posted the distressed cry for help post, accidentally got their there, they're and theirs mixed up or said would of instead of would have, had the piss taken and thought, 'well fuck you bitches, thanks for nothing'.

No consideration at all that the OP may have dyslexia, English may not be their first language, they may have been tripped up by autocorrect, or they simply may not be a talented linguist.

Few people attain the comprehension and written English skills that seem to be expected by some on here.

A recent example here.

Wrong apostrophe usage grates on me terribly, but I would never correct people on here about it.

But I do like it when people write about bridal paths. I imagine horses cantering along ridden by brides with veils floating behind them .

How about samo samo?

A new one to me and only said by one person, though far too frequently!

What's wrong with "used to do"

I think it's the "didn't used to do" instead of "used not to do"

I suppose people could say a thread like this is snobbish etc etc, but isn't it better for those of us who care about the written expression of our language, and being able to communicate clearly & directly, to vent our frustrations here, than do it on ordinary threads? I tend to think it's bad manners to do it on normal threads (or in general conversation IRL), but in a specific thread, I don't think it's rude.

Abraiid said "didn't used to" got on her wick. Mine too. Especially as it gets past almost every single proofreader in the English speaking world.