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AIBU?

to be annoyed by people at work consistently misspelling my name?

212 replies

Flemingshat · 27/04/2021 08:15

I have a non-English name that has two common spellings depending on what part of the world it is used in (it is spelled differently in Portugal for example vs South America). I am getting seriously fed up of people I encounter through work misspelling it. Let's say for argument's sake that it's Ana - I consistently get back Anna. I write "Dear X, bla bla bla, Kind regards Ana" and I get back "Dear Anna". I don't mind so much if it is people I haven't had contact with before (though I still think how difficult is it to check the name of the person who has just emailed you) but when it is colleagues I have worked with for 4+ years I just think it is so rude! I point it out and it still happens.

I know it's really petty. AIBU?

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makingababy · 27/04/2021 08:17

Not petty, I completely agree!

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Ostryga · 27/04/2021 08:17

If you’re petty then so am I. It’s basic respect I think. If someone can’t be bothered to look at a name they must be pretty bloody useless.

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SameToo · 27/04/2021 08:19

People can’t spell either my first name or surname or pronounce my surname. Whole bloody life spelling out my name 🙄

It bothers me on emails where you can easily check the spelling. I always check because I know how annoying it is.

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RampantIvy · 27/04/2021 08:20

I think it is important to get people's names right. I work for a large organisation and often get emails from people whose names have unconventional spellings.

It isn't difficult to get the name right when replying to an email when the name is in the Send To box.

Your colleagues are just lazy.

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MedusasBadHairDay · 27/04/2021 08:20

YANBU- I have a common english name with a slightly uncommon spelling and I get this constantly. I've largely given up correcting people tbh. Even my own grandad used to write the wrong spelling of my name in cards to me.

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romdowa · 27/04/2021 08:20

I've a common name and the last letter always gets left out ,even though the shorter version is pronounced differently. it used to bother me but I kind of learned to just let it go. Its beyond my control how people spell my name and to be honest they could call me a lot worse things 😂😂

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Orchidflower1 · 27/04/2021 08:21

Yanbu it’s rude and disrespectful acceptable only when new people are emailing you for the first time.

At work we have a pair of Clare/ Claire and a Catherine/ Cathryn and once I knew which one was which I made sure I wrote their name correctly. The same goes for the pronunciation of names as well- people should ask if they’re not sure the first time and not mispronounce names because they are unsure/ lazy.

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Flemingshat · 27/04/2021 08:21

I used to work with a woman who was called Johanna and she ALWAYS got Joanna in emails, we used to sigh about it to each other.

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elenacampana · 27/04/2021 08:21

People spell my name incorrectly all the time. I really, really don’t care.

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scrivette · 27/04/2021 08:22

I completely understand, people add an extra letter to both my first name and surname, it does mean that I am especially cautious about spelling other people's names correctly as I know how irritating it is.

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Flemingshat · 27/04/2021 08:22

Don't even get me started on the pronunciation of the name Grin

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FlorenceWintle · 27/04/2021 08:23

It’s really rude and disrespectful when it’s people you’ve worked with for years.

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PeakyPaula · 27/04/2021 08:23

Both my names have been mispelt my whole life, including family
For work it amazes me that you can pick a name from a list and then mispell it in the email.

It's rude and lazy and I mentally mark their card!

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Flemingshat · 27/04/2021 08:25

For work it amazes me that you can pick a name from a list and then mispell it in the email.

Yes, that's it for me, especially when they're replying to an email I've sent them myself so my name is in both the from box and at the end of the email!

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HeddaGarbled · 27/04/2021 08:27

I’ve got a common English name which can be spelt a few different ways and I don’t worry about it at all. Obviously on official documents it’s important but not in emails etc.

Some people are really conscientious about asking me the spelling and making an effort to get it correct and I think that’s sweet of them, but I don’t mind and barely notice when people don’t.

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QueenPaw · 27/04/2021 08:27

It's so annoying. I have the most simple name ever but there is a male and female version
Think Samantha/Samuel
Every time I'm at the hospital or something "Samuel?..."
Nope. Not me. Not my name

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RosesAndHellebores · 27/04/2021 08:28

I have a very English name. Diana Cholomondeley is the genre but obviously not that. I cannot begin to comprehend how people call me Diane and write to me as Diane.

Half the reason why emails are incorrect is because if you email someone often their name comes up in a list automatically and the connection between ha img to type it has gone.

I don't think this has anything to do with your name being foreign. It is just laziness and you have to let it wash over you. I don't think there's a solution.

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Sandgrown1970 · 27/04/2021 08:29

I agree, especially if it’s as name as simple as Ana/Anna.

I’ll admit that I’ve made this mistake though, even though I’m a stickler for trying to get this right. I’ve a friend called Eleonora. For years, even though I have her name right in front of me on emails, WhatsApp, Zoom etc, I’ve been writing Eleanora. I only discovered it in the past month that I’ve automatically been spelling it wrong for months. And I only discovered it when she had a rant on a Zoom social Blush. She said something like “even now, on Zoom, I get private chats saying Hi Eleanora when MY NAME IS WRITTEN BELOW MY IMAGE. EleOnora. It drives me mad!” I realised that I’d PMd her exactly that weeks before on a Zoom. It was like I didn’t “see” her name even when it was right in front of me for years Blush. I’ve got it right since though!

It must be very frustrating for you. I think sometimes people are just rubbish with names. I get weird things quite often where people just seems to make up a name for me.

Ie my name is Mary but I often get called anything that begins with M. Margaret, Marian, Mia, Maria, Marjorie, Millie, Marie,
Miranda!

And then sometimes really weird ones where people insist my name is something entirely different like Valerie or Rachel. Because I don’t “look” like a Mary Confused.

It is rude though. Especially from long term colleagues who know it upsets you.

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Flemingshat · 27/04/2021 08:30

I don't think this has anything to do with your name being foreign

Hmm, maybe not but my sisters who also have foreign names (with no other common spelling) also have theirs consistently misspelled, though I take your point that Sarah/Sara and so on will also get the same treatment.

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Enough4me · 27/04/2021 08:30

People do make mistakes with most names. I work with a Carole and a Tracey and their 'e' letter is often missing on emails.

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20newnames · 27/04/2021 08:31

YANBU at all. I often get an extra letter added to my name, it’s not even as if I spell it oddly but it is a fairly unusual name.

Again, it’s how people type it in an email address box and then write dear wrong spelling. It is literally in front of you!!! You have just either typed it or selected it from a list, IN FRONT OF YOU!!!

I don’t mind so much with people that don’t know me well but for people who are in regular contact I do find it rude and very annoying.

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EverythingRuined · 27/04/2021 08:33

I've a non English name that's very often misspelled and mispronounced and it doesn't bother me at all. I'd get annoyed if someone was mispronouncing on purpose to annoy me but other than that I do not care at all.
I like having my name. It's pretty and people always ask about it and compliment me on it having it repeatedly misspelt is a small price to pay.
Why exactly does it annoy you? Do you really care if Joan in accounts gets your name wrong? Why is that a problem? 🤷🏻‍♀️

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RosesAndHellebores · 27/04/2021 08:33

Oh and don't start me on the number of nurses and teachers who think they have a God given right to comment about my name "ooh that's unusual, where did that come from/what made your mother call you that"? Strange how if I respond it dates to the 12th Century and is from xshire or because my parents chose it I imagine, inevitably receives the NHS eyeroll. It is so rude on a number of counts but whilst I can see why a person from overseas would interpret it as pote tially racist I think it's just due to a lack of emotional intelligence and being unable to extrapolate that if you wouldn't say it Jane Smith, it's probably inappropriate and by God it's boring when you have an unusual/difficult name.

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QueenPaw · 27/04/2021 08:34

People also can't get my surname right which is say.. smith Hmm
So I get "Samuel smithy?"
Nope. Wrong

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Flemingshat · 27/04/2021 08:34

Why exactly does it annoy you? Do you really care if Joan in accounts gets your name wrong? Why is that a problem?

I just find it rude.

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