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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Too, to, two

115 replies

Iwrotethelyricstoaxlf · 04/02/2023 12:10

Too = as well as

To = to go, add to

Two = a number

Honestly, this is getting worse than there, their, they’re.

as you were.

OP posts:
PAFMO · 04/02/2023 15:24

Gatehouse77 · 04/02/2023 15:19

I’ll admit I find it frustrating but mostly because of the way I was brought up and the high expectations laid on me by my parents, in the first, and school.

However, both of my brothers are dyslexic so I’ve a lot of understanding and experience in looking past it.

My question, though, is is there a way to inform someone they’ve spelt a word incorrectly and therefore changed the meaning/nuance without it coming across as condescending? Do people want to know if they have got it ‘wrong’ for their own benefit?

If you're their teacher, then correct them. Likewise, if you're their parent.
Someone you know very well, you decide.
Someone on Mumsnet- no, it makes you look like a smug twat.

balconylife · 04/02/2023 15:25

@smooththecat is correct in every example she has given.

I wish her well. I'm glad this is my computer and not my phone. On my phone it would autocorrect to wish her we'll. Which is very annoying, especially when someone is ill. My phone doesn't recognise ill, so I can find myself texting how sorry I am to hear you're I'll, get we'll very soon.

smooththecat · 04/02/2023 15:28

Gatehouse77 · 04/02/2023 15:19

I’ll admit I find it frustrating but mostly because of the way I was brought up and the high expectations laid on me by my parents, in the first, and school.

However, both of my brothers are dyslexic so I’ve a lot of understanding and experience in looking past it.

My question, though, is is there a way to inform someone they’ve spelt a word incorrectly and therefore changed the meaning/nuance without it coming across as condescending? Do people want to know if they have got it ‘wrong’ for their own benefit?

In real life I wouldn’t correct anyone grown up, unless I was editing text. I have to admit that I lost it when someone amended my text headed ‘calendar’ to ‘calender’ and sent it to print (approx. 2 metres high).

If you are in certain professions and your spag is not up to scratch, it would pay dividends to accept correction with humility, e.g. law, teaching. In reality people don’t like it and get very angry.

JodiePants · 04/02/2023 15:31

Iwrotethelyricstoaxlf · 04/02/2023 12:10

Too = as well as

To = to go, add to

Two = a number

Honestly, this is getting worse than there, their, they’re.

as you were.

Why is it acceptable for you to critique people spelling homophones wrong but acceptable for you to miss out a capital letter? Is there a SPaG hierarchy?

FrangipaniBlue · 04/02/2023 15:40

@StressedToTheMaxxx 😂😂😂

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 04/02/2023 15:42

BaronessBomburst · 04/02/2023 12:26

Two sacks of potatoes will be too heavy to carry.
I learnt that at junior school and have never forgotten it.

Regrettably disproven by our Amazonian Dinner Lady. 💪

JudgeRudy · 04/02/2023 15:47

AnchorWHAT · 04/02/2023 12:14

For me its loose when they mean lose drives me mad every bloody time.

Lose I can forgive. I'm a healthcare professional and we regularly write 'lose weight' on flip charts. We also talk about taking control etc so might write 'choose to lose weight'. I fight the temptation to add an extra O

Ruffpuff · 04/02/2023 15:55

I’m dyslexic and sometimes struggle with these sorts of grammar issues. I’m university educated and I know the differences, but unless I read what I’ve written 3 times I can slip up. Sometimes I will write ‘defiantly’ instead of ‘definitely’ because they look the same to me (auto-suggest on iPhone helps me). However, even I cringe when I see people misusing ‘two’, or ‘their’ in every instance.

Ameanstreakamilewide · 04/02/2023 15:56

DRS1970 · 04/02/2023 12:13

I hate it when people say Pacific, actually meaning specific.

I also hate people saying expresso instead of espresso.

There's a wee coffee stall near me, which has 'expresso' printed on the side.

I shake my head every time I see it. 🙄

Senorfrijoles · 04/02/2023 15:58

I confess I wrote "to" instead of "too" earlier. I know the difference but my proofreading skills are grim (I am dyslexic) mumsnet should have an edit post function.

UnattendedPotato · 04/02/2023 15:59

Wonder, wondering instead of wander, wandering
Weary instead of wary
Gah!

Senorfrijoles · 04/02/2023 16:00

Ruffpuff · 04/02/2023 15:55

I’m dyslexic and sometimes struggle with these sorts of grammar issues. I’m university educated and I know the differences, but unless I read what I’ve written 3 times I can slip up. Sometimes I will write ‘defiantly’ instead of ‘definitely’ because they look the same to me (auto-suggest on iPhone helps me). However, even I cringe when I see people misusing ‘two’, or ‘their’ in every instance.

I'm exactly the same, dyslexia and proof reading don't fit well together. I need to use the read aloud function when editing my written work.

Tukmgru · 04/02/2023 16:02

A former friend of mine is a teacher, does not have dyslexia, and constantly gets these wrong. Amongst the things he teaches is English language and literature. I was both angry at him for being lazy (again, he doesn’t have dyslexia) and worried that he would be marking homework incorrectly.

He’s an ex friend for a different reason, I promise 😳

UnattendedPotato · 04/02/2023 16:03

Ruffpuff · 04/02/2023 15:55

I’m dyslexic and sometimes struggle with these sorts of grammar issues. I’m university educated and I know the differences, but unless I read what I’ve written 3 times I can slip up. Sometimes I will write ‘defiantly’ instead of ‘definitely’ because they look the same to me (auto-suggest on iPhone helps me). However, even I cringe when I see people misusing ‘two’, or ‘their’ in every instance.

This is why I would never correct a person to their face but save my ire for anonymous boards. I must assume it's not your fault!
All the money and hype for AI though- I'd hope they'd pay more attention to fixing autocorrect.

Gymtok · 04/02/2023 16:12

Oh and women and woman. People on Facebook saying something like 'I'm so in love with my women' instead of woman. Also the mix up between fiance and fiancee.

LulooLemon · 04/02/2023 16:19

I expect the Chester Drawers will make an appearance shortly. To the sound of loud guffaws as we all wet ourselves at how thick other people are.

Per-leeeeze, it's Chester Draws, shurely?

mathanxiety · 04/02/2023 16:19

YANBU - is it autocorrect, or do people really not understand what they're writing?

Defiantlynot41 · 04/02/2023 16:20

@Iwrotethelyricstoaxlf maybe make a gift of this mug to any frequent offender? www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/products/to-two-or-too-grammar-grumble-mug-no-6

I live this company, all of the grammar grumbles mugs are excellent but also a good source of nice gifts for the literary minded

mathanxiety · 04/02/2023 16:21

Fazed is a perfectly correct spelling.

Phased is incorrect.

GneissGuysFinishLast · 04/02/2023 16:25

Gymtok · 04/02/2023 16:12

Oh and women and woman. People on Facebook saying something like 'I'm so in love with my women' instead of woman. Also the mix up between fiance and fiancee.

There is no need to differentiate between fiancé and fiancée.

GneissGuysFinishLast · 04/02/2023 16:26

mathanxiety · 04/02/2023 16:21

Fazed is a perfectly correct spelling.

Phased is incorrect.

It depends what the word is surely?

I wasn’t fazed by it at all
I'm on a phased return

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 04/02/2023 16:27

Greatful (for something) is one I’ve just seen once again on here.

Disinterested when they mean uninterested is another I see often enough.
Disinterested means impartial, not that you’re not interested.

Pinkdafodils · 04/02/2023 16:29

I was say here

(By whom?)

Pinkdafodils · 04/02/2023 16:30

Sorry:

I was sat here