Boarders

[AgentProvocateur]

On my FB feed, and on here to a lesser extent, so many people write ‘boarders’ for ‘borders’. Why? They don’t even sound alike.

They sound pretty much alike when I say them.

They do in my accent. But I know the difference.

They sound exactly alike in my accent and many others.

I agree it's incorrect and mildly annoying, but I wouldn't dream of pointing it out or correcting people.

They sound identical in my London accent.

Lots of people read and write badly, the faux surprise does you no credit.

But I know the difference
So do I, funnily enough.

I wouldn’t dream of pointing it out or correcting people either - that’s why I’ve posted in Pedants’ Corner

To me, boarder sounds like bored(er) and border sounds like cord(er).

@willowpatterns - I know, right? Saying you're spending the weekend painting the boarders could get you into an awful lot of trouble with Ofsted

I know Agent, a safe place to vent where you don't have to sit on your hands

I'm guessing you have a rhotic accent, like my DH from Ireland who says those two words like you do.

@DramaAlpaca, west of Scotland originally so very probably.

The boarders definitely need to be gated...

But ‘board’ and ‘cord’ sound exactly the same?

Yes, that'd be a rhotic accent.

But ‘board’ and ‘cord’ sound exactly the same?

Not in my NW England accent. I love regional variances in accents and the rhotic / non-rhotic differences.

I knew that's what this thread would be about! It's all over Mumsnet too and my first thought is what did the boarders ever do? I'm sure they'd much rather be day pupils!

Borders divide countries, boarders stay overnight at school!

We've heard about beds in sheds but some people think it ok to have paying lodgers in their flowerbeds.