'Loose' and 'Lose'.

The fact that some people may not remember which spelling /word to use may not be to do with a bad education! Maybe some posters have a specific learning difficulty /dylexia and find it very hard to identify differences such as of/off, there, their, they're, lose/loose. But handy phrases, such as Bags demonstrated can help ..so good idea to share and identify common errors.
I always try to tell someone if they have food stuck on a tooth or dress in knickers.. and kindly pointing out word errors is similar... it stops embarrassment and hopefully not continued posting!

I make frequent errors due to poor typing skills and lack of checking.. but am also a poor speller!

I stand corrected - again!

You are quite wrong, Movedalot - there have been many times in the past year when every single post I made was jumped upon by the same few people, and I was extremely grateful for all the support I received. As that all happened before you joined, you could not be expected to know about it.

I'm speaking for myself, gknot. You know, saying what I think.

I hardly thin Greatnan needs anyone to defend her!!!!

bags greatnan prefers it when people speak for themselves!

I expect greatnan "felt the need" because it's something that matters to her. Simple. If her OP is read from that viewpoint and not from one of "ready to be offended", there isn't a problem.

You are fine as you are Movedalot .

Stay as sparky as you are !

nonu you've been looking again! I will diet honestly!

Don't struggle, Ceesnan - I thought some people would like to know how to use the correct word.

I'm struggling to see why you felt the need to do so greatnan. On a forum such as this does it REALLY matter?

I was not criticising. I was giving a way to remember the difference between two words which are confused by many people. I hope that all gransnetters are mature and sensible people who do not take offence when quite clearly none was intended.

Big Movealot

I agree with all those who are concerned that posters may be put off if they think they are being watched and found wanting.

it is a shaim if thuse whoo had a por educasion or show our riting in a horry fell put of by somwon wotching them und critisizing.

I put that down to fingers faster than brain. I also find typing on an android phone makes checking more difficult - well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

And I always have to correct "the" which for some reason comes out as teh!

I frequently mis type "form" instead of "from" and for some reason often type "aslo". And commnet and compnay.

It's a bit like Eric Morecambe playing the piano.

Yes - I do the spacing too - mainly becaise I am so short-sighted and I find that it helps me to check back over my pearls of wisdom!

Good point, nelliem. Thanks for highlighting that problem. Better spacing could help quite a few people.

It could be a typos. I get quite and quiet mistyped as, well as there and their. I know the difference I don't always notice which I have typed.I have had trouble with loose and lose.

I think from the point of view of the readabilty of posts leaving spaces between paragraphs is very important in a long post. See some above.

It probably my dyslexic leanings but spaced lines really helps me to follow a post. I cannot be the only one who finds long unseparated paragraphs hard to read. Please!

Yes, Mishap I too try to let them drift by. But after 30 years of teaching English, I sometimes have a metaphorical pencil in my hand, ready to correct! But I don't use it. As you say, it is what is in the message here that counts. Pedants' corner is sometimes a useful place, though.

Etymology and language development in general is one of my abiding passions too.

The thing is not to be guilt-ridden, and then it doesn,t matter.

Yes - apparently 'wracked with guilt' is considered as correct as 'racked with guilt', whereas it was drummed into us at school that this was not the case!

I'm sure she wasn't too.