Ect., ect., ect.

I think autocorrect is responsible for a lot of apparent mistakes.

Even proof reading doesn't always pick them up, as autocorrect replaces one word with another, so there are no spelling mistakes for the eye to spot. I noticed one of mine earlier - I was droning in a meeting instead of doing something 'during' a meeting ?.

For some reason I always spot my typos/mistakes as soon as they are posted, but not necessarily when I preview them. An edit button would be such a help, even if it only stayed live for five minutes after posting.

Thanks Oldnproud and MaizieD! I know the apostrophe is for missing letters but my O-Grade Latin tells me that the possessive case is a contraction of -is. Then I just give up!

I'll just soldier on, getting it wrong...

I'm afraid that I would tell your niece, Mapleleaf.

Isn't this how misunderstandings get embedded in the language and can't be eradicated because 'language changes' and 'everyone knows what you mean'... ?

I know a fair bit about apostrophe use, but sometimes I leave them out.
Just because I can.

But then I never know where to put the apostrophe in "its

I could tell you, if you like, Alegrias?

In fact, I will, but you're welcome to ignore it.

'Its', no apostrophe is a possessive pronoun, like his, hers and theirs. 'It's', with apostrophe, is a contraction of 'it is'. Apostrophe indicates the missing 'i'

It's a nightmare to teach and bl88dy autocorrect doesn't help...

Esspee

I am also in a rage when I see comments about the boarders between e.g. England and Wales.
Anyone else?

That’s an estate agent favourite - they often love ‘flower boarders’, along with shower cubicals, etc.

We're a wonderful mix of posters on GN. It's great to hear different views. I'm more interested in the views than spelling and sentence formation.

I'm less tolerant of those ever so clever types on Sky and the Beeb who say 'amount' of people etc.. No it's number of people. Amount is when we talk about bull s**t, ie. the size of the pile.

Alegrias1

I do agree that we shouldn't correct others spelling when we don't know anything abut them. But "boarders" for instance, is a real word that means something so it won't be picked up by a spell checker. So it could slip through.

But ect? Its a spelling mistake too far Its even being highlighted for me in this post as being misspelt! But then I never know where to put the apostrophe in "its"....

Where to put the apostrophe in its is easy, Alegrias: Put it where the missing letters would have gone if you had written the full version of it is or it has. In other words, between the 't' and the 's': It's

If you are not writing an abbreviation of one of those (as in the possessive its, nothing is missing so do not add an apostrophe!

I hark back to a text recieved from g son's school.

"If your child has brung home the wrong coat...."

It's annoying, isn't it ? as are all spelling mistakes to me, but I let it pass now. Life's too short.

I see singular and plural mistakes on a regular basis, even in the press !

I do notice bits and bobs, but I don't care too much.
I also make some awful mistakes, and someone here asked if I was being ironic?
I had to explain that I really didn't know the correct word. Brought/bought. (I do now)

It irritates me, too. My niece uses it all the time in her texts. The former teacher in me is longing to correct her, but I hold back - I don’t think a 40+ year old would appreciate the correction. ?

I do agree that we shouldn't correct others spelling when we don't know anything abut them. But "boarders" for instance, is a real word that means something so it won't be picked up by a spell checker. So it could slip through.

But ect? Its a spelling mistake too far Its even being highlighted for me in this post as being misspelt! But then I never know where to put the apostrophe in "its"....

Does my head in. My students use it when they know they should give more examples but can't think of them. Grrrr. Just use a full-stop.

Well, while we’re at it, Kier Starmer instead of Keir, drives me bonkers.

And far too many others to go into here.

Alegrias1

Oh I'm with you on that Esspee! But I'm a well known pedant.

When I see it I just want to shout ^Ect? Ect? What does that mean?!?!?^

Oh come now - you all know perfectly well what it means!

Ec Tetera
Latin for “spell check”

I agree. But, having read through these posts, I cannot help but think “People in glass houses should not throw stones!”

I always notice it. I did latin at school but lots didn't and it is probably an easy mistake to make. My spelling isn't great and I hope others don't judge me because of that.

I am also in a rage when I see comments about the boarders between e.g. England and Wales.
Anyone else?

If you mean the wrong spelling - ect instead of etc. then I agree with knobs on.

Oh, I'm a few steps behind everyone in my thinking today and every other day

Yes MissAdventure it most certainly is. That’s why it is soooo infuriating.

Agreed MissA - et cetera, Latin for 'and the rest', abbreviated to etc., not ect.

Drives me nuts but I try not to be bothered. I know we are not allowed to pass comment so I don’t. One poster keeps spelling ‘shielding’ wrong and she uses the word a lot. Others say ‘here here’ when agreeing with another poster on a thread. In the big sea I don’t suppose it matters but I do notice them!

Oh I'm with you on that Esspee! But I'm a well known pedant.

When I see it I just want to shout Ect? Ect? What does that mean?!?!?