Fast and Lose English

[ornoth]

In recent months I’ve seen at least three college graduates on my friends list type “loose” when they meant “lose”, or vice versa, and it’s just as common an occurrence for the people who write for my magazine.

I find that surprising. The two words are completely distinct: in meaning, in part of speech, and in pronunciation. It shocks me that

Comments

[blowtorch_betty]

Be happy you're not in a fitness related lj community!

I reguarly chided people who wanted to "loose my fat" with questions about why they wanted to set it free.

[ornoth]

Girlie, I think I'd have a hard time finding any fat on you to loose! Not that I'd mind the search, tho...

[blowtorch_betty]

I said "fitness" not "weight loss"!

[edschweppe]

With sufficient fasting (which can cause brain damage through malnutrition), one could certainly lose one's command of the English language.

Meanwhile, one could lose one's hounds should one loose them upon a fearsome beast - if said fearsome beast were to slay the hounds.

[time_strider_9]

Loose the pigeons! :-)

I suspect, though, that getting people to use the correct word will be as difficult as getting them to stop writing "alright" (sigh).

[rhillai]

I hardly see those two used wrongly. But not because it doesn't happen, but I just wasn't in tune with looking. I notice more errors from their and there being used wrongly. Also, it's and its, which I have to say I've done. Not sure why, but I caught the wrong usage in my last written novel. I must have been typing really fast. Yeah, that's it. LOL!

[ornoth]

Yeah. They're alot of common misteaks maid.

I highly recommend this site and/or book. It rules.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html

[rubyred660]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I am shocked every time I see it and can't understand how otherwise intelligent people make the mistake.

[ornoth]

As if that rant wasn’t enough, literally last night I was reading “Better Available Light Photography” by Joe Farace and Barry Staver, published by Focal Press, an imprint of Butterworth-Heinemann, and I read the following:
Once the clip test is evaluated, the balance of the film is then processed to achieve the best results. It’s easy to do a clip test and not loose one animated, important image.