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D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y

d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com — One of the most misspelled words on the internet is

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  • Blankford, on 11/09/2007, -19/+1105thats why they invented spell cheque
    • charmedguy18, on 10/26/2007, -328/+25haha. Cheque. Funny.
    • SurrealDream, on 10/29/2007, -10/+459I'm defiantly going to stand up for this cause.
    • imikedaman, on 10/29/2007, -7/+399Now honestly, who will remember the exact URL for that website in order to see that?
    • chuck667, on 10/12/2007, -75/+3I'm going to [insert pun on definitely here]...
    • Jimzip, on 10/12/2007, -62/+2Oh god jowchie.. What have you done...

      Jimzip :D
    • sparks2, on 10/26/2007, -10/+175I feel bad... i'm one of those that "definately" contributed to the creation of this site.
    • blobzorz, on 10/26/2007, -9/+157Mos' def'.
      • KingWi11, on 07/25/2008, -0/+1and Talib Quali are Black Star

        - had to do it, i'm listing to it right now
    • woojoo, on 10/12/2007, -53/+18this is defiantly going to help me in english

      edit: oh poop i didn't see surrealdream's reply... this joke is old now ):
    • JoCliMe, on 10/12/2007, -7/+40No, I'm pretty sure it's "Lose" (i.e. Loose)
      • Margh, on 11/03/2007, -6/+2No you mean your pretty sure its lose!
    • keeblamos, on 10/12/2007, -48/+4This is a comment.
    • davidsmero, on 10/29/2007, -13/+352D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-X

      damnit, almost got it.
    • donkeyshow, on 10/12/2007, -41/+2mos def
    • kingfoot, on 10/12/2007, -9/+31yeah, ive resorted to putting "yeah i'll def. go!" (just an example).
    • mhuggins, on 10/19/2007, -1/+150"I'll bet alot of people could use this."

      We obviously need one of these sites for "a lot" as well...
    • wotcher, on 10/12/2007, -16/+13I dunno, my vote for most misspelled word is "committed."

      It's always misspelled as comitted, commited, comited
      • GeekyGerge, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3You must have trouble with commitment
      • GeekyGerge, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1You must have a problem with commitment...
    • DonWilson, on 10/12/2007, -31/+8[insert random sentence to have others digg up this comment]
    • retral, on 10/12/2007, -3/+72I'll let a few "definitely" mistakes go if it means people getting your/you're & their/they're/there right.
    • Xavier1012, on 10/26/2007, -11/+2801.Find out word that most people misspell
      2.Make website about that word with dashes in between letters
      3.AdSense!
      4.PROFIT!!

      this guy stopped at step 2...
    • slythfox, on 10/29/2007, -8/+64Yeah, Firefox spell checker is so helpful.
      • Hurricane, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2Yep, yet another strength of the fox.
    • aussieNickuss, on 10/12/2007, -23/+2The red dotted line under a word is a frequent occurrence for me in Firefox =)

      BTW - Is a whole site on the word definitely worth it??
    • TheWorm, on 10/29/2007, -1/+47I'm usually a pretty good speller, but I can never spell "necessary" to save my life. Good thing I'll probably never have to save my life by spelling "necessary".
    • Philodox, on 10/12/2007, -7/+25wtf I went to www.d-e-f-i-n-a-t-e-l-y.com and it said my spelling was just fine.
    • ajb2015, on 10/29/2007, -0/+133Just remember the word "finite," and you shouldn't have any problems.
    • atillatheliger, on 10/12/2007, -23/+56Aoccdrnig to rseearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
      • CBound, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1That is true for words we are familiar with, but just try to sound out a unfamiliar word when it is misspelled!
    • Mengoxon, on 10/12/2007, -27/+41.Find out word that most people misspell
      2. Make sure that misspelled word is a highly-paid adword like "loan consolidation"
      3. Make website about that word with dashes in between letters
      4. AdSense!
      5. PROFIT!! (even more!)

      ...Im registering www.l-o-a-n--c-o-n-s-o-l-i-d-a-t-i-o-n.com right now...
    • obxjdt, on 10/12/2007, -20/+3I'm d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y amazed that this has been dugg more than once.......Oh God....Why did I even post here???
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2point taken... but "defiantly" passes the "cheque"

      Not only is this specific misspelling common on the internet, as one might expect, it has creeped into COLLEGE LEVEL papers. "I 'defiantly' believe in topic A."
    • askldjd, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3I thought it was "recieve"
    • UnnDunn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+51@theworm:

      Just remember: One collar, two sleeves. One C, two Ss. neCeSSary.
    • MSTK, on 10/26/2007, -3/+78Hey, look! Haha, some guy already registered http://www.g-u-l-l-i-b-l-e.com ... this misspelled-word-into-a-url fad might be catching on.
    • KeithLM, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@ajb2015

      That's the thing I don't get, the root of the word is finite, why do people screw it up all the time? It's so simple.
    • bitcloud, on 10/29/2007, -0/+43Most spelling mistakes are due to the "whole word recognition" thing they teach at schools...

      If kids learned some basic latin, or at the very least learned how words are contructed they wouldn't spell "definitely", they'd spell "de-finite-ly" (they'd develop an intuitive understanding of the words meaning too)
    • PSPon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19Firefox 2 spell check is like a party in my comments and Digg spelling nazis aren't invited.
    • themastersb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Definately. I have a habit of doing that.
    • sctechguy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4"If kids learned some basic latin, or at the very least learned how words are contructed they wouldn't spell "definitely", they'd spell "de-finite-ly" (they'd develop an intuitive understanding of the words meaning too)"

      Ironic sentence alert! (Sorry, bitcloud, I had to bring it up...my sarcasm reflex was getting twitchy)
    • anks, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Ironically, to get to your website, one must definately know how to spell definitely!
    • troon, on 10/12/2007, -9/+13This is a rediculous waste of time.
    • eonblue, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2I've definatly wondered how to spell that word! I've always been able to tell ive been spelling it wrong, just never bothered to look it up.
    • zach99998, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4lol mstk i clicked on your site. i dont get it, and it didnt work. check url please.
    • MackDiesel2010, on 10/15/2007, -16/+1someone do a site for www.c-a-n-c-e-l-e-d.com

      That's right; it's not cancelled.
    • seandfeeney, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The worst part of spell check is that every time I spell check definatly I get defiantly and definitely is not listed. I'll never get it right!
    • profOblivion, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11"Cancelled" is the British/Canadian spellling.
    • Zippo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I blame the English language for not being spelled phonetically. That's what I like about Japanese; if you can say the word, you know how to spell it.
    • toppgun, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1I dont even say that word in speech, I just say 'def' and everyone knows what I mean because that is what all my friends use.
    • griz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13DUGG for not having adsense all over it.
    • HisTumness, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Why are people burying troon? It seems pretty obvious to me he was making a jab at people who misspell "ridiculous".
    • davidlow, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Why are people so defiently opposed to alternate spellings? Even Shakespeare spelled his own name several different ways.
    • lordsandwich, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Hey, your right! All I have to do is seperate de from finite! I should of thought of that a long time ago.
    • jspegele, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3@MSTK

      Haha, wow, I am http://r-e-t-a-r-d-i-d.com
    • spoiled1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1That is so wierd
    • kennyboyo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I definately agree with this articel.

      No Comment!
    • igotdugout, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Glad I wasn't effected by this.
    • ophello, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1My pet peeve: "I could of wrote this better."

      RRRRRG.
      Could HAVE, fools.
    • toxicredm, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Yes, spell cheque is the balm.

      (Note: Firefox spell check said "cheque" is spelled wrong.)
    • lachcorp, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1in soviet russia, spell checks YOU!
  • TurboFool, on 11/07/2007, -4/+90I love it. We need a site like this for "your" and "you're", as well as "there," "their," and "they're." Also one for "of" and "'ve."
    • dieinafire, on 10/12/2007, -2/+38don't forget to, too and two
    • mtcow, on 10/14/2007, -10/+62I don't know why people misspell "loose" and "lose" so often. It's easy to remember.

      Lose as in you are a lose-r. Loose as in your mom is loose.
    • kingfoot, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1because...
    • bazuden, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5And one for 'Brian' and 'Brain'.

      All the Brian's Holah!

      Is that how you spell 'Holah'?
    • tomi, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1I'll bet alot of people could use this.
    • SpacePirate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5http://evula.org/infernostudios/n00bdeterrent/sb_grammar_youre.mp3
    • Fordi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+32@mtcow:
      That works until you realize how many people spell 'loser' 'looser'.

      ***** morons.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -12/+34"don't forget to, too and two"

      One, won
      Two, to, too
      Three, tree
      Four, fore, for
      Five
      six, sicks (?)
      seven
      Eight, ate
      Nine, nein (OK, that's German)
      Ten

      America had a perfectly good language, 'till the Brits came along and f**ked it up.
      I kid, i kid.
    • javip, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13These aren't misspellings though, these errors come from people not knowing which word to use in which situation.
    • bazuden, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1@waterdragon

      Once you've been to England, you'll know how much the Poms have butchered the English language.
    • mutatron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Check out how many sites there are for the apostrophe.

      http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apostrophe&btnG=Google+Search
    • Sivvy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+221 1 was a race horse,
      2 2 was 1 2,
      1 1 1 1 race,
      2 2 1 1 2.

      Bet you can't figure it out (unless your oldschool :p).
    • Mengoxon, on 10/29/2007, -4/+631 1 was a race horse,
      2 2 was 1 2,
      1 1 1 1 race,
      2 2 1 1 2.

      Wanwan was a race horse,
      Tutu was one, too,
      Wanwan won one race,
      Tutu won one, too.
      • Larz0rz, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2Excuse me.
        I'm pretty sure it's Juan Juan...
    • mrsmalkav, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1and loose vs lose.... oi.
    • tomi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2I hope anyone who buried my post above realizes that the misspelling of "a lot" was intentional. Whatever, can't please everyone.
    • mroo, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0@waterdragon:

      Are you referring to the language of native north american's?
      OR are you just a complete moron ?
    • rdrr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7The king of internet spelling errors is "a lot". I don't know how many times in one day I see postings, blogs, emails with "alot" in them. grrrr
    • griz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I81, OU812
    • sstidman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1@mtcow

      "I don't know why people misspell "loose" and "lose" so often. It's easy to remember.
      Lose as in you are a lose-r. Loose as in your mom is loose."

      You must have had a very cool English teacher. Most would not have taught the spelling of the word "loose" by pointing out that the students could simply think of their mothers when trying to remember the proper spelling.
    • 66np66ip, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@ Sivvy "Bet you can't figure it out (unless your oldschool :p)."

      Your comment is ironic considering the parent you're responding to. Time to go back to the old school for "your" and "you're."
    • Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Don't forget "gray"
    • burnblue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8What's wrong with 'gray'? There are two ways of spelling the word, depending on where you're from.

      'Would of' and 'Should of' really really bother me.
    • Sivvy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@66np66ip, the irony was on purpose, to amuse those who take the time to read.
    • kopaka649, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Insure" and "ensure" is another very annoying one.
    • standsolid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4its and it's
    • danielsamuels, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1affect / effect
    • yersoocrust, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Usage errors don't count as spelling mistakes.
  • Cyre, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4You could make some cache if you made a page like that. BTW, what do you mean "ve"?
    • imakecomments, on 10/12/2007, -1/+54Some people incorrectly write "could of" instead of "could have" or "could've".
  • slowmo, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2havn't
    • kingfoot, on 10/12/2007, -8/+7umm, haven't.
      • dissipatedfog, on 09/03/2008, -0/+0umm, yes but havn't is another example of bad spelling on the internet. get it?
  • clockworkORANGE, on 10/12/2007, -42/+4I spell it different each time I type it.. along with:

    rememebr
    rmember
    remerber
    remmebr

    -remember.

    and yet, everyone knows what I mean, so why correct myself?
    • drouk1556, on 10/15/2007, -1/+58You, sir, may be on to the next Web 2.0 startup with remembr. It could be like delicious meets flickr. Write that one down, I'll be expecting due compensation.
    • greymarketbrain, on 10/12/2007, -3/+29clockwork, please don't correct yourself, we can easily judge you by your (or anyone's) inability to master the language and completely disregard what you have to say.
    • UNL1M1T3D, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Because misspellings make you look stupid.
  • neonic, on 10/26/2007, -2/+43But *****, How am I going to get to this site when I need to remember how it's spelled?
    • greymarketbrain, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15@neonic: grammar?
    • nikolavejin, on 11/11/2007, -0/+1Well helpfully Google will correct you with: "Did you mean..." and first site in new results will be www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com
    • nikolavejin, on 11/11/2007, -1/+0Well helpfully Google will correct you with: "Did you mean..." and first site in new results will be www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com
    • nikolavejin, on 11/11/2007, -1/+1Well helpfully Google will correct you with: "Did you mean..." and first site in new results will be www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com
    • nikolavejin, on 11/11/2007, -1/+0Well helpfully Google will correct you with: "Did you mean..." and first site in new results will be www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com
  • xXRobbyXx, on 10/16/2007, -6/+62me fail english? thats umpossible!
    • dieinafire, on 10/12/2007, -2/+76you mean UNpossible...
    • startrek, on 10/12/2007, -52/+2or IMpossible
    • gungaroo22, on 10/12/2007, -55/+3Good joke. It was funnier when Homer Simpson said it on national television, but it's cool if you want to pass it off as your own clever saying.
    • Daddaluma, on 10/12/2007, -1/+38Fail. You mean Ralph Wiggum.
    • dimatt, on 10/12/2007, -17/+1Homer? You mean Ralph?

      You bastard Daddaluma! Anyways, classic Simpsons quote none the less.
    • neau, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Simpsons did it!
  • converge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28So is "misspelled".
    • ICSU, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Some people have no idea that the 'misspelt' form is correct (in the British English at least).
    • dmitriyvoz, on 10/11/2007, -4/+0The aYuthor has mentioned very much a vital topic today. It seems to me that the problematics of this clause enables to reflect and draw conclusions. You can as to look sites in Russian which mention this theme: http://www.rolid.org http://www.se-ua.com
  • xniL, on 10/12/2007, -11/+5o rly?
  • Reziarfg, on 10/15/2007, -1/+71I vote ridiculous. spelled too often as "rediculous" for when one diculous isn't enough, re-diculous.
    • Dunadan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21I know you were joking, but for those interested the actual root is ridicule, with ridiculous meaning having the quality of being able to be ridiculed.
  • nubnub, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29Firefox spell check ftw
    • Galanoth, on 07/16/2008, -0/+0lol, yes. Firefox spell check is awesome!
  • RandomSchl, on 10/12/2007, -16/+1I could easily make a site that says one of the most misspelled words is happiness. Theres no proof or an article attached so I cant find this plausible.
    • DarthSupero, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I don't think that the page actually says that the word is the most misspelled. The submitter just wrote it in the description.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I remember somewhere hearing a French woman - comic, who said she was just looking for ...appiness.

      (with her accent, she made the 'h' silent, and accented the 'i')

      It seemed funny at the time.
      The Beatles had the song 'Happiness is a warm gun' ...and she used to refer to it as her favorite Beatles song.
  • Fletchnuts, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20I think the word "lose" is one of the most misspelled words as well!

    I can't stand seeing people spell it as "loose"... so frustrating.
    • muffinmanpoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17What loosers.
    • BeyondGoodNEvil, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Someone else won the spelling bee... I was the looser.
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -3/+43Only a looser would mispel Definately.
  • fatadamblog, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Next comes www.antidisestablishmentarianism.com

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidisestablishmentarianism
  • tedsfrozenhead, on 10/12/2007, -12/+0But will grammar nazis blend?
  • Michypoo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8It's always annoyed me just a little bit when people spelled "definitely" as "definately" and thought it to be the rightful spelling of the word.

    It's such a pet peeve for me. I'll flip through pages of student essays and be able to immediately point out any misspellings in their composition. I guess I've become everyone's dictionary/spell checker.
  • AnotherCanadian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7i have very poor grammar and spelling skills. definitely is the word i always seem to misspell :. thank god for spell check
  • opiv421, on 10/12/2007, -1/+52It's also PWN not OWN. Where did the O come from?
    • purple, on 10/12/2007, -21/+2I hate people who think PWN is pronounced 'poon' or 'pown.' It's 'pawn' damn it!

      Pawn (pwn) as in Chess. One of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally. 'Pwning' someone is to prove they are of a low value, like the pawn in chess.

      Or it could also be someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes. 'Pwning' someone is using them to prove your superiority.
    • TheSpore, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4I don't think you can correct the leet-speak of chronic IM-ers and 12-year old gamers. I have seen so many spelling and pronunciation variations of various words and concepts that nothing is really standardized.

      I think in this case "pwnd," as in "powned" refers to a variation of "owned," whereas "pwnd" as in "pawned" refers to the chess pawns you mentioned. They may as well be considered separate words, not that it matters that much.

      Unless all the gamers and IM-ers can get together and make some real standardization of this stuff, there's not much point in correcting stuff that's not real English anyway.
    • myFriendDerrik, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Old people spell pwn as own because their fingers and feeble and arthritis stricken so they can't reacher the 'p' as easily.
    • sctechguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14@purple: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwn

      How long have you been on the internets?
    • warox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Yes, I'm making a chess reference when taunting you after wrecking your face in cstrike. D-e-f-i-n-a-t-e-l-y a chess reference. Very common game among cstrikers. Can't possibly be because I'm typing fast and o and p are right next to each other
    • sstidman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Uhhh, you guys must not have been on the Internet very long. When that word was first used commonly, it was "owned". It morphed over time to "pwned".
  • JayyMan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12and their, there, they're...
    too, to, two...
    then, than...
    your, you're...

    even though i admit to a lot of those mistakes, but out of laziness, not ignorance
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2"and their, there, they're...
      too, to, two...
      then, than...
      your, you're.."

      Seems like there were more words in days of yore!

      And you forgot 'dare.'

    • javip, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2oops
    • foobar5892, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's ALWAYS laziness, isn't it?
  • mywhitenoise, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17rediculous is ridiculous.
  • wrzhydr, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2restaurant..hate it..
  • rmw132, on 10/12/2007, -13/+5This message brought to you by somebody who has too much free time, lack of a sex life, and money to waste on a domain name that no one will visit after tomorrow.
    • TheTaoOfBill, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3Seriously...

      Who the ***** cares. I think I am going to spell defiantly wrong every time now just to piss people like this guy off. Spelling and Grammar Nazis are annoying. If you can read it then it is good enough for me. I know tons of highly intelligent people who simply can't spell for *****. I use the spell check every time because I am a horrible speller but sometimes it misses words and I don't care enough to correct it.
  • Nickerz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16all words have nothing on TOMORROW
  • MatCon5, on 10/12/2007, -14/+1 Stupid elitist bastards.
  • 1310nm, on 11/12/2007, -1/+16Hear hear! Next up - domains with apostrophes.
  • nightchrome, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I agree with Reziarfg, the one I see misspelled the most often is "ridiculous" as "rediculous".
  • awesomepossum94, on 10/12/2007, -20/+1But will it blend?
  • ellimist, on 11/12/2007, -0/+36Google Fight:

    http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=definitely&word2=definately

    22.3 MILLION "definately"s

    *****.
  • alamandrax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5damn straight.
  • Wamzlee, on 10/15/2007, -1/+18Definately worth a digg....


    *****!
  • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -16/+1Anyone who would post this to the front page is definitely an idiot with no life.
    It is not like EVERY digg user is going to see it, or follow it!
    What a waste of e-ink!





  • Kenji32, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3D3F1N1T31Y a tough word to spell.
  • desertrose, on 10/12/2007, -6/+18"wierd" makes me want to punch a bitch in the uterus.
  • D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1F7, done
  • Gerbil_Juice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8"defiantly" kills me.
    • idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7They defiantly refuse to learn
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I see it "defiantly" the time and it gets under my skin because it isn't even as if it SOUNDS like the intended word. "Definately" is far less irritating to me, but the devil is in the fact that "defiantly" passes the spell-checker.... and definately does not...I suppose I should be more irritated by the person who didn't spell check his/her paper, but I am not.
  • Toshibi, on 11/12/2007, -9/+4What bothers me the most is that people get so hung up on spelling errors and punctuation that they completely miss what the sentence is saying. Try not to read for errors, instead, try reading for content and understanding.

    I can not spell. Never once considered spelling something important to master and it didn't help that I have read just as many books written in Queen's English as American English. It also didn't help that even though I could read well by second grade they did a school wide phonetic spelling to read course which really screwed me up.

    It helps that I have system wide spell check in Linux, but a few misspelled words really do not take away from the ideas that are being conveyed.
    • mutatron, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Ideas have to really be good to get over the hump of bad spelling and poor grammar. Especially nowadays, when there are so many things to read and so many people who write well AND have good ideas. When I come across something that's difficult to read because of errors, I'd just as soon dismiss it as read to the end of it. And that's the bottom line to me, the errors make my mind stumble as I read. Errorless writing is like a well oiled machine, which conveys its message easily, without errors getting in the way.
      • knutslie, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"Especially nowadays, when there are so many things to read and so many people who write well AND have good ideas."

        You can't write words with big letters suddenly in the middle of a sentence. This instantly disqualifies you for getting "over the hump", as you put it. Your reply is ludicrously self-contradictory and deserves little attention.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Toshibi, misspellings definitely impede understanding a point. Contrary to the fictional "Cambridge" study that "shows" that spelling doesn't matter... the evidence is that it does. Rayner published an article on this topic a couple years back, sorry, this is the only publicly accessible version I could find...
      http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/FA99C105-09C9-40D0-8BC5-EE2322C700CC/
    • illuminatedwax, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1But when you misspell common words like definitely or ridiculous, or screw up "your" and "you're" or "its" and "it's", readers of English can't help but hate you immediately. It's like talking like a retard at a debate and then complaining you lost because they didn't pay attention to what you were trying to say. Content isn't all that matters; presentation is important, too.
    • Angostura, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Next week: "Why I never shower, and don't consider it important"
  • tantalos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17Alrighty another pet peeve:
    thAn is a compArative
    thEn is used for timE

    • XIUgraag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The problem that I have with those words is that in other languages (like Dutch, my native language) is that they both translate to "dan", so I have to admit to always using "then". I'm trying to use "than" in the correct cases but it isn't always easy to know which one to use when.
    • wbgo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@Xiugraag

      Try to remember a phrase, then, not just the words. Something like "larger than life".

      On the other hand, because you understand English grammar (unlike most native speakers), you'd probably never make the your/you're or there/their mistakes that are so common amongst native speakers of English.
  • meowkat515, on 11/12/2007, -5/+2This is the one word I can NEVER spell correctly.
  • seiha, on 11/12/2007, -1/+10i spelt the word separate wrong all my life until i found out a few months ago.

    i originally spelled it 'seperate' :(
  • thebghate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4What about people who think "alot," "allright/allright," and "noone" are actually words?
    These are SEPARATE words, people, not compound words!
    Than and then also drives me nuts.
    Has anyone read Eats, Shoots, and Leaves? That book is practically my bible.
    • thebghate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think it's funny that I get dugg down for using commonly misspelled words in an article about a commonly misspelled word. All right, so a lot of people, and perhaps, no one understands that these aren't actual words. I'm definitely disappointed. You're letting me down, Digg. I'd call you losers, but that'd be too predictable. I should've tried harder.
  • kenthorvath, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1If enough people want to spell it a certain way, and there is no ambiguity about it, it will become an accepted spelling and grow in use. Language and grammar are not black and white or static - they are continuously evolving and take on a life of their own.
    • InternetDisease, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3That's not entirely correct. It's certainly true that spoken language changes and evolves in this way, but language is a component of our brains, and we adapt naturally to its evolution. Spellings is an artifical construct, and therefore needs to be guided be fairly strict rules to keep everyone on the same page.
    • Fordi, on 10/29/2007, -1/+6Ah, the common excuse for bad grammar and spelling. Spelling things correctly is one way a person avoids ambiguity. No, English is not static, it's *growing*. That doesn't mean that words - especially words that are derived from a root, a prefix, and suffixes - are changing.

      de-fin(e)-ite-ly (adv.) (Note that the below have multiple definitions, but I chose the appropriate ones for the definition of 'definitely' and shortened them into their atoms for simplicity.)
      de - Intensifying
      fine - acceptable
      ite - product
      ly - characteristic of

      In essence, characteristic of intensifying an acceptable product. For example, "I am definitely a proponent of correct English;" 'proponent of correct English' is the product (me). If you change the spelling, the definition becomes less derivable. English, for a good part, is a language of components. If you don't spell correctly, the components aren't there. Take any word or sentence apart, and you'll be able to see the programming-language-like complexity and syntax that pervades.

      Meanwhile, one of the more common misspellings of 'definitely' is 'defiantly', which is another word altogether, so there's your ambiguity.

      Don't like it? Fine. You're not changing the world with your ***** spelling or your bad grammar. Maybe if you have good ideas. Of course, if you have good ideas, you'll soon have a need for someone to correct your language - so you don't look like an idiot when you present them.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/29/2007, -3/+2@ internetdisease
      "but language is a component of our brains, "

      You are totally wrong, and arrogant for claiming that. While our brain does utilize language, language itself is not a component.

      Thalamus, Hipocampus, Pons, Serotonine, Norepinephrine....those are 'components ' of the brain.
      Go spread your fake pseudo-science elsewhere!
    • InternetDisease, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I can't tell if you're joking or not. If you aren't, then god, what a lame semantic argument to make. Grow up and learn how to have a real debate. If you are, then the joke's on me.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I tend to agree more with kent, if enough people use it, it will become a word; if a spelling becomes pervasive enough, the dictionary will reflect the "alternative" spelling. English has so many exception words, I agree with the comment that spelling has an "artificial" component to it, but morphemes play a role in so many of the weird spellings we see.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"Spellings is an artifical construct, and therefore needs to be guided be fairly strict rules to keep everyone on the same page."

      The word "spellings" is plural noun and therefore requires a plural verb (are), which then eliminates the "an" and then requires construct to become "constructs."

      ...needs then becomes need...

      ...needs to be guided BY fairly strict rules..."
  • glowend, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The most common misspelling I see is when people spell lose (as in the opposite of win) loose.
  • ILikeBeets, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Break it down people! Look at the root word: FINITE. de-FINITE-ly. That's how I remember how to spell stuff. Spell check is definetly easier though, but then you don't lern!
    • TheTaoOfBill, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0finite can be spelled different ways though. That's where the problem lies. Finit, Finate, Finat all can produce the same sound. I don't think the problem lies with the speller as much as it lies with the English language. It's a very confusing language as far as spelling goes.
    • banderbe, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Yeah thanks for that. I only learned that in the second ***** grade.

      Public education is an abomination.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Beets, the veracity of your claim rests on the assumption that people who misspell the word "definitely" are even rarely using the word "finite!" I can go for months without writing or speaking the word "finite."
    • MarsBarJ, on 11/10/2007, -0/+0I assume you spelled 'definitely' wrong for ironic purposes? Just like you misspelled 'learn'?
  • cuoops, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2No, it's your and you're
    • Fordi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Your"/"you're" is a grammar problem, not a spelling problem. Same with "its/it's", "there/they're/their", and "then/than". Not that they're NOT annoying, just they're not spelling issues - otherwise, the spell check would catch 'em.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Your claim depends on the person's lexicon. If "its" AND "it's" are in their lexicon then it is a grammar issue; if not, it is a misspelling. In the end, the point is irrelevant because, grammar or misspelling, it is incorrect.
  • Splitt3rxx, on 10/15/2007, -5/+2this is stoopid, why teh hel is somthing liek thsi on the frunt page? dam gramer nazis
  • dimona, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2i think it depends on how you were educated (whether spelling was emphasized) combined with whether you personally feel it's important to spell correctly, which is entirely subjective. i can't help it, seeing loose/lose used wrong bugs me; for definitely i just remember there is the word 'finite' in the middle (makes sense to me), and other tricks like there's 'a rat' in separate (which makes no sense to me but i remember it). mnemonics are helpful, just don't expect people to remember how to spell mnemonic. then again, i used (not 'use to'!) put one of my shoes on the top of my bedroom door when i went to bed if i really need to remember something the next morning, then be like "what the hell is my shoe... oh..ahem, right"
    • Fordi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Apparently, while lose/loose bothers you, lack of capitalization and paragraph breaks between thoughts don't.

      By the by, mnemonics - or life hacks, as people who can't spell 'mnemonic' say - are great things. But actually learning the structure of the language you speak is better (eg: de[finite]ly good, sep[a rat]ely bad) .
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Cut the guy some slack on capitalization and paragraphing issues on a digg comment board. Not using capitalization or paragraphs on "bulletin boards" is a commonly accepted means of communication.
  • CaseyCC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Definitely isn't the most misspelled word on the internet - people using "its" when it should be "it's" and vice versa is the most common mistake, and one of the most annoying.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2As someone has said before, "its/it's" is most often not a misspelling; it is a grammar error, in most instances.
    • Bizbat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think you're right about it being the most common mistake. "Its" instead of "it's" can be a typo, but the reverse is annoying because it's wrong AND deliberate.
    • Daniel15, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah, I agree... I hate when people use it's rather than its...
  • indyinno, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1D_E_F_I_N_I_T_E_L_Y C_R_A_Z_Y D_I_G_G_E_R_S
  • banderbe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Your and You're are the most misspelled words.

    And folks let me tell you right now- when you spell your (possessive) as you're, or vice versa, you look like an uneducated jack ass.

    Its and it's are also a close second.

    I've seen brilliant programmers misspell 'maintenance' as 'maintainance'.

    And another thing, given that Firefox 2.0 has a ***** spell checker there is NO EXCUSE for that *****.
    • bazuden, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Given that Digg has a spell check there's no excuse.
    • Fordi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@bazuden:
      Well, perhaps, but FF does it auto. A digger can say he forgot to press the 'Spell Check' button, but is unlikely to miss the red underscores all over his brain dead post.
    • jayhawks71, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Banderbe, most of the errors ("maintainance" excepted) you point out would not be caught by a spell-checker that was not analyzing for grammar. Any jackass (one word) would know that.
    • bazuden, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1And not everyone uses Firefox.
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