How did this 'loose' misspelling get to be so popular?

[Cruzan]

Before three or four years ago I think I rarely if ever saw loose confused with lose. Now it's just everywhere. I had no idea this kind of fucktard stupidity could spread like a virus.

[Droopy]

1. I think it's an easy mistake

and is not necessarily a gauge of one's intelligence. My mix ups are there/their/they're and your/you're. It's not like I sit there and wonder which one's right. I just subconsciously get them mixed up. I'll usually catch it when I proofread.

[raccoon]

2. I've noticed that one a lot too. nt

[Orangepeel]

3. the incorrect spelling makes sense to people

the word spelled "lose" has a longer o sound than the word spelled "loose".

Couple that with the prevalence of people typing loooooooooser when they really want to drag out the insult, and it isn't surprising that people get it wrong.

[Cruzan]

4. Then it rose with the popularization of the pejoritive 'loser.'

Which preceded it by just a few years. OK, I'll buy that.

[Karenina]

19. Just as sloppy thinking

and lack of attention to detail make sense. Harrumph!

loose
caboose
bellicose*
dose*
goose
hoosegow
moose
noose

Dr. Seuss+
obtuse+

All with "s" sound

lose
abuse+
accuse+
doozy
floozy
hose*
nose*
pose*
ooze
ruse+
woozy

All with "z" sound

*+never mind the exceptions to the vowel sounds or spellings... Simple, eh? Fuck yeah! English is EASY!!! What is WRONG with you people? :evilgrin:

[arwalden]

5. Your correct. Its pretty bad. Their are a lot of morans out their.

[reyd reid reed]

10. Heh

:rofl:

[anarch]

6. hey, let's not loose perspective here

I moan, is it royally tart bag off a dill? It gaits thorough spill chick, affray awl, sew who bard kin it bee?

[reyd reid reed]

7. It's not misspelled....

It's misused. It's just the wrong word.

But it's irritating -- and it Is misused more and more. The one that makes me cringe more than fingernails on a chalkboard is 'alot'.

*shudder*

That hurt just to type.

[anarch]

9. wow, you must cringe quite alot.

:evilgrin:

[reyd reid reed]

11. LOL!

:banghead:

[Cruzan]

17. I don't quite see it as equivalent to the there/their misusage

I get the sense that people who say loose when they mean lose actually are using the word they intend to and think is the right one. Whereas with there/their it's more of a careless brain fart that anyone is capable of at times. So while you can argue that since lose and loose are both actual words, technically it's a misusage, to me the spirit of it is more of a misspelling which is always more infuriating since it goes to a more basic level of elementary literacy.

[RebelOne]

8. There are many people who are not proficient

in the English language and grammar.

[reyd reid reed]

13. True, but....but...but....

WHY?

[Haole Girl]

12. It's called public education...

Or lack there of it.

[reyd reid reed]

16. No excuse...

I had a public edjamakashun and I kin spell purty good. And I kin tawk even purtier.

There are a few reasons for it, though...and while public education isn't the best in the world, it's not always the worst, either. Things like putting kids in front of the tee vee instead of talking to them or reading to them...spelling and grammar check programs (GAHHHH...I Hate those) that make people lazy...apathy and making excuses...there are as many 'reasons' for it as there are people who can't (or won't) learn it.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

14. I'm a graphic designer, and I have a client who has a flyer...

...that she designed herself in PowerPoint, with a HUGE, 3-D text headline "Snooze U Loose Specials."

First, I had to explain to her that unless she's Prince, some people find the use of "U" in place of "You" to be highly annoying. (For the record, I find it annoying when Prince does it too).

:evilgrin:

Second, it's "Snooze You Lose," not "Snooze You LOOSE," and even if she picks the right word, people are sick of "Snooze You Lose" too, so why bother with it?

So far she has not changed the flyer, but my name's not on it, so c'est la vie...

:evilgrin:

[In_The_Wind]

15. I don't want to lose a chance to say this:

to DU

[NewJeffCT]

18. I don't see that one as much as confusing...

There vs They're vs Their