h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One that knows the difference between principles and principals, for example and the really annoying there, they're their. It's and its seem to be a lost cause if you're under 30, and I spluttered coffee all over the desk when today's front page didn't know the difference between populous and populace

I hate it when you've written two words which sound the same, but are written differently and with different meanings. You know you are right, but the computer insists on giving you the changed grammar every time you check it.

I have a great example of this, but I've completely forgotton what it was.

SallyM

I've recently had "I can't bare it" in a student's essay. He was most annoyed when I pointed out the spelling mistake, as the computer hadn't flagged it (naturally)

Ahhh - I know exactly what you mean, and it isn't confined only to english spellcheckers, either ... I have a french grammar and spelling checker on my computer (bought in France) which refuses to recognise the validity of the simple past tense: if I write "nous allâmes" or " il nous fût impossible" for ex., I am told that this does not exist - and we wonder why the level of language declines so quickly amongst our young !
Nowadays, I warn both my children, who are grafted onto their computers, to re-read AFTER correction - surprises are had by all!

But if it were only it's and its. From the looks of things here, it would be easy to assume that about half the population thinks that a noun is made plural by adding 's rather than s. I've seen this not only on web sites, but corporate memos and notes, on signs, and in all kinds of printed text (except newspapers, that's one thing they seem to be able to get right).

At one of my former jobs, my supervisor and I would often have a good laugh while reading notes or signs written by the store manager and assistant store manager. It is amazing the amount of people who can't grasp the concepts of simple grammar. And the pathetic grammar checker in Microsoft Word is of no help. I recommend turning it off, along with that annoying paper clip.

I've had a lot of angry posts from folk who think that these things don't matter because "you understand what I meant". If it's an effort, though, I don't bother and if it's the wrong word but sounds similar it can, as the examiners say, "seriously impede meaning"