how can people fuck up THEN and THAN!!!

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  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    catefrances wrote:
    come on dunk, the english language is full of complex subtleties. it absorbs words from other languages(not to mention the different strands of colloquial english that abound) and that is why it is able to morph and stay alive. then and than are quite easy to mix up if one is not really thinking... and plenty of people make the mistake.
    yes yes we all learn it in primary school, but life is so simple back then and im sure even you have accumulated quite the sophisticated vocabulary since you were 5. it seriously takes some effort to retain all the rules in english... and similar speeling are easily overlooked, for a variety of reasons. :)


    there is nothing complex about 'then' and 'than'... :)
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Heineken Helen wrote:
    :confused: despite the fact that I've been using the words 'it's all connected dunk' quite often recently... I'm failing to see the connection here :o:D

    I dont think that a simple spelling error in this case when it's pretty much impossible for the wrong word to make the sentence mean something entirely different... is bringing the world to the dogs :D
    A profound misunderstanding of fundamental meanings of words hardly bodes well for people in positions of power. As a couple of people have pointed out, a spelling or grammatical error is one thing, who really cares. Then and than are as different in meaning and usage as 'bomb' and 'handshake'.

    I mean, obviously I'm being silly here but is it really that hard to see the potential for a trend between dumbing down of language and dumbing down of other aspects of society?
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    See above post! 'Then' and 'Than' ARE entirely different!!
    I dunno... :o they look pretty similar to me :p
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    See above post! 'Then' and 'Than' ARE entirely different!!

    horseshit mark. they sound extremely similar and it is here that the problem lies. sure their meanings are different but that doesnt matter much in the grand scheme of lazy everyday english. dont think for a second i support the misuse of words, im just looking at it from the populace's pov. a lot of people just dont care so long as the message they are trying to relay is getting across. hell im the worst spelling nazi going around and the use of superfluous apostrophes sends me to the edge but i understand how people can get mixsd up when it comes to english. it is a beautiful language, but still complex, even to native speakers.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
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  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    Heineken Helen wrote:
    How does it directly affect you? Do you lose money because of it? Do you have to work longer hours? Do you struggle to support your family? Does it take your family away from you? :confused: I'm curious!

    :) ahhhhh... you bring back even further memories of 1984... the guy who was only interested in talking about the dictionary :D

    because i can see it on a screen.. ergo it directly affects me.

    some guy looking at what you read from the library without you knowing is indirectly affecting you.

    quite simple stuff really.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    dunkman wrote:
    because i can see it on a screen.. ergo it directly affects me.

    some guy looking at what you read from the library without you knowing is indirectly affecting you.

    quite simple stuff really.
    you can see it? I still don't get how it AFFECTS you :p

    You're being rather silly dunk :p
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • MattCameronKicksButt
    MattCameronKicksButt Posts: 4,317
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    But 'then' and 'than' are NOTHING to do with grammar and everything to do with meaning of words. We're not talking misplaced commas or semi-colons here, we're talking of mixing up two different words with entirely different meanings. That's pretty bad.

    What would happen if everyone started mixing up 'if' and 'is'?

    Thank you Mark. That's what I wanted to say but couldn't find the right words. :p

    There's a good example right there. Is I can figure it out, I don't know why other people can't.
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    Heineken Helen wrote:
    You're being rather silly dunk :p


    why change after all this time?? :D
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • harmless_little_f***
    harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    catefrances wrote:
    horseshit mark. they sound extremely similar and it is here that the problem lies. sure their meanings are different but that doesnt matter much in the grand scheme of lazy everyday english. dont think for a second i support the misuse of words, im just looking at it from the populace's pov. a lot of people just dont care so long as the message they are trying to relay is getting across. hell im the worst spelling nazi going around and the use of superfluous apostrophes sends me to the edge but i understand how people can get mixsd up when it comes to english. it is a beautiful language, but still complex, even to native speakers.

    I'll throw that horseshit right back atcha. ;)

    'Then' and 'than' are entirely different in meaning, in no way complex, and sound quite different in the accent of original English. You are Australian and so they sound similar to you. I'm astounded that anyone can be lazy about two entirely different words with entirely different meanings.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • harmless_little_f***
    harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    catefrances wrote:
    and i mentioned grammar and punctuation where in the post you quoted?

    You mentioned 'all the rules in English' which I assumed, I think rightly, to mean grammar. 'Then' and 'than' are not 'rules in English' but two entirely different words.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    I'll throw that horseshit right back atcha. ;)

    'Then' and 'than' are entirely different in meaning, in no way complex, and sound quite different in the accent of original English. You are Australian and so they sound similar to you. I'm astounded that anyone can be lazy about two entirely different words with entirely different meanings.

    i like Peril Jim... :)
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    You mentioned 'all the rules in English' which I assumed, I think rightly, to mean grammar. 'Then' and 'than' are not 'rules in English' but two entirely different words.

    ohhhh barn!!!! eh i meant burn...

    yip... its far too complex.

    :D
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    You mentioned 'all the rules in English' which I assumed, I think rightly, to mean grammar. 'Then' and 'than' are not 'rules in English' but two entirely different words.

    in the post you quoted i believe was my statement mark.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • eyedclaar
    eyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:

    I'm astounded that anyone can be lazy about two entirely different words with entirely different meanings.

    Clearly, you haven't been to America lately. Our laziness knows no bounds... and it certainly isn't restricted to language. Hell, half the population is barely in good enough shape to keep cramming Cheetos in their hog-holes. Pushing buttons on a remote is now a wellness program. Where's Waldo is being taught in our finest universities; you can't possibly expect us to care about the proper use of words.
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  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    Heineken Helen wrote:
    I dunno... :o they look pretty similar to me :p

    so do twins.. but rest assured they are quite different.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • harmless_little_f***
    harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    catefrances wrote:
    come on dunk, the english language is full of complex subtleties. it absorbs words from other languages(not to mention the different strands of colloquial english that abound) and that is why it is able to morph and stay alive. then and than are quite easy to mix up if one is not really thinking... and plenty of people make the mistake.
    yes yes we all learn it in primary school, but life is so simple back then and im sure even you have accumulated quite the sophisticated vocabulary since you were 5. it seriously takes some effort to retain all the rules in english... and similar speeling are easily overlooked, for a variety of reasons. :)

    I like you Cate but you're driving me bonkers... THIS is the post I quoted and I'm quoting it again... with said phrase in bold.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • rival.
    rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    my pet peeve is when people f these up:

    two
    to
    too

    their
    there
    they're
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    catefrances wrote:
    in the post you quoted i believe was my statement mark.


    and in the post he quoted you said

    it seriously takes some effort to retain all the rules in english... and similar speeling are easily overlooked, for a variety of reasons.

    you said ALL the rules... they include grammar, spelling, tense, punctuation, etc.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    I'll throw that horseshit right back atcha. ; )

    'Then' and 'than' are entirely different in meaning, in no way complex, and sound quite different in the accent of original English. You are Australian and so they sound similar to you. I'm astounded that anyone can be lazy about two entirely different words with entirely different meanings.

    fine bring that horseshit on. :p:D

    it doesnt matter that then and than have entirely different meanings as i mentioned. that is not even in dispute. they sound similar to anyone who speaks the language, not just us aussies. who the fuck is talking about the 'original english' and exactly what is it you mean by that anyway? dont you dare patronise me. if youre astounded by supposed laziness of some english speakers, that then i surely wish to play poker with you mark. :p i 'm astounded that anyone can refuse to take into account pronunciation. anyhoo fact is this happens so get over it. :p:)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    dunkman wrote:
    why change after all this time?? : D
    good point :D

    and I love how this is important... and yet the thing we're voting on tomorrow isn't... the thing which will change how Europe is run forever... the thing that your government thinks you're too thick to decide... the thing that YOU, who works in the government and knows everything about all government activities, know nothing about :confused::p

    You HAVE provided my amusement for the day however and none of your future posts in regards to 'I work in the government, I know all the top level stuff' will ever make a difference ever again :D

    You continue to sort out these bad spellers though... VERY important :p
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you

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