People Should Read More
In modern english there exists a specific category of misspelling which seems to be the product of english speakers who have learned the language primarly through verbal means and not by way of reading or study. These transposed word forms or aural confusion are distinctly different from the more normal variant of misspelling where the writer simply has trouble remembering the proper sequence of letters.
mal·a·prop·ism
1 : the usually unintentionally misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context
It's easy to imagine how a non-reader might be oblivious to or misunderstand the importance of spelling differences between words which sound equivalent. Since the difference is literally inaudible, for a person who learned from listening and not from reading the distinction simply doesn't exist
| Instance | Actual Phrase | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| alot | a lot | a classic, worthy to top the list |
| for all intensive purposes | for all intents and purposes | |
| pardon parcel | part and parcel | |
| pullet surprise | pulitzer prize | |
| could of | could have | many variants for other base verbs |
| had to of | had to have | |
| affect/effect | effect/affect | |
| then/than | than/then | People commonly transpose "then" and "than" |
| lose/loose | loose/lose | This one defies all explanation |
| web sight | website | It's hard to imagine how someone might come to be exposed to "website" initially via verbal communication |
| volumptuous | voluptuous | I guess "lumpy" delights some people |
| ignorance is blitz | ignorance is bliss | Ignorance is many things (thanks Gullie) |
| tenter tantrum | temper tantrum | perhaps a confluence with 'tenterhook' |
| cut the mustard | cut the muster | This one almost makes sense (and makes me want a hot dog) |
| peeked my interest | piqued my interest | |
| beckoned call | beck and call | |
| tie someone over | tide someone over | |
| a different tact | a different tack | |
| a mind of information | a mine of information | |
| a movie read at PG | a movie rated PG | |
| a parenthesee | a parenthesis | |
| bonified | bona fide | |
| digestive track | digestive tract | |
| doggy dog world | dog-eat-dog world | |
| exhilarator | accelerator | hey, works for me |
| no holes barred | no holds barred | |
| on an even key | on an even keel | |
| supposably | supposedly | |
| throws of passion | throes of passion | |
| to come to turns with | to come to terms with | |
| to tow the line | to toe the line | |
| walla | voilà | |
| persay | per se | |
| I'd just assume | I'd just as soon | |
| a mute point | a moot point | |
| something rather | something or other | |
| inpass | impasse | it takes a special person to be comfortable with the word "impasse" but ignorant about its spelling. |
| right of passage | rite of passage | |
| ease-drop | eavesdrop | |
| Monday detail | mundane detail | I prefer Xanth |
| air on the side of caution | err on the side of caution | |
| without further adieu | without further ado | I commend you to OED |
| a piffany | epiphany | I'll take two, please. |
| low and behold | lo and behold | How low can you go? |
An equivalent situation, misheard song lyrics, is often referred to as a mondegreen.
A more studied and precise compendium can be found at the eggcorn database.
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