Forum / Form - usage

[crow_noir]

OK, normally I don't point out peoples spelling or usage errors. However in the past 48 hours i have seen many posts online where different posters are using form when in fact they obviously meant to use forum.

Form can be a piece of paper where one can fill out information. Form can be a defined way or of something (dance or state of a solid object.)

A forum is a gathering of the minds usually for a political or public interest. (Thus why message boards are also called forums.) A place to share ideas. I.E. Roman Forum.

[Randi]

You sometimes wonder about the new teaching methods they're so keen to use, don't you!

It seems a lot of people can't see the differnce from THEN and THAN either.

[dukedogsmom]

It seems a lot of people can't see the differnce from THEN and THAN either.

That one drives me insane!

[smokey the elder]

My peeve is its/it's. I came up with a mnemonic for the possesive form: "his, hers, its." His and hers do not have an apostrophe, so neither should its.

[Freedom]

I keep putting "form" for "from," but that is a typing thing. I get so irritated with myself sometimes, I just leave it. Guess I better proof read more often. Sorry for anyone who had to figure it out.

I can't stand run on sentences, and lack of capitalization and punctuation!

[jennielynn1970]

How about basic spelling and good grammar?? It kills me when I read posts that just make the person sound "under" educated. Maybe it's the way people hear things spoken, or maybe it's a common misperception about how a word is said, but it really drives me up a wall!

Grammatically, I am not the best, but I make an effort to have it correct!

[Hellow]

If you use Firefox 2 it has an included spell-checker so when you type adress like that it corrects it to address.

[Catsnclay]

My biggest Pet Peeve is the use of the word "alot" or "allot" People, people, people!! it is TWO words: A - LOT, please don't make it into one!!

Thank you, and I will step down now........

[RedHedd]

Oh, don't get me started! .... "Noone" for no one (yes, it's two words too); and the there, they're, their debacle. Dose for does; its and it's; two, to and too and the lack of apostrophes drives me bonkers! Is it laziness, lack of education or a hangover from texting on cell phones? I don't know, but if I can't make out what you're trying to say (oh, there's another one - your and you're) I won't read or respond to your thread.

As for a spellchecker, for Internet Explorer there's iespell - http://www.iespell.com

[Pembroke_Corgi]

The difference between "forum" and "form?" One letter.

My biggest pet peeve about spelling/grammar on this forum is how often people have to come out and be the spelling police. I think people honestly try to write sensibly. Typos happen, and sometimes even if you proofread your post they can slip by. I really don't understand why people equate spelling with intelligence.

[Catty1]

How about a "Spelling Help" sticky? Then people who WANT to could post their questions there. (THERE'S another one! LOL)

I'd be happy to proofread a post for someone - PM me and I'll have a look!

[dukedogsmom]

Prolly for probably.

[finn's mom]

Prolly for probably.

That's just slang, now, though, not so much a spelling error. Just my two cents on that one.

[Catty1]

I think a lot of people who are used to text messaging use a lot of short forms, and don't really know the spelling of the entire word.

This board could be a great learning opportunity for such members, if they wanted to use it. Hence, the "sticky" post, though that might be a bit superfluous...

JMO

[Randi]

That's an excellent idea Catty1!

I'm a little unsure about its and it's. And is it "the animals' toys"? I think I tend to forget the apostophe.

RedHedd posted about "lose" and "loose" earlier, the explanation she gave made a lot of sense, although, I still may get it wrong sometimes.