They also drive me crazy.
Ok. I will be the first to admit, I suck at spelling. I’m mildly dyslexic, but most of the time, that comes through when dealing with numbers. I sometimes have trouble figuring out its or it’s, but I’m working on it. So, I’m not with out sin here.
But there is NO excuse for horribly bad spelling. I know for a fact that most blogging software comes with a spell check. My browser also lets me know if it thinks I’m misspelling a word, by underlining it in red.
You can also look up the spelling, meaning and use of words on the Internet. You know, that thing we’re all using right now to communicate?
So there is no bloody excuse for someone in a group for bloggers (read: Writers. We are writers. ) To be “appauled” by something. That isn’t even MAYBE a word. I’m appalled by this mistake.
Another common one that gets me is when some is sad and upset, so they curl up on the couch and start “balling”. Its bawling for fucks sake. Ok? You don’t even have to take my word for it.
From Dictionary.com
Bawling:
1. To cry out with a loud, full sound; to cry with vehemence, as in calling or exultation; to shout; to vociferate.
2. To cry loudly, as a child from pain or vexation. n. A loud, bellowing cry; a wail.
v. intr.
- To cry or sob loudly; wail.
- To cry out loudly and vehemently; shout.
Balling:
v. tr.
- To form into a ball.
- Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
See? Those are very different things.
The reasons these bother me so much is twofold. First of all, these mistakes are very jarring and they disrupt the flow of reading. I, personally, am diagnosed with OCD. Even with medication, I sometimes find and fixate on things that rub me the wrong way like this. When I was in elementary school, I hated it when the teacher told us to go to the assembly in the APR room. What she, my teacher, was saying was redundant. The APR was the All Purpose Room. So, I told her, we could go to the AP room, or we could go to the APR. She wasn’t happy about that. I also hate when people go to ‘the ATM machine’. You go to the ATM, ok? The ‘m’ stands for machine.
Here are a few other word issues that come up in sex writing that throw me off and drive me crazy.
You do not “shutter with desire”. You shudder with desire.
Likewise, you are in the throes of passion. You are NOT in the throws of passion, unless you are engaging in erotic wrestling. Then, you might be in the throws of passion.
Your dom may stretch you out on a rack, but you are wracked with pleasure, pain, or both.
Speaking of doms, ‘dom’ is short for ‘dominant’. It is not a gendered word. Domme is not the female form of dom. Domme is a created, pseudo French word. If you are going to coin a fake French sounding word, try to stick to the to the French rules. It is not pronounced ‘dom-may’ any more than ‘femme’ is pronounced ‘fem-may’. Domme is pronounced ‘dom’ just like femme is pronounced ‘fem’. One syllable.
Domina, however, is a gendered term. A Domina was a noble woman who held a barony, and is an old Latin term meaning Lady or Mistress. Since it is a title, rather than a description, like dom, Domina is capitalized, like Duke, or Lord. Unless you are ‘Dom so and so’, it isn’t capitalized when written, and truly, it doesn’t make much sense to me to use ‘dom’ as part of a title, since it is a descriptive diminutive of dominant.
Personally, I prefer the gender neutral ‘top’ to describe myself.
On another kink related peeve: I find it incredibly jarring to read things with typing protocols, such as W/we Y/you, whatever. Just because I’m a top doesn’t mean I need to bend the rules of English and unnecessarily capitalize words. Likewise, just because someone is submissive doesn’t mean they need to throw out the rules and never capitalize anything.
Do you know what I do when I start to read something written in that fashion? I stop, and I don’t go back. I don’t mean to sound like I’m judging any one’s lifestyle or identification, because I’m not. But when it comes to writing? Just write regularly.
When I text message Sebastian for a booty call, I am not waiting with baited breath for a response. I am not chewing on worms or crawdads or any other fish bait. My breath is usually quite pleasant. When he’s on his way over, I’m waiting with bated breath for his arrival.
Don’t email me telling me something I said or did ‘peeked’ your interest and expect me to be impressed. My blog may give you a peek into my life, but it piques your curiosity about me.
Now, this next one is just a personal pet peeve. I hate the word ‘cum’. I hate it with the passions of one hundred fiery hells. Seeing that in a written work throws me off and takes me out of the story. There is nothing wrong with the word come. I come. You came. We all came. I’m coming. It works for me.
51 responses so far ↓
1 mnwhr // Apr 30, 2008 at 4:40 pm
There can be quality control in the blogosphere! I agree 100% with this post.
2 Ellie // Apr 30, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Ha! I hate errors like this as well. I had a student actually write in one of his papers “right to the gecko” instead of “get-go”. People hear things and never read them and then make really bad assumptions about spelling. I just circled it and wrote, “No!”
3 Rona // Apr 30, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I agree with this post too, although when I’m sleepy I fuck up. And then, when I reread three days later, I cry. The curse of working as an editor is that your own mistakes are doubly painful. However, what I mostly wanted to say here was I hate “cum” too. It makes me very unhappy.
4 Eric // Apr 30, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Hope I am not an offender of this sort. I do my best not to. I can be verbose, so I know that I can occasionally slip. Thats what going back over and reading it is for too, some people cant even be bothered to self edit.
5 Jocasta // May 1, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I refuse to fuck people that can’t spell. It’s so hideous.
On my bondage profile I have listed under my pet peeve exactly this issue. When I get someone writing to me with poor spelling and diction I know he didn’t get past the pictures.
Jocasta’s last blog post..Whipped Ass and Red
7 Slutty Duckling // May 4, 2008 at 9:24 am
My take on the word cum?
To Come is the verb meaning to orgasm.
Cum is the noun that refers to whatever sort of fluids are left after.
Slutty Ducklings last blog post..slow drag.
8 Penny // May 4, 2008 at 11:53 am
Careful editing shows you care about communicating with your reader. That said, I like coming or cumming as long as it happens over and over again. [Sorry, I really couldn't resist.]
Pennys last blog post..Self-Protection Fails Again
9 havingmycake // May 5, 2008 at 5:12 am
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!
havingmycakes last blog post..Mute Monday – Communication
10 Thursday's Child // May 5, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Ohmygosh, I think I love you! Finally a light in the dark world of bloggers who refuse to utilize the spellcheck function! Here’s to proper capitalization and spelling!
Thursday’s Childs last blog post..Brief hiatus.
12 Nobilis // May 6, 2008 at 6:15 am
At my publisher, “come” is the verb and “cum” is the noun. In erotica writing, the three letter spelling is becoming standard.
The same with “domme” as an alternate word for “dominatrix.” It may not be standard English but it is becoming widely enough used that publishers aren’t just allowing it, they’re striking the second in favor of the first.
Aside from that you’re in good shape, though.
14 maymay // May 6, 2008 at 7:09 am
I haven’t actually laughed out loud reading a blog post in a long while. :) This was funny.
maymays last blog post..Wednesday Wanderings: Sexy Techie
21 Caroline // May 6, 2008 at 10:45 am
LOVE this! Totally with you on “cum”. Very teenage. Another thing that makes me cringe, though slightly more forgivable – breats instead of breasts. Oh, and the usual “Alot” grammar stuff kills me.
One more thing – I’ve got the nickname “little witch” off another blogger. I’ve now twice seen myself referred to as “little which” (though obvioulsy not by the blogger who gave me the nickname!).
23 sera // May 6, 2008 at 11:58 am
Classic. Should be required reading. The peek/peak/pique thing REALLY gets to me. Also: pored/poured. As in, “he pored over the illustrated guide to bondage until he knew each tie” and “he poured honey all over my shuddering body.” And not the reverse.
seras last blog post..Decisions, Decisions
24 Mendicatus // May 6, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I heartily agree. It’s the reason you’ll never see the word ‘cum’ on my blog. Makes me think of 5 year-olds. Chavs ‘cum’, elegant ladies ‘come’. :)
And don’t get me started on punctuation. I can go from stiff as a bored (sic) to totally flacid in the blink of an eye.
Mendicatuss last blog post..Summer in the City
26 Regin // May 6, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I think I love you.
I’ve been keeping a little list of things that people should have known better than to write, with the intent of creating a similar post. Among them are:
free reign (rein)
low and behold (lo)
the roll of podcasting in education (role)
it always sikes me out (psychs)
it’s the mother load (lode)
individual in her own rite (right)
didn’t phase me at all (faze)
check out this web sight (site)
These are worse than spelling errors. These are mistakes made by people who do not know what the words mean. If you knew, for instance, that the expression comes from the practice of releasing the reins of your horse and letting him find his way home on his own, you would never spell it “reign”.
Groan.
Regins last blog post..Happy Masturbation Month!
27 Andy Bailey // May 6, 2008 at 4:06 pm
one of my all time pet peeves is “loosing control”
arrgh, I lose my temper whenever I see that!
Andy Baileys last blog post..Compliance… the path to riches
28 Wendy // May 6, 2008 at 11:09 pm
@Nobilis – that may be how your publisher might do it, but then again, that is why I’d probably never buy a book from them. I flip through books before I buy them to make sure they don’t have things like that. If I found one in the book after buying, I’d return it, because I’d never read it again. It is *that* much of a distraction to me.
@Maymay – If I made you actually LOL, then I must have done something right. :)
@Caroline – Lol, at least ‘breats’ is just a typo. I’ve done that when going too fast. (Sometimes my fingers go faster than my brain. >.< )As for ‘little which’ all I can do is headdesk. I’ve had people as me if I’m a ‘which’ as well. *sigh*
@sera I hear you doll. The peek/peak/pique thing really his home when someone I met on craigslist described himself as a writer, and then said my ad had peeked his interest. Oy vey. (He did not get any booty. Oh no.)
Ooooh, pored/poured didn’t even cross my mind, but that is an annoying one. Ick Ick.
29 Ro // May 7, 2008 at 12:40 am
You’ve made me a happy man.
I’ve always been told I’m anally-retentive and obsessive when it comes to language, its use and abuse. There’s nothing wrong with owning a copy of Fowler’s is there?
The fact that my other half has the eye of an editor and absolutely no reluctance when it comes to pointing out my errors doesn’t help!
Mind you, I must admit that I’ve started to use “cum”. It’s expected. I’ve given in to peer pressure. I’m sorry.
Ros last blog post..Loving the Dark Side
32 Chickpea // May 7, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Saw you linked on stiletto diaries and after reading this, I think I love you.
Chickpeas last blog post..tmi tuesday
33 Sarah in Brooklyn // May 7, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Spelling mistakes used to drive me nuts till I read Lewis & Clark’s journals of their journey and saw how malleable spelling was before a bunch of uptight white dudes set down rules for the rest of us to follow. However, poor punctuation I cannot overlook.
34 Shay // May 7, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I try to just laugh when I see someone using a term that they obviously have heard somewhere and are now trying to use in their writing. But it is quite sad to see that SO many people have such a poor education and/or lack of dictionary skills. I ALWAYS look up a word if I’m not 100% sure that it’s going to convey what I want it to.
Shays last blog post..CockBlogging Wednesday 102
36 lady brett // May 8, 2008 at 11:23 am
i’ve never read your blog before, but i think i love you now. apologies for the lack of capitalization; it only happens in comments, but it’s become a consistent feature and my ocd won’t let it change now.
lady bretts last blog post..“either plain or grand; is it always or? is it never and?”
37 Easily Aroused // May 8, 2008 at 11:46 am
I have to confess to a loathing for the word ‘cum’. I know that it’s well-used throughout the realm of the erotic realm, but I certainly wouldn’t miss it if its use dried up…
{honestly – no pun intended!}
~EA
Easily Arouseds last blog post..Clarity
38 salvobrothersent // May 8, 2008 at 9:00 pm
We agree that people should be more accurate when spelling but, we’ve made our share of typos, in this fast-paced Porn World!!
39 W // May 9, 2008 at 7:29 am
I’ve only *ever* heard the pronunciation of “domme” as “dom-may” from a guy who I wasn’t out to about my kink life, bragging about how hard core dominant he was….
Add me to the list of commenters who has fallen in love with you after reading this post…
(Though I’m far from perfect in my own writing, mostly in the capitalization department….)
-W
41 jade // May 9, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I love this post, thank you. However, you have one small apostrophe error. “Speaking of dom’s…” should be plural, doms, not possessive. Thanks for giving a rat’s ass. I find bad spelling to be a major turn-off, too. And don’t even get me started on “cum.”
42 analise // May 10, 2008 at 12:25 am
holy jesus i agree completely and totally with every bit of that.. i HATE the word “cum” and i hate it when people misuse words or are redundant.. a personal most irritating instance is when someone says something like “it was eight AM in the morning!”
?!?!?! ASSHATS.
43 the Lazy Philosopher // May 10, 2008 at 6:34 am
“Your dom may stretch you out on a rack, but you are wracked with pleasure, pain, or both.”
I am afraid I do not agree. You are racked.
Very few dictionaries contain the word “wrack” and those that do show it to be an old English form of the word wreck. For example, see this definition and note the USAGE comment.
the Lazy Philosophers last blog post..Moving On
44 hilz // May 12, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I think I love you. Thank you for putting all our pet peeves together in one clear, concise list.
*applauds you*
P.S. I checked this comment 3x for errors before posting it!
46 Sylvanus // May 21, 2008 at 8:43 am
Bravo! Bravo!
*standing ovation*
I second everything said here!
Thank God someone said it.
Sylvanuss last blog post..a lesson in distraction
49 mindinthegutter // Jun 1, 2008 at 10:39 am
@Jocasta: Don’t you mean “I refuse to fuck people WHO can’t spell”?
That’s one of my pet peeves. Things are “that”, people are “who”. I can understand deliberately dehumanizing a submissive partner, but in all other circumstances, we grammar-and-spelling Nazis ought to say “people who make these mistakes annoy us”.
50 The Libertine // Jun 1, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with what you say. Although I would argue that it’s ‘for fuck’s sake’ with a possessive apostrophe. And it’s ‘anyone’s’; one word, but preferably, and this is only a personal pedantry, ‘anybody’s’. Oddly enough, ‘anybody’ was originally two words. Sorry!
51 Alexa // Jun 13, 2008 at 8:26 am
As a general rule, I agree with just about everything posted here, including the comments.
I will say, though, that when I read someone’s material, I don’t critique it for spelling, but rather I try to envision to scene the writer is creating. I don’t get too caught up in spelling minutiae if the story reads well.
It does make for a much easier read, though, if you don’t have to interrupt your train of thought to make sure you read what you just read correctly.
Alexas last blog post..The Training of Alexa
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