It’s lose weight not loose weight.
Options
Replies
-
2
-
2
-
Quite a few common errors hit a minor raw nerve for me. ("Per say", a new exercise "regiment", "Wallah"/voila, phased/fazed, flare/flair, . . . . I could go on a long time, but won't.)
But I'm mostly a retired language peever: I don't really see the point of bringing it up, outside of forums (or threads
) focused on writing, editing, or grammar, except as necessary to clarify meaning (which is rarely - almost never - necessary). In my semi-dotage, I've come to think of language peevery as largely a class marker . . . not "upper" class so much as aspirational. Certainly, that's where the impulse comes from in me, as a first-gen college graduate from a book-smart but under-credentialed blue collar family.
I loved the Marcus Aurelius quote in the comments to the linked blog article:“From Alexander the Grammarian, [I learned] not to be captious; nor in a carping spirit find fault with those who import into their conversation any expression which is barbarous or ungrammatical or mispronounced, but tactfully to bring in the very expression, that ought to have been used, by way of answer, or as it were in joint support of the assertion, or as a joint consideration of the thing itself and not of the language, or by some such graceful reminder.” – Meditations I. 10, trans. C. R. Haines
"Loose" bugs me as it seems like such a simple word, and I didn't have any idea it was a common error pre internet, and I associate it with annoying and seemingly dumb sports fans ("your team is going to loose!"). I get it for non English natives (English has plenty of oddities), but it seems more common among native English speakers, so puzzling.
I find jargon much more annoying than misspellings, however, and I'd argue that grammar in a casual setting like a forum is flexible and things like starting a sentence with And or But can be stylistically fine. The jargon that drives me nuts (in part because I pick it up) at work is usually business speak. The stuff that bugs me at MFP is weight-loss jargon -- everything is "packed with" whatever it is (sugar, fiber, protein, nutrients), people call losing 10 lbs a "journey", eating fewer cals can be a "lifestyle change". Similar is what I'd call therapy speak -- we don't have opinions or ideas, but we have "shares", etc. Ugh, seems so fake and pretentious and to suggest people are just echoing crap they read in bad magazines.
But mostly I try to look past it and chill, and of course I recognize I have annoying ticks and make mistakes too. (I know loads of people like me who read a lot but didn't actually hear all the words they read and made embarrassing mispronunciations as a result.)
That aside, I am someone who would want to know I was making an error so I could correct it. I feel that way about foreign languages I've learned and also about English (I had a boss early on who taught me "which vs. that" which I'd somehow not picked up in school, and while I still remind myself of the rule when writing formally I'm glad I know it was a mistake I am prone to make, and similarly I had someone correct me for using "a sidenote" when I meant "an aside" and I've always been grateful.) And I'm a terrible speller so don't get being so mortified by realizing I was misspelling something, let alone in a foreign language, when I think the difficulties in communication being fronted can be helpful.
Re Canada geese, I know that's correct, but Canadian doesn't bug me at all. Mostly it's been birders I know who get annoyed at the latter, and I admit to being about the opposite of a birder.
One discussion: http://languagehat.com/canadian-geese/6 -
I will criticise the spelling and grammar of others when I know mine is perfect. Until then my lips are sealed unless a post makes no sense and needs further clarification.10
-
When people use abbreviations.
It takes .5 seconds to write the full word, don’t assume everyone knows what the abbreviations mean.
8 -
claireychn074 wrote: »My pet peeve - when "peaked" is misused in "piqued my interest".We could have a great thread about punctuation / language which winds people up (I freely admit to greengrocers’ comma / apostrophe rage), but - and this is a BIG but for me - not everyone has studied English. I’ve worked with teenage carers who had to miss school to look after their mum or dad. They haven’t all had the luxury of time or funds to go to school but they’re still great at communicating and deserve as much support and respect as a graduate.
I’m guess I’m trying to say that language is used differently by different people. So I really hope that nobody is put off reaching out by reading this thread!
I had to look up what a greengrocers’ apostrophe was. That drives me nuts too!
I’m well aware that some people are dyslexic, some people don’t speak English as a first language, and some people just had a lack of educational opportunities. However, I can’t agree that a polite post, not made in response to anyone in particular, informing the world at large of a common error, is calling these people out in an offensive way. Plenty of well-educated privileged people who should know better make this mistake, whether out of carelessness or because autocorrect is a naughty little devil. Bad grammar is distracting and it does invite judgment calls about the writer. Anyone who has read this thread can no longer claim not to know better, so why not try to do better?12 -
I’ve been teaching first year college writing for five years now. Spelling and grammatical errors absolutely bother me, and yet I don’t emphasize them in my classes. If a student is making an error consistently, I will point it out, and I will start deducting points if it’s not corrected. I also penalize a paper heavily if it does not make sense due to numerous errors. However, I put far more emphasis on “higher order” writing concerns: clearly stated arguments, use of evidence, paragraph structure, etc.
The MFP boards are not my classes (for better or worse), but I have a similar philosophy here. If a post makes sense, then it’s accomplishing the author’s goal, and writing in this genre isn’t expected to be error-free. I might be a little annoyed by errors, but my annoyance is off topic here unless someone asks for writing help or is not making any sense.10 -
https://paintingthegreyarea.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/literacy-privilege/
I know it has been posted upthread but am posting it again.
Such a good article and something all of us who are tempted to correct should read and consider.
I understand difference between lose and loose and I am quite good at spelling and have no difficulty in using written communication.
But I'm not good at other things and have made plenty of stupid and 'should know better' typos, not to mention other forum gaffes like responding in wrong thread, posting in wrong section, forgetting to add link etc etc
Not to mention other skills that are easy to others and I should know better by now - but I don't.
Like reverse parking.
I know OP didn't correct anyone in particular - but I am still uncomfortable with these types of general ' this is a common mistake ' threads.
People who are not good at spelling and/or confident at posting can still feel intimidated and wary of posting, knowing they are one of the people who make such mistakes which others think makes them look lazy, dumb, careless etc.
Or at least it increases their perception that it makes others think that.
This is a discussion forum, not a university thesis, not a job application, not professional journalism.
Context matters - in our forum context, perfect spelling /grammar/ punctuation do not matter.15 -
I used to be this way about spelling errors when I was in my twenties but then I grew up. There are plenty of mistakes I probably make with regard to punctuation and sentence structure that would make someone else cringe. That being said, as long as the message is clear I think that's what is more important. People come to these boards for support and many are in a vulnerable position when they post; the last thing they need is to feel inadequate about something else in their life.
I'm not trying to preach as I'm not innocent either; I'm very direct in my writing and sometimes I lack sensitivity when I post. I have been trying to improve with regard to that and realize that tough love is not always the best approach. Again, the overall message is more important. If someone's post is illegible we can always request that they clarify their intent. I also recommend reading the article that was linked; it's eye-opening. I'm not even a sensitive person and the checklist almost made me cry. It's easy to take the capabilities we're fortunate enough to have for granted.5 -
I want a time machine just to check if "loose" will become an acceptable alternate spelling 100 years down the road. It would be amusing and fascinating. I'm more fascinated than peeved by the "misuse" of language because it's like watching evolution as it happens. Some terms get naturally selected against due to lack of popularity, some are popular in short bursts, some mistakes become so prevalent that they are considered correct, and some correct terms fall out of favor and become archaic.
Outside of my weird obsession with the evolution of language, communication is much more important to me. As long as I understand what someone is trying to say, it doesn't matter how they spell certain words. English is my third language so I'm pretty sure I've made a boatload of mistakes, but because I value communication, I try to pick my words. I don't pay as much attention to my grammar or spelling as I do to getting my ideas across.11 -
I know I'm just a looser. Been called a "lose woman" among other things. But I truly believe I should "use it or loose it". After all, lose lips sink ships.....7
-
Often people who are ESL, or, less commonly, dyslexic, will disclaim that in their OP. I do have a great deal of tolerance for them. However, their mistakes are different from someone who is typing quickly on their phone and simply not bothering with proper grammar and punctuation.
When a poster is asked if they are writing on from their phone, I will see replies like "haha yes im on my phone" - they believe it is ok to not bother with punctuation and capitalization if they are on their phone. However, if they are the OP, and asking for help, in a written medium, they should have the courtesy of taking the time to express themselves in a way that is easily understandable.
6 -
https://paintingthegreyarea.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/literacy-privilege/
I'm with commenter Greg Shmuel Selz
"...I need to also draw from jail to make clear why I disagree with your assertion that alternate grammatical systems are valid in English. Without a doubt there is a level of effective communication amongst those from a common dialectic culture, however, language is supposed to be a unifying quality of a culture and society, and when concepts about this unifying force differ, its unifying abilities are marginalized if not destroyed. I would like to live in a utopian world where people can possess and utilize whatever brand of language they embrace, but the fact of the matter is that any divergence in use of language within a society can only cause chaos.
...In summation, you are absolutely right without any shadow of a doubt that literacy amongst adults is no laughing matter."1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Often people who are ESL, or, less commonly, dyslexic, will disclaim that in their OP. I do have a great deal of tolerance for them. However, their mistakes are different from someone who is typing quickly on their phone and simply not bothering with proper grammar and punctuation.
When a poster is asked if they are writing on from their phone, I will see replies like "haha yes im on my phone" - they believe it is ok to not bother with punctuation and capitalization if they are on their phone. However, if they are the OP, and asking for help, in a written medium, they should have the courtesy of taking the time to express themselves in a way that is easily understandable.
I personally don't find it hard to understand what someone means when they say "loose". I also know what they mean when they say "im". I believe it's perfectly okay to make these kinds of mistakes from time to time. My most common mistake is skipping words because my brain is faster than my fingers. I don't proofread before posting because I feel more connected when I just say what's on my mind and hit send (which is also why many of my posts are edited later). There should be no gatekeeping or stressful demands when it comes to asking for help or seeking human connection.8 -
My husband has a learning disability. I've learned to ignore mistakes in spelling. He spells it like he says the word.. No big deal6
-
kshama2001 wrote: »https://paintingthegreyarea.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/literacy-privilege/
I'm with commenter Greg Shmuel Selz
"...I need to also draw from jail to make clear why I disagree with your assertion that alternate grammatical systems are valid in English. Without a doubt there is a level of effective communication amongst those from a common dialectic culture, however, language is supposed to be a unifying quality of a culture and society, and when concepts about this unifying force differ, its unifying abilities are marginalized if not destroyed. I would like to live in a utopian world where people can possess and utilize whatever brand of language they embrace, but the fact of the matter is that any divergence in use of language within a society can only cause chaos.
...In summation, you are absolutely right without any shadow of a doubt that literacy amongst adults is no laughing matter."
Using "loose" for "lose", or vice versa, doesn't exactly cause chaos.
For my taste, too much abstraction, overdramatized, in this context.
A common language is important, but nitpicking details isn't mostly about that. Frankly, unfamiliar slang, ambiguous abbreviations, inappropriately used terminology**, and unfamiliar cultural references*** generate more misunderstandings and miscommunications around here than "loose" vs. "lose", IMO.
** I'm thinking of terms with both technical definitions plus popular usage that differs, for example: Binge, overtraining, HIIT, etc.
*** Such as tag lines from TV shows, or references to song lyrics, that aren't broadly familiar across ages and nations.
That said, I think OPs seeking advice who can't be bothered typing whole words or using punctuation, when they ask for advice involving nuance, are sorta shooting themselves in the foot. If they're not clear/coherent, I'm betting lots of people won't bother answering. Their loss.
1 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Often people who are ESL, or, less commonly, dyslexic, will disclaim that in their OP. I do have a great deal of tolerance for them. However, their mistakes are different from someone who is typing quickly on their phone and simply not bothering with proper grammar and punctuation.
When a poster is asked if they are writing on from their phone, I will see replies like "haha yes im on my phone" - they believe it is ok to not bother with punctuation and capitalization if they are on their phone. However, if they are the OP, and asking for help, in a written medium, they should have the courtesy of taking the time to express themselves in a way that is easily understandable.
I personally don't find it hard to understand what someone means when they say "loose". I also know what they mean when they say "im". I believe it's perfectly okay to make these kinds of mistakes from time to time. My most common mistake is skipping words because my brain is faster than my fingers. I don't proofread before posting because I feel more connected when I just say what's on my mind and hit send (which is also why many of my posts are edited later). There should be no gatekeeping or stressful demands when it comes to asking for help or seeking human connection.
It wasn't the "haha yes im on my phone" that was incomprehensible - it was the request for help, which prompted the question, which elicited the response. I stand by my statement that if someone wants help, they should make the effort to be easily understandable. Why should the helpers put in more effort than the helpee?
It's the attitude "I'm on my phone so I can't be bothered" that bothers me, not people who genuinely have difficulty. For instance, my brother is learning disabled. His mistakes don't look sloppy - they look weird.7 -
kshama2001 wrote: »https://paintingthegreyarea.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/literacy-privilege/
I'm with commenter Greg Shmuel Selz
"...I need to also draw from jail to make clear why I disagree with your assertion that alternate grammatical systems are valid in English. Without a doubt there is a level of effective communication amongst those from a common dialectic culture, however, language is supposed to be a unifying quality of a culture and society, and when concepts about this unifying force differ, its unifying abilities are marginalized if not destroyed. I would like to live in a utopian world where people can possess and utilize whatever brand of language they embrace, but the fact of the matter is that any divergence in use of language within a society can only cause chaos.
...In summation, you are absolutely right without any shadow of a doubt that literacy amongst adults is no laughing matter."
Using "loose" for "lose", or vice versa, doesn't exactly cause chaos.
For my taste, too much abstraction, overdramatized, in this context.
A common language is important, but nitpicking details isn't mostly about that. Frankly, unfamiliar slang, ambiguous abbreviations, inappropriately used terminology**, and unfamiliar cultural references*** generate more misunderstandings and miscommunications around here than "loose" vs. "lose", IMO.
** I'm thinking of terms with both technical definitions plus popular usage that differs, for example: Binge, overtraining, HIIT, etc.
*** Such as tag lines from TV shows, or references to song lyrics, that aren't broadly familiar across ages and nations.
That said, I think OPs seeking advice who can't be bothered typing whole words or using punctuation, when they ask for advice involving nuance, are sorta shooting themselves in the foot. If they're not clear/coherent, I'm betting lots of people won't bother answering. Their loss.
Yes, I agree with you that "loose" for "lose" doesn't cause chaos - the chaos reference was targeted towards the link, not the opening post.
A pet peeve of mine is when an English-first-language coworker uses abbreviations when typing to our contractors who are ESL. I know what "wut" and "pls" means, but they may not. It would be clearer and more professional to use the proper common language. But I imagine the thought process is that is it ok to use abbreviations when IMing, which is not true in all situations, in my opinion.6 -
Dear Posters,
I wanted to offer a brief explanation for the locking of this thread.
The forum guidelines include this item:
If you would like to review the forum guidelines, please visit the following link:1. Play Nice
I WILL:
• I will be respectful and understand that everyone is different. Some members are new to this, so be kind to the newbies.
• I will remember the human on the other side of the screen.
• I will share my opinions while respecting others' thoughts and feelings as well.
• I will be ready to hear and accept other opinions that I might not always agree with.
• I will ignore users.
I WON’T:
• I won’t be a jerk.
• I will not attack, mock, or otherwise insult others. I can respectfully disagree with the message or topic, but I cannot attack the messenger. This includes attacks against the member’s spelling or command of written English, belittling a member for posting a duplicate discussion, or attacking a member for posting in an older discussion. (ie. It’s lose not loose, strong first post, didn’t you already post this today, etc.) Not every member has the same level of education, so I’ll refrain from criticizing a member for not framing their content in a manner befitting a university-level science paper.
• I won’t pick apart how something is said; I will focus on the meaning/message.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/guidelines
At our discretion, this locked thread may be deleted entirely in the near future.
With respect,
psuLemon8
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392.1K Introduce Yourself
- 43.6K Getting Started
- 259.9K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.7K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.4K Fitness and Exercise
- 403 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.8K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 982 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.4K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions