Grate spelling mistakes of our time

[polygonum]

They didn't keep their side of the bargain. :-)

However, the IUPAC adopted the spelling sulfur in 1990, as did the Royal Society of Chemistry Nomenclature Committee in 1992. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for England and Wales recommended its use in

2000, and it now appears in GCSE exams. The Oxford Dictionaries note that "In chemistry... the -f- spelling is now the standard form in all related words in the field in both British and US contexts."

it appears to be officially effin sulfur.

[Tim Watts]

My 6 yr old understands the difference.

[Bob Eager]

As opposed to ephin sulphur!

[John Williamson]

At the top of the picture "100% (1/1) of people recommend this"

So it's not a widely known item, then. :-)

[Tim Streater]

But you've used an American grammatical formulation to express that. "... if we would change ..." instead of "... if we were to change ...".

[S Viemeister]

I've been noticing the opposite - people saying "brought" for "bought"!

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , The Natural Philosopher writes

Same for datum and data.

"The data is invalid"

[The Natural Philosopher]

TBH 'data' has the generalised meaning of *a collection* of 'datums'(:-)), and might be said to have become a singular thing.

[whisky-dave]

what about assurance and insurance

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , The Natural Philosopher writes

True. I think the use of 'data' has evolved to the point where it's acceptable usage for both the singular and plural.

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , Mike Tomlinson writes

And another in the 13A/3A plug fuse war currently raging in another thread, from the Humax forum referred to:

"As others have said, the plug fuse is only for protection against the mains lead been damaged"

aaagh.

[charles]

another one which I see from time to time on Freecycle is a "chest of draws"

[Mark]

The spieling on threecycle is dredfull. I dispare ;-)

[Scion]

charles spake thus:

Or even "Chester Draws"

[Mike Barnes]

The Natural Philosopher :

Did you make that example up? It seems somewhat unlikely, and IMO not typical of the collective plural. I've a suspicion you don't quite understand it.

[Jules Richardson]

That's the one where you show up and get a pair of norks that someone has doodled on.

[The Natural Philosopher]

a police force is...

some police forces are..

Not much to undrerstand really.

[polygonum]

Quite right. But you are often meant to interpret what is written as they were meaning you to - rather than how it actually is.

"[Members/constables/officers of] the Hampshire police force are investigating...."

Sometimes expressing things in full is tedious and unnecessary as it is so obvious - but in this case I am with you. It is wrong.

[Mike Barnes]

You *did* make that example up, didn't you? Then you made two more up. I'm interested only in real examples. They shouldn't be difficult to come by.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yes and no. I heard some bird on sky news saying more or less that and its not the first time either.

Then you made two more up.

Just spend a few hours listening to any rolling news channel.