Beware incorrect compound words - thank you!

by: Garry Pierrepont (7 October 2011)

I have been disturbed recently to note one or two examples of compound words occurring in day-to-day use that are simply WRONG.

Examples that spring to mind are:

THANKYOU - this should be thank you

and

ALOT - this should be a lot

I know that words can be combined, especially after many years of use together, but these examples are simply WRONG.

I don't think this is a deliberate attempt by the writer to send English down the German route of multiple word combinations, and neither do I think they are typos.

Rather, I believe it is simply that people don't read enough. They HEAR things, but don't SEE them often enough.

Keep reading, everyone.

Views: 1388

Other articles on Proofreading and Communication and language