Lose and loose

D

Diziet

Registered User
Messages
673
It is not often I have the need to Let Off Steam. However, I have lost count of posts from otherwise (I assume) reasonably literate people using 'loose' instead of 'lose'. And I am afraid I have to struggle to take whatever is written seriously at that point.

Dictionary definition for 'loose':
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/loose

... and for 'lose':
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lose

Not the same thing, right? I feel so much better now :). Don't start me on the grocer's apostrophe.
 
"PIN Number" Personal Identification Number
"ATM Machine" Automated Teller Machine
NI and UK ("You mean NI or GB?" "No I mean mainland UK". "But the UK is just a collection of islands, the nearest mainland is Europe" "I should of knowing, but now I'll loose me temper"
Southern Ireland (as in Ireland but not Northern Ireland - even the Brits don't do this anymore, generally)
 
mathepac said:
NI and UK ("You mean NI or GB?" "No I mean mainland UK". "But the UK is just a collection of islands, the nearest mainland is Europe" "I should of knowing, but now I'll loose me temper"
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When talking to English suppliers I try to use "mainland" when talking about mainland Europe. As in,
"I'll be over on the mainland next week"
"Oh, will you get a chance to pop in and see us?"
"No, I won't be in Britain; I'll be on the mainland"
"But this is the mainland"
"No it's not; it's the other small island off the coast of Europe"

I also know I shouldn’t but it bugs the hell out of me as well.
 
DIRT tax.

Or is that so common that it has gained a degree of acceptability?

(aside:- how many people would be annoyed by the error if I instead said it had gained a decree of acceptability? Actually, come to think of it, that error makes a sort of sense too)
 
Purple said:
When talking to English suppliers I try to use "mainland" when talking about mainland Europe. As in,
"I'll be over on the mainland next week"
"Oh, will you get a chance to pop in and see us?"
"No, I won't be in Britain; I'll be on the mainland"
"But this is the mainland"
"No it's not; it's the other small island off the coast of Europe"

I also know I shouldn’t but it bugs the hell out of me as well.
Click to expand...


I would always consider "mainland" to mean the large European land mass, never the UK/GB or whatever they want to call it. An island is an island. ( and if you're a Joe fan...."Make me an Island"...... ! where there are no banks/NAMA's taxes or insolvent soccer clubs)
 
MOB said:
DIRT tax.

Or is that so common that it has gained a degree of acceptability?

(aside:- how many people would be annoyed by the error if I instead said it had gained a decree of acceptability? Actually, come to think of it, that error makes a sort of sense too)
Click to expand...

Defo has gained acceptance, I mean, if I asked a farmer " what about the DIRT on your savings" he might get offended thinking that he had unclean bank statements. ;) ( and believe me that happens too, you would not believe what is sometimes attached to financial records:eek: )
 
"Brought" instead of "Bought". Admittedly a problem I've noticed mainly with British people on forums etc., but still a pain.
 
Graham_07 said:
I got an email from an insurance broker last year and three times in it he said "...would of thought that.."
Needless to say he did not get the business.
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Do you need an english degree to be an insurance broker?

Please explain further as i'm at a lose of why his english ability had anything to do with giving you insurance.
 
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