Like many translators and other word people Corinne McKay has a low tolerance for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in print. In her article she refers to some examples of misspelled words she is tired of seeing which include It’s instead of its, Lightening instead of lightning, “I could care less” instead of “I couldn’t care less” and Less versus fewer.
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May 5, 2010
Four frequently misspelled words in English
Source: Thoughts on Translation
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RominaZ
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Argentina
English to Spanish
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Do you agree with this statement?
Note: Edited as per Lynda's remark
Local time: 10:29
Member (2011)
French to English
Thanks for the link to my blog! In general, I think that in order to be a good translator (which is different from being a successful translator), you have to have a low tolerance for errors in print. If the errors either don't jump out at you or don't bother you, it's tough to hold your own work to a high standard.
United States
Local time: 09:29
Danish to English
They are stupid cliches, and I would recommend that they be avoided entirely. I have heard both versions in use for years. The first embodies a threat, and I think that is often what is intended. The se... See more
They are stupid cliches, and I would recommend that they be avoided entirely. I have heard both versions in use for years. The first embodies a threat, and I think that is often what is intended. The second states that the position of already caring as little as possible has been attained. But even that says little. Maybe "I" still do care, but for various reasons could not reduce how much I care. These expressions should be avoided entirely. ▲ Collapse
Local time: 12:29
Member (2006)
Spanish to English
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I couldn't let this go. "Translators have a low tolerance to language errors" should be Translators have a low tolerance FOR language errors. : 'nuf said
Greenland
Local time: 15:29
German to English
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... but I couldn't care much less.
Germany
Local time: 18:29
German to English
I used to think it was "perogative" before I heard an old lady beef about that usage on a radio talk show. So I finally looked it up. Sure enough, it's "prerogative". Now, before I rail against the world's deviated language preverts, as Col. Bat Guano might call them, I stop to think about all of the errors... See more
I used to think it was "perogative" before I heard an old lady beef about that usage on a radio talk show. So I finally looked it up. Sure enough, it's "prerogative". Now, before I rail against the world's deviated language preverts, as Col. Bat Guano might call them, I stop to think about all of the errors that I'm surely still making.
P.S. How many can you find in this post? ▲ Collapse
Local time: 18:29
Arabic to German
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I absolutely agree that translators have a VERY low tolerance for language (and mostly, spelling) errors. I had to laugh out loud about the part in the article where the author wrote about wanting to boycott a place just because they misspelled something. My exact feelings when I encounter things like this!
I absolutely agree that translators have a VERY low tolerance for language (and mostly, spelling) errors. I had to laugh out loud about the part in the article where the author wrote about wanting to boycott a place just because they misspelled something. My exact feelings when I encounter things like this!
And I agree with you, Corinne, as this kind of mind-set probably is a basic necessity for a job like ours.
Best
Franziska
PS: And I truly hope I didn't make too many mistakes in my above comment. If so, please forgive me, you English natives, as I am not one of you.
Montenegro
Local time: 18:29
English to Serbian
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You do not know how happy you are native English,
You at least have sombody to complain to.
Please come to Serbian forum to see who consider themselves an expert in our mother tongue.
Vuk Vujosevic
Local time: 17:29
Italian to English
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Could of and should of, rather than have.
In another life, I was a FE lecturer and every September, had the pleasure of enrolling students on their Buisness A Levels or various Intermedaite courses. Mind you, they still couldn't spell the college name even after three years. I love translating, you have no idea how much!
night all
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