then/than

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hardworkingstiff

Senior Member
Location
Wilmington, NC
Over the last year, I've noticed quite a few times the misuse of then and than. I will not bring attention to any of these posts. I would suggest if you have any doubt as to the definitions and usage of these two words, you look them up. People often make assumptions about us based on the words we speak. I'll never forget when a salesman where I worked gave me a thesaurus for a Christmas present. I didn't know if I should be insulted or grateful. I decided to take advantage of his gift.
 
Re: then/than

I was hired by my current employer to run electrical work. I am responsible to bid work, run crews, attend meetings, and maintain my licence.

We have one office person, (the owners wife) who is responsible for writing letters and taking care of invoices.

IMHO.. spelling and puncuation counts in her job, not mine. and if it counts on web fourms, then most internet users would have been ousted long ago.
 
Re: then/than

Originally posted by hardworkingstiff:
I've been wanting to post this comment for about 3 months, but do not want to make anyone angry.
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Oh please. It appalls me how many spelling and grammar mistakes I see on boards such as these.
I am no scholar, but some of what I see is shamefull for an adult.

[ December 26, 2005, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: speedypetey ]
 
Re: then/than

Proxy communication, and you're goin' on 'bout spellin'? Sometimes the world is too fast for spell check, (if available) and one would wonder what your other pet peevs are... ;)
 
Re: then/than

Originally posted by speedypetey:
Originally posted by hardworkingstiff:
I've been wanting to post this comment for about 3 months, but do not want to make anyone angry.
Click to expand...
Oh please. It appalls me how many spelling and grammar mistakes I see on boards such as these.
I am no scholar, but some of what I see is shamefull for an adult.
Click to expand...
It's too bad that you spelled shameful wrong.
 
Re: then/than

Which hand?

Sometimes left, sometimes right, or alternating, but only one at a time. I'm waiting for someone to smack my knuckles with a ruler for years...
 
Re: then/than

Knuckles chief, "KNUCKLES" don't project your dirty mind here.

Oh is that AKA electricman...loser, or electricman...hack? Spotted some new members..... ;)
 
Re: then/than

OK, I personally am not talking about the occassional typo or mis-spell. Below is a perfect example of what I am talking about. This is copied word for word from a DIY site:

This was checked by a professional he told me to seprat the grond and net. in the old main did not tell me how. Also told me about the ground rods for panel 2 but did not say rather or not they should be bonded. If I am to understand this right nothing after the 400 main should the ground and netural be bonded. but was unshur with #2 panel due to it's 3 wire feed. Panels 1 and 3 have 3 wire with ground feeds

Does this make anyone else concerned for the future???
 
Re: then/than

Originally posted by speedypetey:
OK, I personally am not talking about the occassional typo or mis-spell. Below is a perfect example of what I am talking about. This is copied word for word from a DIY site:

This was checked by a professional he told me to seprat the grond and net. in the old main did not tell me how. Also told me about the ground rods for panel 2 but did not say rather or not they should be bonded. If I am to understand this right nothing after the 400 main should the ground and netural be bonded. but was unshur with #2 panel due to it's 3 wire feed. Panels 1 and 3 have 3 wire with ground feeds

Does this make anyone else concerned for the future???
Click to expand...
Yes, it sure worries me. I read that post too on its original site, and decided not to reply. I assumed that anyone who butchers spelling that much may well lack the skill to complete the task he was asking about.

I sure don't hold it against a guy for misusing 'then' and 'than'. Misusing "it's" and "its" is another popular screw up. I don't think that the interposing of these terms translates to a lack of trade skill or knowledge. If I was hiring a new office girl, I'd sure want her to know the difference. If one of the poster's on this site decided to write a book to send to a publisher, I'd hope he'd have his 'then' and 'than' sorted out first. For an ordinary informal forum post, it falls more into the 'pet peeve' catagory. It's no big deal. We'll all survive.
 
Re: then/than

We'll all survive, maybe, but the problem is much greater than most people know it is. It's no closely guarded secret that American public education is rapidly falling behind the rest of the world.

And it gets worse every year. Schools don't teach the basics anymore, they have to brainwash....err, I mean teach the children about political correctness. :roll:

So, we either get back to teaching English and math, or we fall further behind. The choice is clear.
 
Re: then/than

peter d, are you saying that making our children "feel good" in school is less important than teaching them academics and values? :p

you just violated political correctness 101.
 
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