What similar English words do you have a problem with?

[Bristolian]

"......for drug possession with intent to sale,"

Maybe that one was correct as the drug peddler may have been running a "70% off" like all the clothing shop signs that suck my wife in at Market Village.

Might have been a completely different spelling mistake. Maybe he was going to "sail" away with the drugs

[Homer]

I know the textbook rules of 'who' and 'whom' but, like most Yanks, use 'who' almost all the time.

Some say there is a distinction between 'y'all' and 'all y'all'. Others think they're full of it. Me, I use them the way my mom did: randomly.

[Gregjam]

Some time ago I was in a bar in Mississippi talking to some very friendly locals about how dangerous it was in the local area with a lot of murders going on all the time. As they were nodding agreement I added that every time they spoke they murdered the English Language. The fact that I am still alive is probably an indication that they did not fully understand the comment or were perhaps as drunk as I was (or both).

[hhfarang]

^ ... or it was just a case of Southern hospitality, overlooking an obnoxious remark and cutting you some slack. I lived half my life in Tennessee 5 minutes from the Mississippi state line and it just depends on the crowd. Most of us do have a sense of humo(u)r.

[Gregjam]

Definitely Southern hospitality as we were always welcomed even when we went into bars which were at the opposite end of the spectrum from the country and western type. Once we spoke and our foreign accent was recognised things went well. Alcohol consumption also played a major part as the comment was very tongue in cheek. I spent a while working in the Gulf of Mexico and got used to the accent but at first it was a challenge for both parties to understand each other. It was always interesting when the words fag or rubber came up and explanation was required.

[hhfarang]

It was always interesting when the words fag or rubber came up and explanation was required.

I think you you can be arrested there for using the word "fag" now as it is considered hate speech.

[dtaai-maai]

So "I'm just popping out to smoke a fag" should be avoided...?

[J.J.B.]

Putting aside the differences between English and where she is spoken, I am at a loss to distinguish between 'enquire' and 'inquire'. I'm also fairly sure that there used to be 'aeroplane' as well as 'airplane'...or is that another US/UK thing?

[hhfarang]

So "I'm just popping out to smoke a fag" should be avoided...?

Not if you've got a lit torch (or a gun) in your hand! You'll probably be joined by the entire bar! (torch being a large stick burning on the top end, not a flashlight).

[hhfarang]

I'm also fairly sure that there used to be 'aeroplane' as well as 'airplane'...or is that another US/UK thing?

I don't know, but a fairly successful rock group from the city I grew up in (Memphis) called The Box Tops had a hit song called "The Letter" where they pronounced the word airplane like it was spelled aeroplane, but maybe they were trying to copy the Beatles or some other British rock group.

[Farang]

I had an acquaintance, in days of yore - before he hightailed back to the Motherland - infesting Hua Hin. He has a contextual problem with both similar and same words. In one context he is OK with the words saying: "Lend me money, I'll pay you back."
In another context it is impossible for him to say: "Here's the money, I pay you back."
Or perhaps it is not impossible for him to say it, it is impossible for him only to do it.

We all know scumbags like that, I am sure. More of this over the next glass of beer.

[sargeant]

OR you could have

It seems Sarge still doesn't understand how the majority vote is accomplished in this country. As an ex army man himself, it's a little frustrating that you have to argue to try and make him understand. Age maybe plays a part, I'm not sure. Sorry Sarge, I mean you no disrespect, but you just can't seem to grasp it pal....

and thats from a schoolteacher

[PeteC]

Worcestershire.... is "shire" or "sheer" or "sher" the correct pronunciation?

[richard]

Thanks Pete for putting it back on topic.It was seriously developing into yet another personal playground bashing thread

[Big Boy]

Probably depends upon where you come from. However, I call it Worcester Sauce.