This quote refers to a comment on the misspelling of the words, then and than, interchanging one for the other, which I have noticed appears frequently here. In this case I think it may have been simply a typo, and not a confusion about the proper spelling. But the comment is an interesting one, in that the implication is that than and then sound alike. I have even seen a claim on one of these (American) spelling websites that these words sound alike which, in my mind, I immediately rejected.
Where I come from these words sound distinctly different, so I am wondering:
is it general in U.S. English that they sound alike,
or is it only that way in certain American accents or certain states,
or is it just sloppy speech that sets the trap?
I would personally say that young Americans, like myself, use them interchangeably and don't always make or note a distinction. For a while I didn't comprehend why Alligator would always change my "then" to "than" in sentences. Corrective changes have since been made. Part of this may actually be/is a lack of edyucashun in propr eenglish.
Here in the South, if it's because of the drawl, I could understand one thinking these words sound similar. Also, some folks drawl more or less than others or don't at all.
Some say I have some sort of accent, some say I dont have a "Texas" accent and others do. I've been mistaken for an outsider in my own town.
Topic: Spelling Challenge (Read 38821 times)