The Eggcorn Database
I just posted this to MonkeyFilter, but I’m going to duplicate it here.
Many people who lack a flare for language, when given free reign to write, instead of towing the line, put English through the ringer. In future, don't just grin and bare it; issue a cease and decease! Heave scorn on the abusers! Help preserve the goal standard of written English!
In lame man's terms, an eggcorn is not a misspelling per say. It occurs when a listener semantically reanalyses an expression and spells it to match the new interpretation. Whether or not it's a mistake is something of a mute point; with enough use, an eggcorn has the potential to become a bonified expression. Some expressions that we take for granite today started out as eggcorns. Nonetheless, having to content with them daily on the internet, I find that they often get my gander up. I can barely tolerate them, little lone accept them as linguistically valid.
Without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Eggcorn Database. A no-holds-barreled exposition of misconstrued expressions, it hones in on these and helps to explain the deep-seeded underline misconceptions behind them.
I'm waiting with baited breath for updates. In the meantime, if you have spotted any eggcorns in the wild that peak your interest and that you think would be a shoe-in for the database, contribute them! I'll be internally grateful.
With thanks to Language Hat.