A torcherous eggcorn

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Dec 12, 2007, at 9:46 AM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:

> I don't watch eggcorn threads much, but I think it's a fine line as to
> whether someone reanalyzes (comes up with torch -> torcher) or simply
> misspells (tor chur, must be spelled torcher). BB

i've written repeatedly that some of these examples can come about by
different routes.  in particular, one person's ear spelling might be
another person's eggcorn.  we put things in the ecdb if we think that
semantic reanalysis is likely for at least some of the people who use
an example.

>
>
> Mark Peters wrote:
>> All eggcorns are bad spellings, I think. I'm guessing the torch
>> element adds just a hint of logic; some of them don't have much.
>> It's probably more logical than lack toast and tolerant. Though not
>> as amusing...

not all eggcorns are misspellings.  in particular, there are "hidden
eggcorns" like "the die is cast".

arnold

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