I'm impressed that you go back and reread and catch your mistakes and fix them. That is something the vast majority of people can't figure out. I say keep up the good work.
Thanks! I do try.
I hear what you are saying. I've noticed the same error being made by many people. Another error is to simply leave out a key word. It's very common. My suspicion is that exposure to computer screens all day long, and exposure to radiation from cell phones and routers, has injured our brains in some subtle way.
Another possibility -- it could be caused by spell checkers. Bear with me on this one. Before spell checkers, most of the errors in writing were spelling errors. Now that we can use spell checkers and grammar checkers, those errors get corrected (usually -- there's no correction for the difference between "hoard" and "horde," or "mantle" and "mantal"). But suppose some part or aspect of our minds wants us to make a certain percentage of errors. Suppose it demands that we make this many errors, but the spell checker and grammar checker are preventing the errors from happening? What does this part of our minds do? It forces us to make other errors that cannot be picked up by spelling and grammar checkers. Such as leaving out a word. Or spelling "work" when we mean "word" (which I just did, and caught the error). Or omitting a negative.
Another error is to simply leave out a key word.
I do this too :|
Interesting take on we have to make some errors. I was bad at spelling since grade school, however with spell check and word suggestions I am even worse now. I have to be careful not to let spell check insert the wrong word for me.
I do the same thing. I contribute it to... As my brain is developing a phrase I'm trying to hard to type as fast as I can think, I think.
Stop using double positives in a sentence where your intent is negative-ish. "I'm not sure" is more straight forward for your brain than realizing later in the sentence that you now need to add it. It also means you are typing while thinking, and not thinking a whole thought, then typing. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, just maybe another way to look at it.
Fair observations I never claimed to be an excellent writer, so I appreciate it.
you are typing while thinking
Very much so. Perhaps I do need to slow down!
Take magnesium threonate in a magnesium complex supplement. Plus b6 and b12. It's good for nerves and neurons. God speed before you start losing it.
I do that. I mean, I never do that.
I've noticed that whenever I start making errors like this it means I'm missing out on sleep or not getting good enough sleep quality.
I can't tell you how many times I have to do this. My best proof reading comes after I hit submit.
There is indeed something magical how the submit button reveals errors.
same - I think it may be our inner dialog speaking faster than we can type (or write for that matter) - we say it 'out loud' in our heads therefore it's been said, even though our fingers completely missed it.
really the only two options are slow down or proof; like you, I opt for the latter. I'd also add though, that since we've said it in our heads, and typed it, our eyes may totally miss it still, even in proofing.
I think that is part of it. Just odd that I often miss these negative words. For instance I'll put can when I meant can't. Really weird.
That's interesting. It's just negative words then, or is it with contractions altogether?
Does it get better if you use the full term - cannot rather than can't, etc?
Not sure about cannot, I'll have to try this.
I make other errors, not just contractions or negative modifiers. I have noticed that this error is the most common.
No.
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