Vocab screw-up that's been bugging the hell out of me

[jack_ryder]

For some reason, I keep seeing this time and time again:

Loose (i.e. not tight)

used instead of

Lose (i.e. not win)

Why has it suddenly become so prevalent?

Comments

[chrisbarnes.livejournal.com]

Those bug me too. Along with other classic malapropisms such as 'formally' used instead of 'formerly', 'in one foul swoop' and 'for all intensive purposes'.

I suspect these are the result of limited reading; they are typically mistakes made by people who hear words far more often than read them, and who when they do read, read with poor comprehension.

[flinthart.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, yes. The "foul swoop" makes me think of farting in a hang glider.