Eggcorn Forum

Hi! I just discovered this site last night, and today I found a possible eggcorn ‘in the wild’!

It was in an online comment section about a local spa; “Don’t let that review defer you from going in”. This seemed like an eggcorn to me, so I started hunting for more examples. I found many (see below) of “Don’t let (abc) defer you from (xyz)”, with defer (to put off, to postpone) being used where I would expect the word deter (to discourage, to prevent from acting). However ‘defer from’ seems to be appropriate in contexts where “deferral from” is possible, eg eligibility or duty (also see below).

Further hunting turned up what might be considered the opposite phenomenon, deter substituting for defer, as in “I deter to your … in this matter”. This is much rarer, and is perhaps a simple malapropism (or spelling error?), not an eggcorn? My grammar is quite rusty, so I’d be curious to learn the technical lingo for how these ‘non-standard’ usages, um, differ from_ the ‘standard’. I think it is pretty magical that, to me anyway, changing ‘deter from’ to ‘defer from’ seems to erode the barrier between me and my goals (while the ‘defer to’/’deter to’ switch seems to remove volition from humility, making it somehow less humbling?) – in regards to getting a hair-cut, a bad spa review might not be a deterrent, only a ‘deferrent’! Madeleine

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“deter from” >>> “defer from”

“The review above has Euphoria confused with another place in Nebraska! I can assure Euphoria in Buffalo is a 5 star salon and spa. They do not do fills on nails. They only do natural nails. Thay are a aveda Spa! Don’t let that review defer you from going in. I can assure it will be a pleasant experience! The staff is warm and friendly and trained very well!”
(http://www.spafinder.com/Spa/1245-Eupho … ab=reviews)

“As a customer of BP, has the oil spill caused you to change where you purchase gasoline? If you aren’t a customer of BP, would this defer you from doing business with the company in the future? Why or why not?”
(http://www.linkedin.com/answers/busines … 0-76879701)

“Financial need is considered and options available. Please do not let cost defer you from getting help!”
(http://www.marlenewinell.net/page/recov … l-religion)

“Coach Shulman (the god in the photo) is the mustache that all men want to live up to. Even though you will never have a mustache that glorious, it should not defer you from growing a beautiful mustache of your own.”
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2201024119)

“The grades represent just one more piece of information diners can weigh when deciding where to eat, assuming they can trust the grade posted in the window. Would a poor sanitation grade defer you from visiting your favorite spots? Chime in below!”
(http://www.ivillage.com/will-nyc-restau … 3-a-231029)

“In conclusion, do not let the wait defer you from filing and don’t just settle even if the decision is “in the bag.” Also, do not believe other people when they tell you that you cannot receive unemployment while waiting for SSDI.”
(http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread129142.html)

“It is important when researching to join Qivana Qore Systems that you take into consideration the learning curve of a network marketing company and with the proper training and practice you can truly be successful. This isn’t meant to defer you from getting involved in Qivana Qore Systems, but rather it is meant to EMPOWER you. You will really meet a lot of great people, have lots of fun, and you might even make a lot of money,”
(http://hubpages.com/hub/JoiningQivanaQoreSystem)

“Click on the “deactivate” link at the bottom of the page. You will be taken to another page where Facebook will try to defer you from deactivating your account and provide you with options on what you want to deactivate etc”
(http://techie-buzz.com/how-to/delete-or … ently.html)

“Does the extra maintenance of front-load laundry defer you from buying a set?

NO, the energy savings and the style out-weigh the extra care. YES, I don’t want to do extra work if I don’t have to. Haven’t made my mind up.”
(http://appliancefactory.com/blog/2010/0 … ry-smells/)

“Everything played here was recorded in the last few years (give or take), except “Spinnin” by Bernard Wright, the Gladys Knight vocals of the “Grapevine” Remix and “Keep Her Happy” by Phillip Wright. This might surprise you, as it should, but don’t let it defer you from giving it a good listen. Good Funk and Jazz is still being made, just go out and find it!”
(feed://djfase.podomatic.com/rss2.xml)

“The point of this article isn’t to defer you from freelancing, it’s to simply make clear to you that without the proper skills in place, the chances of failure are high. Instead, it should inspire you to try and obtain the skills and traits mentioned.”
(http://www.freelanceapple.com/3-reasons … reelancer/)

“When you realize that failure is part of the process of success you can start to use it by anticipating it and not allowing any so called failure to defer you from your goals and your vision.”
(http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Would-Yo … &id=204038)

“Another side note, which is offered from past experience, is that even though everyone thinks it’s “neat” to gift newbies welcoming toys with cat nip in them; hold off. Giving a newbie cat nip will defer you from learning the true personality of him/her as the cat nip so quickly alters their dispositions.”
(http://www.petrescuebyjudy.com/info/display?PageID=3542)

“The reason medications are necessary for alcohol detox is that it can cause one to go into respiratory depression. Some of these drugs can make you sick after drinking as a way to defer you from wanting to drink. Others can reduce your cravings helping you to lower your chance of relapse.”
(http://local.soberrecovery.com/Alcohol_ … ee_CA.html)

“Our doctors are highly educated and definately not heartless. Please do not allow this person’s emotional rampage to defer you from visiting our office.”
(http://www.yellowpages.com/orlando-fl/m … l-21815205)

“But please, don’t let my bad taste in 90s club music defer you from scrolling through my annotated gallery of crazy cakes I came across while researching my Cake or Death posts.”
(http://thenot.wordpress.com/page/2/)

“Also, the hilly walking didn’t bother us as we are active. I wouldn’t let it defer you from staying here even if you don’t like walking. They have people with golf carts that will take you anywhere you want to go.”
(http://www.flipkey.com/properties/view/ … ondo+4323/)

“defer from donating (blood)”

“If you are on a medication that is associated with a deferral period do not go off any medication prescribed to you by your physician without first talking with your doctor…. When you call to make an appointment please mention any travel that you have done outside the US or Canada in the past 12 months, we will be checking to see if your travel will defer you from donating (in case you traveled to an area that is known to be malaria risk).”
(http://www.atlantabloodservices.com/gen_eligibility.htm)

“The things that can defer you from donating are extended travel out side of the US in the last few years, risky sexual activity, very high blood pressure, low iron. in short anything that can defer you from donating whole blood.”
(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index … 226AAKS6I2)

“MYTH: All medications and antibiotics defer you from donating blood.
FACT: Taking medications is NOT an automatic deferral. Most are perfectly acceptable. Since there are many different medications, the easiest thing to do is call the Center to ask.”
(http://beforeitsnews.com/story/60/217/B … obile.html)

“Keep In Mind
Just because your diabetes doesn’t defer you from donating, it doesn’t mean you may not be able to donate for other reasons.”
(http://www.diabetesdaily.com/forum/arti … m-diabetic)

“defer from (jury) duty”

“What if I have vacations or other important events scheduled during my term? All requests for temporary excuse of any nature or time, (one day, one week, entire term, etc.) must be made in writing by the juror and well in advance of your first day of jury service. The court, at times, may grant a partial excuse or defer you from the entire term. The court allows for a juror to be deferred up to two times.”
(http://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/pages/jury_faq.html)

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“defer to” >>> “deter to”

“The both of you need to establish boundaries for your MIL*. This your child – she should deter to your (and your husband’s) judgment regarding her care.” [MIL = mother-in-law]
(http://www.circleofmoms.com/after-pregn … off-494300)

“@Alquit4 I will deter to your greater knowledge”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeQz4SGfw2w)

“But, I would deter to your knowledge of Babylonian history (which is eons bigger than mine) and say – they were independent women, making their own money and their own choices? good for them.”
(http://shkrobius.livejournal.com/121515.html)