Eggcorn Forum

Earlier posts noted the substitution of “deturn” for “detour” ( http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/forum/view … hp?id=1962 and http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/forum/view … hp?id=1967).

The word “deter” can also stand in for “detour.” Examples of this flounder eggcorn:

Forum comment on a political site: “I hope my readers will take a deter from haiku and legal-ethics issues and pay close attention to this posting.” (http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/lydondev/2 … ers-party/)

Photo caption on blog: “Fire police and firefighters directed traffic to deter around the fire and keep the way open for later arriving firetrucks like the one at left to get to the scene.” (http://keensphotos.blogspot.com/2007/03 … ected.html)

Article on a healing site: “there are no bumps or bruises, no construction zones to slow down or deter around,” (http://www.healingchants.com/art_int.compassion.html)

Blog entry: “They were sending traffic on a 10 mile deter around a particularly dangerous stretch of Interstate.” (http://joerenaud.com/wordpress/archives … -days.html)

Since “deter” can mean turn away from, it’s a reasonable replacement for a word that means a road around something.

This is a transitive eggcorn. “Detour” can also replace “deter:”

Amazon reader review of a novel: “The villains’ identities are not hard to figure out, but that doesn’t detour from the enjoyment of this book.” (http://www.amazon.ca/review/product/044 … ddFourStar)

Comment on a city visit forum: “But that doesn’t detour from the definite fact that you should get a job BEFORE you move.” (http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york … state.html)

Artist bio on National Arts and Disability Center site: “not much will detour him from his self expression! His work has also been called visual poetry. ” (http://nadc.ucla.edu/artist_query.cfm?id=255)

A FAQ heading on dog training: “Is there something we can spray on the wood to detour him from chewing it?
” (http://pub10.bravenet.com/faq/show.php? … =835500297)

Last edited by kem (2013-08-23 18:53:43)