Eggcorn Forum

Users of this forum have found many examples of acorns that have two eggcorns. The forum itself encourages the discovery of double-yolked eggcorns. One of us points out an eggcorn and another reader is reminded of a parallel perversion of the same word. So far, though, we have not found many examples of the other kind of double yolking, the one in which a single eggcorn spelling serves a pair of acorns. Could “impatience” be one of these rare birds?

Impatiens are easy-to-grow annuals. But the word “impatiens” is not so easy to spell. Have you noticed how often the name of the genus is written “impatience?” The substitution of “impatience” for “impatiens” may have semantic motivation. The plants in this genus have seed pods that open with a blast, sending the seed a good distance from the parent plant. One of the native North American impatiens, Spotted Jewelweed ( Impatiens capensis), is called “Touch-Me-Not.” Kids in central Canada prod this plant with their fingers, testing the long drying pods to see if the pods will detonate. The impatient pods of impatiens do not like to be disturbed.

Hospitals have outpatient units to treat those who don’t check in. Those who stay overnight are thus called “inpatients.” “Inpatient” is a common word in hospitalspeak, occurring by Google’s estimate on some eight million web pages (usually embedded in phrases such as “inpatient services,” “inpatient rehab,” etc.). On more than a thousand pages, I note, “inpatient” is written as “impatient.” Examples below. I’m wondering if the range of meanings assumed by the word “impatient”-restless, intolerant, anxious-might be catalysing the slip. Those confined to a hospital often exhibit forms of impatience, yes?

Examples:

Title on a web site on spinal cord problems: “What to expect in impatient rehabilitation” (http://helpdesk.spinalcordcentral.org/i … age&id=109)

Web bio of a physician : “He opened a private practice in San Diego, California, where he served as a Medical Director of a large metropolitan medical/psychiatric impatient unit.” (http://www.cignabehavioral.com/web/basi … oenson.jsp)

Web obit : “Mr. Hanscome died Tuesday at the Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado impatient unit in Greeley.” (http://www.longmonttrojans.com/lhs/obit … ituary.htm)