Why can't people spell Dr. Seuss's name correctly?

[Anonymous]

I'm not a stickler for spelling - it doesn't bother me when I read message boards such as this one or even Facebook and see all the typos. One misspelling that constantly baffles me, however, is the misspelling of Dr. Seuss. I can tell people aren't doing typos when they misspell it and on the one hand, I understand why they spell it incorrectly since it sounds like it should be spelled that way.

But on the other hand, his name is all over the place. I see people making the spelling mistake even though they should know better (I've seen it spelled wrong outside the internet. I've seen schools make the mistake. I've seen other people who work with kids make the mistake). We've all seen his name a gazillion times even if we are not directly focusing our attention on the spelling of his name, shouldn't at least sub-consciously his spelling have sunk into our brains?

It's Dr. Seuss, not Dr. Suess.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's because Seuss, which was his Bavarian mother's maiden name, should actually be pronounced "Soyce" in German (the "eu" dipthong is said "oy") while a name pronounced "Soos" should be spelled "Suess."

It trips me up every time. Perhaps we should work on getting people to pronounce the name correctly and then they will spell it correctly.

Or else not worry about spelling mistakes on an anonymous forum.

[Anonymous]

Who cares!

[Anonymous]

LOL.

[Anonymous]

Thanks OP!

[Anonymous]

Not everyone grew up with Dr Seuss. And not everyone is overly anal about silly stuff like this.

[Anonymous]

it's hard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's because Seuss, which was his Bavarian mother's maiden name, should actually be pronounced "Soyce" in German (the "eu" dipthong is said "oy") while a name pronounced "Soos" should be spelled "Suess."

It trips me up every time. Perhaps we should work on getting people to pronounce the name correctly and then they will spell it correctly.

Or else not worry about spelling mistakes on an anonymous forum.

Agree. And while we're at it, Americans should learn how to pronounce Van Gogh correctly too (or at least in a way that has a little more relation to being correct).

[Anonymous]

Just to annoy you.

But seriously, it does baffle me that these things don't just look "wrong" to people.

[Anonymous]

I cannot spell it in a boat
I cannot spell it with a goat
I cannot spell with Van Gogh's ear
I cannot spell at all I fear!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's because Seuss, which was his Bavarian mother's maiden name, should actually be pronounced "Soyce" in German (the "eu" dipthong is said "oy") while a name pronounced "Soos" should be spelled "Suess."

It trips me up every time. Perhaps we should work on getting people to pronounce the name correctly and then they will spell it correctly.

Or else not worry about spelling mistakes on an anonymous forum.

Agree. And while we're at it, Americans should learn how to pronounce Van Gogh correctly too (or at least in a way that has a little more relation to being correct).

sure, but you'd come off as a pretentious idiot if you said it the right way in front of a bunch of americans. and this is coming from someone who pronounces michelangelo correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot spell it in a boat
I cannot spell it with a goat
I cannot spell with Van Gogh's ear
I cannot spell at all I fear!

Love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot spell it in a boat
I cannot spell it with a goat
I cannot spell with Van Gogh's ear
I cannot spell at all I fear!

HAHAHA

[Anonymous]

Also it is Seuss' not Seuss's name.

You are welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also it is Seuss' not Seuss's name.

You are welcome.

NP here, and actually you are incorrect. The possessive of Seuss is Seuss's (see Elements of Style, by Strunk & White) You are welcome.