Martin Harris - Moderator Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 Thanks to the last 3 posters (and one or two earlier) who have appreciated what I'm looking for. From the responses so far it seems no-one is claiming the deliberate use of the term "stoke" and despite what I felt was an unusually common error which could have been construed as a play on words, this wasn't the case either. Unless there are any responses to the contrary, I'd guess it just comes down to the proximity of the T and R keys on a qwerty keyboard... P.S. PN, You're not wrong in your observations! Edited By Martin Harris on 17/10/2014 11:13:17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Newberry - Nuviation Ltd. Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 The term 4-stoke is actually a historical reference. Back in the days of the great American railway pioneers, native Americans would be employed as firemen on board the steam locomotives. Because these workers were unused to the high speeds attained on the railways, they quickly became travel sick and unable to continue in their tasks, such that their hardiness became measured by the length of time they could continue working before needing a rest, hence you might find that you had a 2-stoke injun or a 4-stoke injun.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wright Stuff Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Martin, I think the adjacent lettes on the keyboard is cetainly par of the reaon, but not the whoe story, othewise w'd see missing lettrs much mor often. I think errors in certain combinations of letters are difficult to spot by eye when proofreading, which then explains why the error is not detected. This is obviously a function of the font type in print, but in this instance, the gap between the 't' and the 'o' sort of resembles the shape of an 'r' (try defocussing your eyes) so the brain 'fills in' the missing information. TWS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Fledermaus Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Fellers you may have all sorts of fancy reasons why it happens, but I can only speak for myself. It's pure carelessness, coupled with the fact that I don't read, what I've written properly. My spelling is also abismal - see what I mean!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hopkin Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Posted by Percy Verance on 17/10/2014 13:34:36: Same problem here Colin. My posts occasionally contain spellong mistooks........... You need to get a spool Chucker mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.B. Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 It's all perfectly simple. On buying a shiny new engine one takes it from the box a give it a couple of affectionate strokes before putting it away. As the so called 4 stroke is more desirable and valuable one gives it four strokes before putting it back in the box. Electric motors just get thrown in the corner Stoke is in Staffordshire. TBH until you pointed it out I had not noticed this common typo and had been reading Stoke as Stroke. Now you have given me something else which will annoy me in future. Edited By Mr.B. on 17/10/2014 13:47:11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 Posted by Jim Newberry on 17/10/2014 11:25:30: The term 4-stoke is actually a historical reference. Back in the days of the great American railway pioneers, native Americans would be employed as firemen on board the steam locomotives. Because these workers were unused to the high speeds attained on the railways, they quickly became travel sick and unable to continue in their tasks, such that their hardiness became measured by the length of time they could continue working before needing a rest, hence you might find that you had a 2-stoke injun or a 4-stoke injun.... Groan!!! Brilliant. Mr. B - You're absolutely correct in your definition - and glad to be of service! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vecchio Austriaco Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 what about Viertakt . . . ok, end of German lesson. Stoke comes from old english stoc, standing for place - this is what Wikipedia tells us. so probably four stoke is just a typo VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 It's looking that way Gerhard*, but it might have been a play on words - as in stoking the fire - along the lines of one of my favourites, electrickery but no-one has claimed to use it deliberately. *I think I have your name right - I can't really refer to you as "Old", can I? Edited By Martin Harris on 17/10/2014 17:02:38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Just realised that this recent thread also suffered from the dreaded missing "R" syndrome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 Not only that one Peter - which Colin has already coughed to earlier in this thread, but here and here and here - and that's only in thread titles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi t pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it. Makes perfect sense to me.... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 'Stoke'. Yes, common typing error - usually caused by predictive text (unless you are a steam train driver). But why do some people find spelling errors so galling? You see it on so many forums, somebody makes an interesting point or comes up with an original idea perhaps, but makes the odd typo or incorrect spelling. So often there is someone else who, it seems, takes great delight in pointing out the error while ignoring the substance of the original post. If we all understand what someone is trying to say does it matter how a word is spelt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Posted by Piers Bowlan on 18/10/2014 06:59:34: 'Stoke'. Yes, common typing error - usually caused by predictive text (unless you are a steam train driver). But why do some people find spelling errors so galling? You see it on so many forums, somebody makes an interesting point or comes up with an original idea perhaps, but makes the odd typo or incorrect spelling. So often there is someone else who, it seems, takes great delight in pointing out the error while ignoring the substance of the original post. If we all understand what someone is trying to say does it matter how a word is spelt? I suppose it's how tough the English teacher was? I like to get the spelling correct. Edited By cymaz on 18/10/2014 07:18:09 Edited By cymaz on 18/10/2014 07:19:04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart C Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 A 4 Stoke must use some damned thick engine oil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J V R Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 all this talk about 2 & 4 stroke or stoke engines, what about **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 You know I am not surprised that it never caught on! I imagine that any possible benefits were lost in the extra complexity and friction etc in all the extra mechanical parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.B. Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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