Quiet - quit - quite

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It is surprisingly common to find writers at all levels of education confusing the three words quit, quiet and quite. This is often the result of tiredness, or boredom, and is simple carelessness. (It is very easy to do on a computer keyboard - and, as all three are standard Englixsh words, unintelligent spell-checkers will accept them.

Don't do it!
  • The verb 'to quit' is an informal way of saying 'stop' (as in 'quit smoking') or 'leave'(as in 'she quit her job'. This usage is now more common in US English than in British. But the word has a very old and respectable place:
    • (cf. 'to requite')
    • (cf. 'to acquit')