# were and we're **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Topic\ **Created:** [August 28, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288 "2017-08-28T23:36:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/1 "2017-08-28T23:36:16Z")
any ideas how to distinquish between were and we're? Any rules appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/detlevd/32/123_2.png) [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 7:42am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/2 "2017-08-29T07:42:18Z")
> [@Pete Z](#): > > any ideas how to distinquish between were and we're? Any rules appreciated. "Were" is the past tense of the stative verb "be". It is used with the pronouns "we", "they", and "you". You were off to the beach. We were happy to be there. They were happy to be there. > [@](#): > > "We're" is a contraction of the phrase "we are": the apostrophe stands for the omitted letter A. "Were" is simply a plural past-tense form of the verb "are." To talk about something happening now or in the future, use "we're," but to talk about something in the past, use "were." If you can't substitute "we are" for the word you've written, omit the apostrophe. > > "We were going to go to the party as a prince and princess, but Derek cut himself shaving, so we're going instead as a vampire and her victim." [https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/were\_where\_we're.htm](https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/were_where_we're.htm) [https://brians.wsu.edu/category/common-error/](https://brians.wsu.edu/category/common-error/) text only ... [https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/1350/20...5/errorsRTF.txt](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/1350/2017/05/errorsRTF.txt) DD.20170829.1300.CEST ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/3 "2017-08-30T21:33:39Z")
sorry i mean how can i get mp3tag to fix the spelling in mp3 names for were and we're. Is there a rule I can add to mp3tag?? Sorry for the confusion. I also posted this in wrong section!! Pls fix admins if poss. ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/4 "2017-08-31T03:14:57Z")
How is MP3tag to know which language is used for the tag data? And no: there is no rule, but I am sure that you can think of an easy way to replace it like all "were" to "we're" and then the "you we're" to "you were" etc. Should leave all the real "we're" as remainders. Please note that there are several other constructions that could be just as wrong: we're - were - where They're - their - there You're - your ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/5 "2017-08-31T03:27:07Z")
wow didn't think there were others too. Dosn't it annoy others out there. I want the spelling/context to be correct. Why doesn't mp3tag have these rules built in as default? ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/6 "2017-08-31T03:46:13Z")
there are more languages out there than just English. Mp3tag has a modular approach so that you can create your own actions to meet your needs. Feel free to share them here in the forum - perhaps they become standard and a built-in feature. Your claim to get the spelling correct actually collides with the artist's freedom to use a grammar and spelling of their liking. Some examples: Slade: "Cum on feel the noiz" or "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" Prince: "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" or "Gotta Stop - Messin' About" or "Feel U Up" Pink: "U + Ur Hand" or "'Cuz I Can" 2Pac: "Ratha Be Ya Nigga" or "What'z Ya Phone #" Princess: "Say I'm Ur N° 1" And so on and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/7 "2017-08-31T03:54:46Z")
mmmm good argument there. So are you saying you dont use any mp3tag actions (Is that what they are called?) and that you just leave "were" as they are like this for example.. those we're the days which is wrong. I don't think in that case the artist intended it that way! ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/8 "2017-08-31T04:06:38Z")
No, I did not say anything about not to use actions. On the contrary: if you find actions useful to achieve your goal you may as well share them here on the forum for others to participate. I just say: you cannot let loose an action to modify any text. Just another (constructed) example: What about a title like Where were the monkeys vs. Where we're the monkeys Both correct but which is the intended one? I do not doubt that there are a lot of spelling mistakes in tags ... but please: English is not the only language so why create a built-in function only for that kind of text? Mp3tag with German origin does not even have a decent case correction mechanism to get the German cases correct with capitals for nouns and names ... so why should it take care of bad spelling in other languages. No, in that respect MP3tag is absolutely impartial: MP3tag has so many flexible interfaces so that you can get a spelling correction, e.g.: create an export of the relevant tag fields, have it checked with the spellchecker of any odd word processor, re-import the corrected tag data into the files. I already mentioned the actions. And you can assemble a collection of filters to group the files with the most common mis-spellings together like "dont" vs. "don't" etc. ---
**Author:** ![DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/detlevd/32/123_2.png) [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/9 "2017-08-31T05:25:07Z")
> [@Pete Z](#): > > ... Is there a rule I can add to mp3tag? ... **TEST\_OUTPUT \<== $regexp(%TEST\_INPUT%,'\b((y|Y)ou|(w|W)e|(t|T)hey)((’|'''')re)\b','$1 are')**TEST\_INPUT: you're we're they're You're We're They're TEST\_INPUT: you’re we’re they’re You’re We’re They’re TEST\_OUTPUT: you are we are they are You are We are They are **... or ... TEST\_OUTPUT \<== $replace(%TEST\_INPUT%, 'you''''re','you are','we''''re','we are','they''''re','they are', 'You''''re','You are','We''''re','We are','They''''re','They are', 'you’re','you are','we’re','we are','they’re','they are', 'You’re','You are','We’re','We are','They’re','They are')** DD.20170831.0925.CEST, DD.20170831.1532.CEST, DD.20170901.1212.CEST ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/10 "2017-08-31T05:42:48Z")
@Pete Z: Which apostrophe do you use between we and re in we’re? I hope the typographically-correct punctuation according to the [Unicode Standard](http://www.unicode.org/standard/standard.html)? 😉 > [@](#): > > 2019 ’ [RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK](http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U2000.pdf) > = single comma quotation mark, this is the preferred character to use for apostrophe or do you use > [@](#): > > 0027 ' [APOSTROPHE](http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0000.pdf) > = neutral (vertical) glyph with mixed usage (The wrong character most people can reach directly on the keyboard) You see, it’s nearly impossible for a software like Mp3tag to offer THE correct rule set, especially if it should be valid for every language. ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/11 "2017-08-31T21:17:25Z")
yes i do use the wrong ' and am aware. The right one should be more accessable on the keyboard imo. Re this Where were the monkeys vs. Where we're the monkeys The second one infers "Where we are the monkeys" so its completely wrong. No? So in summary there is no real way to auto correct these types of words with a rule just in English? ☹ If there is and someone can add it here that would be very helpful for me ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/12 "2017-09-01T04:13:41Z")
> [@Pete Z](#): > > ...So in summary there is no real way to auto correct these types of words with a rule just in English? > ... I think that DetlevD has provided at least one attempt in this post: [were and we're](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/19288/9) Your original question was: why isn't it a built-in function? And in this respect the answer has been provided, supported by a number of examples, that the idea of _auto correction_ will most likely cause more damage than do good. If you want to implement something like that in your workflow, you are free to do so. ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/13 "2017-09-01T04:32:53Z")
appreciate the help from DetlevD but that will really change things drastically for song titles so not for me. Appreciate the help everyone. Sounds like not a simple one so will just have to live with it. ---
**Author:** ![DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/detlevd/32/123_2.png) [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 7:35am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/14 "2017-09-01T07:35:24Z")
> [@Pete Z](#): > > ... that will really change things drastically for song titles ... Huh? Please give some drastic examples. DD.20170901.1135.CEST ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 10:23am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/15 "2017-09-01T10:23:38Z")
for eg Travolta - You're the one that I want would become Travolta - You are the one that I want and to me that is a drastic change to the charactor or interpretation of the song title. ---
**Author:** ![DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/detlevd/32/123_2.png) [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 11:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/16 "2017-09-01T11:20:13Z")
> [@Pete Z](#): > > ... "Travolta - You're the one that I want" would become "Travolta - You are the one that I want" ... and to me that is a drastic change to the charactor or interpretation of the song title. Please explain more clearly. What was the motive for your first question: "any ideas how to distinguish between were and we're?" > [@Pete Z](#): > > 
... sorry i mean how can i get mp3tag to fix the spelling in mp3 names ...
 There are many people, who dislike to have apostrophe characters within a mp3 filename. DD.20170901.1657.CEST ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/17 "2017-09-01T12:56:22Z")
not sure how I can make it any clearer. Sorry ---
**Author:** ![Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/zerow/32/11379_2.png) [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/18 "2017-09-20T15:20:42Z")
> [@Pete Z](#): > > [...] > So are you saying you dont use any mp3tag actions (Is that what they are called?) and that you just leave "were" as they are like this for example > [...] Solution to your problem is this: 1] Create an action that changes XY to X'Y 2] Create an action that changes X'Y to XY 3] Load all of your files and filter them for occurrences of XY. And then look at each file- and if needed execute the first action on it 4] Remove from Mp3tag all of the evaluated files; both not changed and those treated with the action 5] Change the filter for occurrences of X'Y. And then look at each file- and if needed execute the second action on it 6] Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5, because you probably missed some cases It is manual and tedious- but that is how it is done ---
**Author:** ![djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@djpete1959](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djpete1959)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 9:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/were-and-were/19288/19 "2017-09-21T09:20:27Z")
> [@Zerow](#): > > Solution to your problem is this: > 1] Create an action that changes XY to X'Y > > 2] Create an action that changes X'Y to XY > > 3] Load all of your files and filter them for occurrences of XY. And then look at each file- and if needed execute the first action on it > > 4] Remove from Mp3tag all of the evaluated files; both not changed and those treated with the action > > 5] Change the filter for occurrences of X'Y. And then look at each file- and if needed execute the second action on it > > 6] Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5, because you probably missed some cases > > It is manual and tedious- but that is how it is done yes that's sort of what i did. Painful though. Many thanks for your concern