Idea Vs. Ideal

People say ideal instead of idea in bristol, I've heard up to 5 people say it now, glad someone else brought it up because I though I was losing my marbles!lol

I believe it is easier to say ideal vs. idea, it rolls off the tongue better! In addition, the meanings seem to be like splitting hairs. I have a great idea or I have a great ideal, what's the big difference? There is none.

I think that using ideal when idea should be the correct word is a silly way to speak. I hear ideal used incorrectly all the time, it really gets on my nerves. Oh well...

"I have an idea."
"This is an ideal situation."

It drives me crazy when people use "ideal" in place of "idea". I want to shake them and say No! It's idea! But I'm kind of a grammar police anyway. My pet peeve is when people do not use the proper They're, their and there in sentences, it is very prevalent in social media. I just want to give grammar lessons but know I'll come off sounding like a snob.

My husband says ideal all the time. And I always ask tell him what do you deal? And then I ask him if he means idea. And that ideal does not mean the same thing as idea.

Seems to me there are probably many cases in which either word would be correct, depending on the meaning intended.
For example:
When it came to human flight,Leo was driven by his ideals. (his lofty aims, his asperation towards perfection)
When it came to human flight,Leo was driven by his ideas. (the creations in his mind, his unformed plans)
And so on. That's my view, could well be wrong.

I've heard so many people use Ideal for Idea, I began to doubt myself,and looked it up,

I work with someone who says ideal instead of idea. She is very educated and smart but she has odd pronunciations for a few words. She is aware of it and says it's a regional thing. (She's from Central Ohio and most Central Ohio people don't pronounce it that way though).

My grandma pronounced it idear and was from a New York Jewish community.

"ideal" can be found in "As Bill Sees it" pg 172 'This Matter of Honesty' Stated as "Only God can fully know what absolute honesty is. Therefore, each of us has to conceive what this great ideal may be." Or, as another stated, it means as another has stated, it means something that is perfect or close to perfection" This makes sense then.

Apparently this was extracted from "Letter, 1966"
I am currently trying to find its meaning. I gather it is another way to right 'idea?'

I think I have an understanding of ideal now. Thanks guys (and gals.)

sumbee,

I’ve lived in Southern Indiana all my life and rarely do I hear the word ideal used in place of idea from an area resident. I have, however, heard it quite frequently in a small pocket of
Bullitt County, Ky in which the northern area is considered Louisville. Just saying.

Well I suppose I did need a proofreader as I meant to address my comment to sumshee not sumbee

If you know what they mean, get over it. We’ve all butchered the English language before. I have a great idea, stop acting like you’re so perfect!

If you know what they mean, get over it. We’ve all butchered the English language before. I have a great idea, stop acting like you’re so perfect. I ain’t got time for this. Lol

The fact that President Obama and VP Harris says this for “idea” is scary and Obama is a good speaker. Not sure why people think it’s the correct word. Ideal mean situation is as perfect as it can get. Idea is just a thought (a light bulb).

My solution to a problem has to be ideal or I would not offer my opinion.