Here, Here! Where, Where? There, there.

Lately I have noticed quite a few people in online communications on blogs, blog comments, facebook posts and comments and the like typing "here, here!" when they heartily agree with something.

Example:

Mr. Brilliant Person: I think that everyone that reads this comment should be crowned king of the world and be given a zillion dollars.

Ms. In Agreeance: Here here!  Where do I collect the cash moneys?

Ok, so I've noticed it for a long time.  Years ago, in a particular online theater forum, that happened a lot.  A couple of friends and I together came up with the title of this post, probably at a theater rehearsal, discussing the written misuse of this phrase.

So, to clear things up, I now present the proper usage:

Hear, hear!

When spoken, it's no different at all because the words "hear" and "here" are homophones--words that are pronounced the same, but differ in meaning.  When written, there's a big difference.

So, to clear up exactly WHY "Hear, hear!" should be used instead of "Here, here!" I present the meaning behind the phrase as plagiarized from Wikipedia:

Hear, hear is an expression used as a short repeated form of hear him, hear him. It represents a listener's agreement with the point being made by a speaker.

It was originally an imperative for directing attention to speakers, and has since been used, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, as "the regular form of cheering in the House of Commons", with many purposes depending on the intonation of its user. Its use in Parliament is linked to the fact that applause is normally (though not always) forbidden in the chambers of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

It is often incorrectly spelled "here here", especially on websites and IM.

The phrase hear him, hear him! was used in Parliament since the late 1600s, and had been reduced to hear! or hear, hear! by the late 1700s. The verb hear had earlier been used in the King James Bible as a command for others to listen.

My first introduction to this particular phrase came through Bill Cosby.  I can't find the skit or a transcription online, but he talked about different people at parties.  He mentioned a British person that would always say, "hear, hear!" and then he wouldn't say anything.  What was I supposed to hear?

So, there you have it.  If you agree with this, you now know how to properly respond.