Posted on 09/08/2014 6:29:29 AM PDT by PeteePie
Discussions of English Language pet peeves provide an entertaining forum for the expression of ire. In fact, if a “pet” is something we cherish, and a “peeve” is something that annoys us, “pet peeves” are what we love to hate. Here’s a collection of common English solecisms—guaranteed not to literally blow your mind:
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I wonder if they also say “taks” instead of “task”, or “maks” instead of “mask”. I had a coworker who could pronounce those words fine, but she always said “aks” instead of “ask”. Since she was above me in rank, I didn’t continue to harp on it, once I discovered that she could speak properly. She just chose not to on certain occasions.
“All of the sudden....”
Could be regional, but I don’t “make” a left, I “take” a left.
After 100 or so posts, I still haven’t seen anyone mention the common Midwestern mess up of “needs fixed” or “needs _______ (insert past tense form of a verb”, instead of saying “needs fixing” or “needs to be fixed.” It drives me crazy to hear it so frequently.
Another thing that bothers me is to hear someone say “could’ve went” instead of “could’ve gone”, especially if that person is a TEACHER! Please, can we get rid of teachers that have poor grammar?
“Could’ve went” is bad enough, but “could of went” is horrible!
That is probably how the teacher would have spelled it, but I heard this teacher speaking on the radio, so I gave him some benefit of the doubt. He was talking about wanting to take his students to the statehouse, when there was much ado about more funding for the local teachers. I started voting “no” on tax hikes after that teacher called in.
Cement is a light gray fine powder, but you wouldn’t know it from everybody on TV who use the term in place of concrete. Hannity, who supposedly worked as a contractor, wanders back and forth, one time using the former; then switching to the latter - for the same item. I ask people who misuse it whether it would be OK to say ‘flour’ when you meant ‘cake.’
TV talking heads consistently use ‘podium’ where they really meant ‘lectern.’ You step on a podium; you step up to a lectern.
To many, ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ are interchangeable, as are ‘there’ and ‘their’ (they’ve never even heard of ‘they’re’).
It’s always easier to notice the errors, so I am enjoying seeing there are a few literate types still out there. Next I’ll complain about those who distribute commas like a ghetto thug distributes his DNA (and with no more of an idea about how to support the result).
A whole lot of dictionary bashing going on, here .
(Whilst perusing the queue of threads....lol.)
I agree, just like so many other imitations of "black" behavior, like the multi-faceted handshakes ending in a "bump," high-fives, and other ridiculous copying of their insanity.
Yeah, bring on the revolution...Down with the confining restraints of the Dictionary!
My worst peeve is when I hear politicians say they’re “conservative” when they actually mean “liberal.”
fresh baked. or fresh brewed in advertisements.
It is either fresh, (comma) baked... or freshly baked.
“E-mail”. Not “email”. The hyphen defines the type of mail.
Me too, but in a different way. When some one says they are going to take a nap, to where is that nap being taken (location?). Or "I'm going to take a whiz". OK. Where will you put it upon taking it?
Around the time you originally posted your thoughts on “dove” I was rushing around the house. I did look in my Oxfords and also in Fowler.
Dived is the correct past-tense of the verb “dive.” However, Fowlers listed “dove” as a past tense form used in American English since the late 19th century and did not cite it as incorrect, just regional.
I have to say, as a Midwesterner, “I dove into the pool and touched the bottom” sounds standard where “I dived into the pool and touched the bottom” does not.
The word “dive” is both a noun and a verb, so we have a lot going on as it is old word going back to middle English.
Worse still: "the reason is because . . "
The reason? It's redundant.
There is no “d” in weaponry, commonly mispronounced by some talk-show hosts (one ex-host in particular).
Also, REALTOR® is a two-syllable word. Why do some people insist on saying it with another vowel sound between the “l” and the “t”?
The word dude.
Can’t stand it. I feel like I’m talking to Bart fn Simpson.
Pacificly
Using less, instead of fewer
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