'The word pedants' top 10 | It's specific, not Pacific...' blog discussion.

Martint

Cracking thread - 'This could run and run'.

How about banning the use of 'Going forward' when what is meant is 'In future'? 'Going forward' relates to physical movement.

BBC R4 has had a nasty outbreak of 'wreaked' when they surely mean 'wrought'.

Random apostrophes!

Confectionary.

Misuse of the adverb 'Only' so that it qualifies the wrong word.

And so many more!

Captain_Crumpet

"I am so loving this"

Arrggghhhhh!!! :mad::mad::mad:

Beate

Great thread. Not really much to add that hasn't been said but I do not understand what is so difficult about distinguishing bought and brought. Two completely different meanings yet I constantly read "brought ledger" and the like! Why?

Also, I have noticed that a lot of people write "I have text you" or "I have PM you." You wouldn't write "I have call you" so why can't you use the correct past tense and say "I have texted you"? I can't count the number of times I have seen this and it really puzzles me.

JayD

I am someone who is irritated when hearing 'should of' instead of 'should have' but I can see how easily people can get into that trap. The contracted version 'should've' sounds very like like a poorly pronounced 'should of' - poor pronunciation seeming to be quite normal these days.

I also dislike hearing people say 'haitch' instead of 'aitch' - although I agree it may seem strange that the name of this letter doesn't start with its sound.

xyzzy_2

My pet hate is the mis-pronunciation of the word "schedule". The "sch" is like "shh" NOT "sk"! Even newscasters are at it. Please stop this right now!

pete1976

Most of my pet hates are already covered on what I've read of this thread but I also hate the term "'fess-up" which I've heard presenters on BBC Radio Five Live use more than once recently. What's wrong with just saying "confess"?

Something else that annoys me is when someone is asked for example "Have you got the time?" and they reply "I do". I always think it should be "I have" but I have to fess-up, I'm not 100% sure which is the correct grammar (maybe both?).

xyzzy_2

Oh and one for Martin....where did "diarise" come from then? (See today's MSE email). American import again I suspect.

rojanich

I too dislike the increasing inappropriate use of 'yourself' and 'myself' and yesterday cringed on hearing 'mygoodself' :mad:

That brings me on to the use of 'Me' and 'I'. 'My wife and me are going to London'. No, no, no, pretend your wife wasn't going as well and you'll find it's 'I am going to London' so it should be 'My wife and I are going to London'. BUT it's not 'Please give my wife and I a sea view'. Leave your wife out and you'll find you wouldn't say 'Please give I a sea view'.

Just don't start me on the people who put themsleves first in similar situations as above. As in 'Me and my wife...', and as for 'the wife', we won't even go there !

Again 'for free' is on the increase where just 'free' or 'for nothing' are correct surely ?

The one that didn't figure in Martin's :money:list which I would have expected him to pick up on is the increase in the use of 'Making a loss' when reporting a company's trading loss. One doesn't 'make' a loss, one suffers a loss

My husband has contributed 'Train Station' which should be 'Railway Station'.

One last one - 'Off my own back'. Sorry, it's 'Off my own bat' as in cricket bat.

They'll do for now - light blue touchpaper and retire ! Great subject for discussion :T

Jane

andycat_2

thebigbosh wrote: »

The usage of loose instead of lose is a real irritation for me, but here's the challenge: think of it from the perspective of someone who has never seen English written down. We say 'loos' the same as 'lose'. 'Loo' sounds exactly like the start of 'lose'. It's not easy!

My pet hate, and the BBC frequently annoys the hell out of me by doing it, is when someone says "...an Historical moment." It should said either "an 'istorical moment" (as if you were French) or "a historical moment".

Actually this is one of the many exceptions in the English language.
It should never be 'a historical' or 'a hotel' but ALWAYS 'an'

andyfras_2

xyzzy wrote: »

My pet hate is the mis-pronunciation of the word "schedule". The "sch" is like "shh" NOT "sk"! Even newscasters are at it. Please stop this right now!

It depends on your school of thought.