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

hil_billie

Certainly, there's the kettle.

chrismale

I know it is a grammar issue, not a word issue, but even the BBC these days does not know the difference between 'less' and 'fewer'.

If you can put a number to it, it is 'fewer', if not, it is 'less' ie less bread, less milk, fewer cars, fewer people.

And people will insist in inserting an apostrophe in 'its' when they are using it a as possessive adjective like 'his' or 'hers'.

hil_billie

"There's no difference," I can understand; but what about "It's the same difference" ? Do they mean the same thing?

Olokia

There are two things on here that I disagree with.

Where I was brought up, people mostly spoke with the Queen's English and the following ARE correct to me and really annoy me when I hear it wrong

H is "Haitch" and not "Aitch" Aitch just sounds completely wrong!

Also, Schedule is "Skedule" and not "Shedule". Shedule also sounds completely wrong.

Here are some of my pet hates:

Ect instead of Etc - It is eT Cetera!
Sprayed/Spaded/Speyed instead of Spayed.

There are more but I can't think of any right now.

If I have made any mistakes, it is probably because I am in a rush:)

KimYeovil

Here! Here! These posts should be taken as red.

rimscar

Along with the usual suspects, such as they're and you're, my current favourites are:
1) Take me to Hospital-- surely "the" Hospital; you don't say "take me to supermarket", or "take me to bank"
2) On a regular basis, or on a daily basis--what, you mean regularly or daily?
3) In terms of--as opposed to regarding, in repsect of...
4) It's a big ask--football managers and players should never, ever be interviewed. Ever.

I personally blame MBAs; they all speak like gibbering buffoons. That's why I hide mine behind a white font

gitw

My sister is always asking me to 'borrow' her money. As I am only able to lend her money it has worked out quite cheaply for me although she does look at me in a strange manner when I say no!

I also hate how the news is now read so informally and uses slang. The news should be read correctly - how else are people to know that it is something important and not just a re-run of Hollyoaks!

goldtop

My pet hate is 'its to die for' I'm sorry but if that designer bag, dress, whatever (also another pet hate) is to 'die for' your not going to get much use out of it...............

figgy

Until recently I had an idiot boss who said "Pacific" every time he meant "specific". I thought I was hearing things until he actually wrote Pacific on a document he wanted me to type. Ha ha ha, still makes me laugh that one.

xtopher

My current most (and I can say that) hated word is MOSTLY. One of our dear ministers the other day said that MOST people wanted to work beyond 65; two days later Panarama aired the problem with 50's not being employable! Where does this 'straw poll' seem to elevate to MOSTLY. I challenge ALL politicians to go 6 months without mentioning this word and use a more accurate indicator possibly backed by fact!