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

Vortigern

spandit wrote: »

With the election on Thursday, many TV channels, including the BBC who are talking about the "AV vote". As AV means Alternative Vote, is "Alternative Vote vote" correct?

"Alternative Vote Referendum" would be better

EmehEm2005

lmuk2k wrote: »

OK, as we're being pedantic, my pet hate is customers asking the person serving them in a shop or bar "can I get a coffee please?" (or whatever it is that you want them to pass over from their side of the counter.)

"Can I have a coffee please?" is now pretty rare.

The even more pedantically-minded English speakers will state that beginning a question with Can I is to question one's own ability rather than to make a request. To satisfy those people, you're better off using may:May I have a cup of coffee? If you want to be polite about it, add a please:
May I have a cup of coffee, please?
If you want to be especially considerate, like when you need to get some coffee from a person who's had a bad day, make the hassle of getting the coffee the focus of the request instead of the coffee itself:
Could I trouble you for a cup of coffee?
Finally, if you're familiar with the person, you can just skip the question altogether without offence:
Pass the coffee, mate.
It's common to assume a person who's looking for coffee is suffering from caffeine withdrawal allowing for a good deal of leniency when considering how polite the request for coffee is.

suttonsaver

Flyboy152 wrote: »

The difference being, is that the Alternative Vote is the title of the vote taking place.

If you think that statement is grammatically correct, your status as a word pedant is doubtful, to say the least. In fact, you've just reminded me of another of my pet hates.

kneelbeforezod

suttonsaver wrote: »

If you think that statement is grammatically correct, your status as a word pedant is doubtful, to say the least. In fact, you've just reminded me of another of my pet hates.

But, in this case, you are voting on use of a voting system? (well, you were if you were one of the 41% that bothered to turn out... If instead you stayed at home, effectively abstaining, would that be classed as a vote as well? So in that case you'd be casting a vote against the vote for an Alternative Vote... :think:)

Brendanfelix

What about circumstise instead of circumcise? Not an everyday word in normal conversation, but it does come up and I cringe every time!

Flyboy152

Brendanfelix wrote: »

What about circumstise instead of circumcise? Not an everyday word in normal conversation, but it does come up and I cringe every time!

It makes me cringe as well, but not because of the word.

DdraigGoch

I am surprised that I have not seen anyone commenting upon the correct usage of the word, "will", as in, "I shall/you will" and the volte face which the verb can do when firm belief or will is implied.

An example I offer is, "I shall be in London tomorrow.", not, "I will be in London tomorrow." unless the emphasis is most firmly upon the WILL, to imply that there is a firm belief and intention behind it.

I may well be deemed pernikety but I shout at the radio and television when this slipshod usage of English is perpetrated by people who really should know better. I do try to keep my tongue firmly between my teeth when this occurs in daily life.

Thank you, Martin, for this thread, it's wonderfully entertaining. My apologies in advance for any faults in my reply.

gravitytolls

DdraigGoch, I'll stick with 'I'll be in London.'

Accept and except, grrrrr, but the one I see most commonly, which aggravates me more than any other is........

of, instead of 've. It gets right up me nose!

Katie-Kat-Kins

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but I find it irritating when people mix up sayings. Such as:

Damp squid
batter an eyelid
being weary of something (instead of wary)
tender hooks
etc

igaveupnowimback

You's or youse - as a plural instead of 'you' and 'Defin-ate-ly' instead of definitely, with 'ate' emphasised just to add insult to injury! :mad:
The 110% thing bugs me as well. The 'should of' too! Apostrophes used incorrectly, e.g. 'Burger's' - see it all the time in shops signs, flyers, ads etc. Also phrases like 'It does my head in ...etc.' I'm not pedantic, but the misuse of so many words and expressions (ignoring textspeak) is endemic.