'My other half'

lika_86

I don't mind Other Half on here (although would never use it in real life) but the use on here of DD, DS etc really annoys me. It always seems to me to be a bit weird and creepy and seems to sort of idolise their children (ok, everyone loves their children but the pervasive use of the D is a bit much) and particularly seems weird when used by those parents who are having an absolute nightmare with their spoilt little 'DD' or 'DS'.

DannyBo

lika_86 wrote: »

I don't mind Other Half on here (although would never use it in real life) but the use on here of DD, DS etc really annoys me. It always seems to me to be a bit weird and creepy and seems to sort of idolise their children (ok, everyone loves their children but the pervasive use of the D is a bit much) and particularly seems weird when used by those parents who are having an absolute nightmare with their spoilt little 'DD' or 'DS'.

Amen.........

maman

I always use DH (Darling Husband) as shorthand on forums as that's what he is. Others can call their partners what they wish and it doesn't bother me. I tend to agree with the poster who said that as there are so many different types of relationship these days we're scratching around for ways to describe them.

As for the 'slang/dialect' argument: Personally I think it's mainly sloppy speech and poor spelling and (as there's little else to go on with forums) it does affect how I view a post. To me, it's different if someone writes 'oop north' or 'darn sarth' to convey a dialect/accent from writing 'should of' or some other sloppy speech. Shorthand/acronyms on the internet for speed is one thing but why would anyone deliberately spell words wrongly??

Carer

Worst for me is loose instead of lose - argh!!!

durham_girl

pink_princess wrote: »

That is dialect linked.

Up here in the North East, of is normal not have.

A bit like lots of gravy and tea at dinner time

It may sound like we're saying of, but it's actually the h being dropped so it turns into 'ave with the a sounding more like an e.

Corelli

'Other half' does bother me, I can live with it if I'm sure the person is referring to the other person being half of a couple, not the person that makes them complete ... ie that they feel incomplete without the other person.

However, when one gets to middle age terminology does get to be a problem. I see it as pretty silly to refer to another person as a boy friend of girl friend when they are in their 40s plus. But maybe they aren't quite ready for 'partner' definition. I supsect it's a whole concept we haven't got an adequate word for. Or maybe it's picky me not having a word for it that I'm happy with.

..... now .... don't get me started on calling adult women 'girls' ....

Tygermoth

I have a OH.

Mainly as we have been together for over 10 years and 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend' would sound juvenile.

Partner does not work as in my social circle it mainly relates to my friends in same sex couples. (and in my head it sounds like its from a spaghetti western as in 'hi there pardddddner')

The rest sound cringe worthy. *shudders at significant other*

So other half it is

I am a grammar criminal, so i will not step inside this aspect of the conversation. I murder the English language regularly however i hide behind the mantle of my very severe dyslexia and dyspraxia and hope that explanation of the issue i have offers me a free pass

Tiglath

I think I spend too much time on here; I was chatting to my boss the other day and actually said 'DH' instead of his name. Mind you, I sometimes press 9 when making a phonecall from home ...

Pollycat

DannyBo wrote: »

Has to be the most toe-curling way to describe one's lover/partner/spouse.

'I'm just going down the road to collect my other half'

'My other half loves going for long walks'

You are not half a person !

It's all over the boards !

Arggggggggghhhhhhh ! Make it stop already!

There's a world of difference between verbally referring to a partner/spouse as 'OH' and typing it on a public forum.

I've never referred (in speech) to my husband as 'other half' but it's quicker to type 'OH'.

DannyBo wrote: »

But why not just say 'Cyril' 'John' 'Fred' ??

I'm assuming (from your quote above about 'it's alll over the boards' that it's on MSE that using 'OH' offends you.

Frankly, I would not use actual names on a public forum, it's got nothing to do with you or anyone else what my husband is called - and as for suggesting these alternatives:

DannyBo wrote: »

If you want to make a statement, wouldn't 'the only man I've ever loved' aka tomiev or 'the one without whom I cannot breathe' aka towwicb

that's just laughable:

DannyBo wrote: »

'My other half' is just lame -

Sorry to hear about your significant other's mobility problems, hope your OH gets better soon.

krlyr

Pee wrote: »

On here I would often use OH, because I don't want to say "Cyril". tomiel doesn't work either because he isn't.

In "real life" I would say "Cyril" almost always or my boyfriend, but as he is over twice 22 and we have been together for a long time he has started saying partner i.e. this is my partner Cyril and a couple of times I have used other half. (I especially hate partner.)

Other people who know us as a couple have taken to calling him husband i.e. I've just been chatting to your husband.

Sometimes when talking to someone I like to make it clear that I am not trying to chat them up, less and less often these days, so I need to make some reference to a stable relationship.

Ditto this (mostly). With an OH of 30, serious enough to own a house together, I feel "boyfriend" is just too inadequate. We're not giggling teenagers, which is the mental image it conjures up in my head. And "partner" seems, to me, either like what my nan would call a boyfriend if she were to meet someone, or what a same-sex couple would refer to their boyfriend/girlfriend as. I don't use OH "offline", just tend to use his name - most people know who he is, or it'll be obvious in the context used. We've found several people have assumed we're married/called him my husband so must be getting to "that age" where being husband/wife is the natural assumption so feel even sillier using "boyfriend"! But have no intention to get married so wouldn't feel right referring to him as hubby/husband. "OH" will do for me - everyone on here tends to know what it means, and I don't think many people take it too literally.

DannyBo wrote: »

But why not just say 'Cyril' 'John' 'Fred' ??

If you want to make a statement, wouldn't 'the only man I've ever loved' aka tomiev or 'the one without whom I cannot breathe' aka towwicb

'My other half' is just lame - call him/her by their name

Like others are saying, generally I don't want to use his name all over the place. Surely towwicb is more ridiculous than OH? You don't like the fact that OH implies you're not whole without them but think implying you would die without them is more acceptable? I certainly don't think I would be nothing without my OH - we were both quite happpily enjoying the single life before we met and didn't expect to find such a serious relationship, but he is the "other half" of us as a couple.