Words or phrases that annoy you

benjus

AubreyMac wrote: »

Plurals has always confused me, especially with words that end with a s anyway or words that are already plural. For example, I work in children's social services and this is on our headed paper. One colleague said it should be children services not children's because children is already a plural for child.

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

I do work in children's services, and I think it is correct because they are services for all the children. I am now fretting as I don't want to have my teeth on edge every time I switch my computer on at work

Does anyone know which is correct?

I think there's some confusion here between adding an s to form a plural and adding a 's to indicate possession.

"children's" is the correct form for "belonging to the children"
"child's" is the correct form for "belonging to the child"

"children services" is not grammatically correct, as it's trying to use "children" as an adjective, which it isn't.

The rule for words that form plurals the regular way, by adding an s, is as follows:

girl - singular noun
girls - plural noun
girl's - belonging to the girl
girls' - belonging to the girls

If you're adding a possessive 's to a word that isn't a plural but ends in s (such as a name, for example), both the s's and s' forms are seen.

For example, there's a tube station in London called St. James's Park. But some people would prefer St James' Park. I believe that both are acceptable.

Pollycat

Petra_70 wrote: »

Who said saying 'bus station' is infantile? What an utterly absurd and ridiculous thing to say! How the heck is it 'infantile?' How silly!

I didn't say that the term 'bus station' was infantile (and as far as I'm aware nobody else did either).

My reference was to 'train station':

Pollycat wrote: »

I see nothing wrong (and certainly don't view it as 'infantile') with calling a place that a train departs from a 'train station'.

If you really want to know who thinks referring to a place that a train departs from as 'train station' is infantile, here you go:

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I'm from the North and it's not regional.

Train station sounds infantile to me. It's a station on the railway, so a railway station, or just "station" for short.

snowleopard61

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

I do work in children's services, and I think it is correct because they are services for all the children. I am now fretting as I don't want to have my teeth on edge every time I switch my computer on at work

Does anyone know which is correct?

Children's services. The apostrophe and s indicates a possessive.

ETA: Sorry, cross-posted, Benjus has already said this.

HurdyGurdy

pigpen wrote: »

I LOVE the C word.. it is the best word ever!! At family gatherings we adults (hahahaha) have a contest to see who can use it the most! We love the reaction from other people when it is used in public.. why is it considered any worse than most of 'rude' words?? its kind of nice when you think about it.

Yes, but it isn't being used as a compliment, is it. Would you call any of your children Cs, because it is, in your opinion, "nice"?

Gloomendoom

Pollycat wrote: »

I didn't say that the term 'bus station' was infantile (and as far as I'm aware nobody else did either).

My reference was to 'train station':

If you really want to know who thinks referring to a place that a train departs from as 'train station' is infantile, here you go:

I appear to have touched a few nerves.

Just say "station". There's no need to preface it with train.

Pollycat

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I appear to have touched a few nerves.

You really haven't touched any of my nerves.

I commented that I use the term 'train station' and also made the point - agreeing with other posters - that I didn't agree that the term was 'infantile'.
I'm sure MSE rules allow posters to disagree.

Petra_70 specifically asked who thought 'bus station' was 'infantile so I corrected her and quoted your post.

Again - no nerves touched at all.

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Just say "station". There's no need to preface it with train.

Yes there is every need.
It clarifies the difference between the place that buses depart from and where trains leave from.

Georgiegirl256

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I appear to have touched a few nerves.

Just say "station". There's no need to preface it with train.

But then if you just said 'station' people would ask which station you meant as that could apply to the bus Station too!

janb5

People who use" pass over, passed away" etc for `died. I was told it was a `nicer` word to use! Really?

People who `suffer` from anything minor like a headache or a cold..no you don`t suffer, this is temporary.

Issues for everything..

Talking with someone instead of "to"

People who were evidently absent when apostrophes were explained but think it is ok to have long long posts without any apostrophes , paragraphs or correct spelling.

Newscasters who use the word `there` all the time...that is our political correspondent there!

Pollycat

janb5 wrote: »

People who `suffer` from anything minor like a headache or a cold..no you don`t suffer, this is temporary.

It might be short-term but I believe you can suffer from a headache or cold.

Experience or be subjected to (something bad or unpleasant):

No time limit.

PasturesNew

It has to be the words: TWIST and STAMP

I HATE these words. Lots of soppy annoying people on the telly, usually seen in cookery programmes or house buying programmes

In cookery: when they want to "put our twist on it"
In houses: when they want to "put our stamp on it"

It GRATES. It's twee, it's annoying. You're neither clever or special.

Stupid phrases for gullible people that are sucked up in some "joy of the moment" when they think they've done something special and the viewing audiences will think they're exceedingly clever for it.