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What common grammatical errors really annoy you?

I'll start. People in porn or IRL saying, Yes, yes, yes when they come. It should be Yes, yes, and yes. Preferably with an Oxford comma of one has a way to articulate it.

by Anonymousreply 194October 23, 2020 8:19 PM

You’re annoying Op and it is spelled CUM, not COME.

by Anonymousreply 1October 16, 2020 7:19 PM

I hate it when I'm being robbed and the gunman barks, "Give me you're wallet!"

Boy, do I give them a piece of my mind.

by Anonymousreply 2October 16, 2020 7:19 PM

I need to get out of the habit of adding in punctuation to my conversations like I'm writing a text. I'll be talking to someone and literally say explanation point or period or question mark. They can't help but do it themselves simply out of confusion as to what I'm saying.

by Anonymousreply 3October 16, 2020 7:36 PM

The night my mother died, she screamed at me, "Call a ambulance!"

I sat in my chair and thought, "I'm not getting up until I hear an an."

by Anonymousreply 4October 16, 2020 7:39 PM

The Oxford comma makes me moist down there.

by Anonymousreply 5October 16, 2020 7:51 PM

I absolutely hate it when a grammar nazi asks, "What common grammatical errors really annoy you?" instead of "Which common grammatical errors really annoy you?"

by Anonymousreply 6October 16, 2020 8:16 PM

R4 thank you for the best laugh of the day

by Anonymousreply 7October 16, 2020 8:18 PM

Morons starting sentences with "So" should be shot.

by Anonymousreply 8October 16, 2020 8:19 PM

I hate when people use infer and imply incorrectly. It's not that difficult to remember the difference.

by Anonymousreply 9October 16, 2020 8:20 PM

[quote] Preferably with an Oxford comma of one has a way to articulate it.

Um, what?

by Anonymousreply 10October 16, 2020 8:22 PM

We should all learn when to use "bring" versus "take."

by Anonymousreply 11October 16, 2020 8:23 PM

ALL of them.

by Anonymousreply 12October 16, 2020 8:23 PM

"lay" where "lie" should be used, and conversely.

"nucular"

etc.

by Anonymousreply 13October 16, 2020 8:24 PM

"He was very nice to Mary and I"

by Anonymousreply 14October 16, 2020 8:32 PM

Lately, I've noticed an uptick in versatile guys describing themselves as "verse". My eyes just see "idiot".

by Anonymousreply 15October 16, 2020 8:50 PM

Any eggcorn

by Anonymousreply 16October 16, 2020 8:51 PM

R14 Amen to that. I see a lot of friends doing that in text, and it drives me crazy. "Do you want to go eat with Mark and I Friday?"

by Anonymousreply 17October 16, 2020 8:55 PM

People who are trying to sound intellectual but don't know how to use "myself" properly.

"It was myself, my sister and my mom who were there."

"He pointed to myself when he said that."

"Dave and myself made sure everything was fine."

by Anonymousreply 18October 16, 2020 8:56 PM

R18 yes, that's another stupid one. "Please get in touch with myself or Jean if you have questions."

by Anonymousreply 19October 16, 2020 8:57 PM

Anyone who uses "of" to replace "have" or, more accurately, the contraction of have - for example "would have."

by Anonymousreply 20October 16, 2020 8:59 PM

Amen, R19. There are SO many ways "myself" is misused.

by Anonymousreply 21October 16, 2020 8:59 PM

[quote] am I by myself in this?

Not by a long shot, love.

by Anonymousreply 22October 16, 2020 9:03 PM

I’m looking at proposing to some people on this thread.

R2/r4,

Heyyyyyy!

Which reminds me, when people type extra Ys in their words.

by Anonymousreply 23October 16, 2020 9:05 PM

Abuse and misuse of apostrophes.

Or should I say apostrophe’s?

by Anonymousreply 24October 16, 2020 9:05 PM

Misuse of the reflexive pronoun "myself" often indicates the person has not only failed to master the grammar lessons of a fifth-grader, but they believe themselves to be more intelligent and/or more important than they actually are.

by Anonymousreply 25October 16, 2020 9:07 PM

"John and I" when "John and me" is correct.

Not really grammar, but when writers and editors (NY Times, Associated Press, most other publications) don't know that the past tense of the verb lead is led, not lead. "He lead the country for eight years..." Argghhhh!

by Anonymousreply 26October 16, 2020 9:08 PM

...and then that procacious punk sassed: "It isn't fair that he's allowed to eat pineapple at midnight!"

I said: "Hmm, it seems that a certain someone can't be jealous without showing it."

Do you know what that snippy little miss said to me? "Mother, are you stupid? 'Envious' is the correct word to use in that context."

Well, I never in all my life! It was then that I realized a firm correction was in order.

by Anonymousreply 27October 16, 2020 9:11 PM

The "anyways" idiots.

by Anonymousreply 28October 16, 2020 9:17 PM

I taught English in an all-boys high school. When the topic of reflexive pronouns came up, I always railed against the improper use of the "- self" pronouns. I told them, " You are the only one who can do something to yourself." " You hit yourself, you compliment yourself, you play with yourself........." No one ever made an error with reflexive pronouns after that.

by Anonymousreply 29October 16, 2020 9:29 PM

We should have went to the store.

by Anonymousreply 30October 16, 2020 9:31 PM

Yes to post 30!

Many athletes in a post-game interview will utter or mumble that "it was a great game; it could've WENT either way" when "could've GONE either way" not only sounds better....it's correct, right?!

WENT always sounds ghetto, at least to me.

...

And don't forget: "proly" or "prolly" for probably!

Do these idiots simply not know any better -- or it's simply text speak for most people nowadays?

by Anonymousreply 31October 16, 2020 9:59 PM

This, r31, as well as

I seen him the other day.

No, idiot, you SAW him the other day.

by Anonymousreply 32October 16, 2020 10:59 PM

The "amongst" idiots. We are not in the UK!

by Anonymousreply 33October 16, 2020 11:16 PM

"My wife and myself went to dinner" and "Me and my brother like pizza."

by Anonymousreply 34October 16, 2020 11:21 PM

“Myself” used for “I” or “me”.

by Anonymousreply 35October 16, 2020 11:21 PM

Farther refers to physical distance, it's not interchangeable with further. William couldn't walk any farther, and refused to discuss it further.

by Anonymousreply 36October 16, 2020 11:25 PM

Fewer and Less. If an item can be counted (people, calories) use Fewer.

by Anonymousreply 37October 16, 2020 11:26 PM

That and Who. Who = People, That = Objects or animals.

by Anonymousreply 38October 16, 2020 11:29 PM

Hey, OP: We hate you yeah, yeah, yeah.

by Anonymousreply 39October 16, 2020 11:31 PM

Some common 'sentences' I hear in Australia:

"Drive safe."

"He done it."

"It's as hot as."

I simply cannot abide a half-arsed simile!

by Anonymousreply 40October 16, 2020 11:42 PM

"I hate when people use infer and imply incorrectly. It's not that difficult to remember the difference."

Maybe they don't know the difference, R9.

by Anonymousreply 41October 16, 2020 11:52 PM

Loosers vs losers. Anyways.

by Anonymousreply 42October 16, 2020 11:56 PM

[QUOTE]"I hate when people use infer and imply incorrectly. It's not that difficult to remember the difference."

Maybe they don't know the difference, [R9].

Since you "forgot" to tell them the difference, I'll repeat what I said in another thread. The speaker implies; He implied that I chose to forget. The listener infers; From what he said, I inferred that he was unfamiliar with the concept of sharing.

by Anonymousreply 43October 16, 2020 11:58 PM

Learning another language helps the mind understand and use correct grammar in one’s native language.

by Anonymousreply 44October 16, 2020 11:58 PM

How lovely it would be if people stopped saying that they feel "badly" for someone when what they mean is that they feel "bad." Easy to remember since we don't say we feel "goodly" about something ,so feeling "badly" couldn't be correct.

I have to wonder if English grammar is even being taught today. The state of spoken English in the US is, to be kind, distressing.

by Anonymousreply 45October 17, 2020 12:04 AM

So, irregardless of what you said, me and John would of went there, but the kid's went instead.

by Anonymousreply 46October 17, 2020 12:27 AM

" Feel" when used as an emotion or physical condition ( health) is a linking verb, so " bad" is correct. " Feeling badly" would indicate that you have a problem with your hands.

by Anonymousreply 47October 17, 2020 12:35 AM

R46, everything is rite, except you shoulda wrote," John and myself........." Your a looser.

by Anonymousreply 48October 17, 2020 12:38 AM

Get off your peddle stools, R46 and R48. Noone wants to hear about your fancy aspirations.

by Anonymousreply 49October 17, 2020 12:47 AM

'You're fancy aspirations, R49.

by Anonymousreply 50October 17, 2020 1:08 AM

R45, English is a living language. It's changing, as always, but the pace of change is accelerated at this time because of an abundance of new technology and communication venues that lend themselves to simplification.

People who insist we maintain a standard grammar/spelling/usage from even 40 years ago might as well demand we find some arbitrary point, like, say, the time of Chaucer or Shakespeare or the American Revolution, and insist we adhere to their patterns of the written language.

Formal writing is different from casual communication, of course, but casual communication affects formal writing eventually.

by Anonymousreply 51October 17, 2020 9:34 AM

R51 excuses bad grammar, crap spelling, and horrific ignorance of English syntax by deeming it all part of the joys of the "living" language. What he doesn't realize is that he is encouraging the destruction of the English language through the joys of stupidity.

by Anonymousreply 52October 17, 2020 9:55 AM

R52, when the English language is destroyed, what language will be spoken instead?

by Anonymousreply 53October 17, 2020 10:02 AM

R53 An all-but-incomprehensible linguistic nightmare. That apologist like you will continue to categorize as "living language".

by Anonymousreply 54October 17, 2020 10:12 AM

Yad So yeah, I thought it was a good idea. "hate so yeah"

by Anonymousreply 55October 17, 2020 10:36 AM

I'm not an anal retentive so I try not to get annoyed at these stupid things.

by Anonymousreply 56October 17, 2020 10:44 AM

Lay/Lie. Even otherwise educated and well read people can't seem to get it right. Or they don't care and have just caved in and gone with the trailer park/Florida people. Sigh.

by Anonymousreply 57October 17, 2020 10:49 AM

You make me smile, R54. We have to pick our battles, and this one is bigger than any of us. Personally, tilting at windmills is not an effective use of my time.

The turning point for me was that after many years of frustration about the common misuse of the word comprise, I realized the misuse is so widespread no one is ever going to be considered wrong again for using it that way. I can choose to ignore it or I can allow it to be a perpetual source of self-righteous indignation, which is not an attractive quality in me.

It was even worse for me when I would hear "over" being used for numbers instead of "more than." But if I allow it to bother me every time I read or hear someone say "over a thousand" or "over $2 billion," my life would be immeasurably less happy, so I stopped letting things like that bother me.

Another good example of a misuse that is now too common to even call it incorrect is "hopefully," which is an adverb that means "in a hopeful manner." Just try to insist people stop using it when they actually mean "I hope that."

Besides, I've been paid for enough written material and public appearances to be happy there are many ways to use the language, because it's lucrative for me to write speak differently from people who don't know or use the tools you and I and most people here at DL have at our disposal, R54.

by Anonymousreply 58October 17, 2020 10:56 AM

95% of these poster in this thread haven’t gotten laid in 20 years.

Especially r57.

by Anonymousreply 59October 17, 2020 10:58 AM

[quote] I'm not an anal retentive so I try not to get annoyed at these stupid things.

I don’t get annoyed at it, per se, but when it’s in an email from, say, a superior, yes I am judging him.

by Anonymousreply 60October 17, 2020 11:22 AM

"yeh, no" is one of the stupidest things I hear people say.

by Anonymousreply 61October 17, 2020 11:27 AM

putting random apostrophes in places where they Don't belong

Like' Thi's

by Anonymousreply 62October 17, 2020 11:35 AM

R61, I disagree. most languages have two words where English has one, one that denotes presence of mind, the other that denotes agreement. Yes in english has to make due with saying, "I hear what you're saying" and "I agree with what you're saying"

saying Yeah, no, is just an awkward phrasing because english doesn't have the word, like in japanese or french, for "I hear it"

by Anonymousreply 63October 17, 2020 11:37 AM

"Forums." The plural is "fora."

by Anonymousreply 64October 17, 2020 11:45 AM

"I seen..."

Why not just say or type "I saw...?"

by Anonymousreply 65October 17, 2020 11:48 AM

'Discrete' for 'discreet.' So established now though that it's beyond any real 'annoyance' for me.

That said, I'm instantly a shade more attracted when someone claims he's 'discreet.' Seems like a good start.

by Anonymousreply 66October 17, 2020 11:54 AM
Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 67October 17, 2020 12:02 PM

It's "present your/my/the hole" not just "present hole'.

by Anonymousreply 68October 17, 2020 12:11 PM

[quote] People in porn or IRL saying, Yes, yes, yes when they come. It should be Yes, yes, and yes. Preferably with an Oxford comma of one has a way to articulate it.

I use no commas when I speak, I might use a pause, but no commas.

Yes comma Yes comma and yes would totally creep out my tricks.

by Anonymousreply 69October 17, 2020 12:27 PM

I’m another who excoriates people when they say things like “Their going to they’re vacation home for the weekend.”

by Anonymousreply 70October 17, 2020 12:35 PM

[quote] I've been paid for enough written material and public appearances to be happy there are many ways to use the language, because it's lucrative for me to write speak differently from people who don't know or use the tools you and I and most people here at DL have at our disposal

While I'm sure "write speak" is nothing more than an editing glitch, r58, you've been such a priss, I just can't pass it up.

by Anonymousreply 71October 17, 2020 12:36 PM

Some of you have yet to grasp the difference between grammatical errors, spelling errors (discreet/discrete), and usage errors.

by Anonymousreply 72October 17, 2020 12:48 PM

Another vote for ditching the Oxford comma, which separates to entities that, without it, become a unit (the "and" doesn't do the job).

The ubiquitous "I cannot help but feel . . ."

It is either, "I cannot but feel" or "I cannot help feeling".

Worst and most common of all: "myself" for "me", and "yourself" for "you".

As in, "someone like myself/yourself" when it should be "someone like me/you".

And some mispronunciations deserve mention: "realator" for "realtor", and, of course, "nucular" for "nuclear".

by Anonymousreply 73October 17, 2020 1:00 PM

^*separates TWO entities . . ."

by Anonymousreply 74October 17, 2020 1:00 PM

The only place I encounter this "myself" miseria is on Datalounge. Ditto "looser" for "loser," which aggravates me a whole lot more.

by Anonymousreply 75October 17, 2020 1:03 PM

Ending a question in a preposition. Where are you at? Answer, between the a and the t.

by Anonymousreply 76October 17, 2020 1:08 PM

[Quote] spelling errors (discreet/discrete),

Those are not just spelling errors. It's ignorance of the meanings of the two words.

by Anonymousreply 77October 17, 2020 1:12 PM

[quote]The only place I encounter this "myself" miseria is on Datalounge.

Seriously? All one need to do is watch any evening news program. It’s done all the time.

[quote] Ditto "looser" for "loser," which aggravates me a whole lot more.

Obviously you’re not on Facebook.

by Anonymousreply 78October 17, 2020 1:22 PM

R78, I am not a consumer of the evening news—not even DTM can get me to look at that shit—or of Facebook, from which I resigned on the second day of my membership, when someone I used to cross the street to avoid talking to asked me to be his friend. He HATED me. WTF was I bothering with this shit for?

by Anonymousreply 79October 17, 2020 1:29 PM

Well just because you have limited exposure to the outside world, don’t make it like Datalounge is the only place where these dilemmas occur.

That’s like never leaving your house and pompously saying “I have never seen a Chevrolet automobile.”

by Anonymousreply 80October 17, 2020 1:32 PM

[quote] "Forums." The plural is "fora."

Good luck teaching America’s idiots about declensions.

by Anonymousreply 81October 17, 2020 1:56 PM

[quote] Good luck teaching America’s idiots about declensions.

Isn’t that what you do when the top wants to pull out?

by Anonymousreply 82October 17, 2020 1:58 PM

Anyways

by Anonymousreply 83October 17, 2020 1:58 PM

James Brown was correct - he "feels good" - he did NOT feel (or one of several other intransitive verbs, including appear, seem, and remain) "well."

I am GOOD is correct. I am WELL is only correct in a very specific instance.

by Anonymousreply 84October 17, 2020 2:40 PM

My latest pet peeve is something that just started about a year ago, but is spreading fast... the use of "ran" instead of "run". Especially when it comes to running scripts on a computer. It's fucking everywhere. I even saw it in documentation. Example:

"The script was ran last night".

The past tense is already taken care of by the "was". The correct sentence is "The script was run last night."

It's DRIVING ME NUTS.

by Anonymousreply 85October 17, 2020 3:07 PM

I cannot stand when people get the fewer/less thing wrong.

It's not rocket science. If it's "countable" (even only in theory), use fewer. Otherwise use less.

Less sand. Fewer grains of sand.

10 items or fewer.

Less love. Less pudding. Less courage. Less water.

Fewer lovers. Fewer pudding cups. Fewer courageous people. Fewer raindrops.

This isn't hard to get right, but everyone is just lazy and says "Less" all the damn time. It sounds stupid.

by Anonymousreply 86October 17, 2020 3:11 PM

[quote] Less pudding.

Easy now.

by Anonymousreply 87October 17, 2020 3:14 PM

The irony of the "feeling badly" thing is that in most OTHER areas, the adverb is dying. People just leave off the "ly" when they shouldn't. Like "Come here quick!"... it should be "quickly."

I hear this ALL the time. Even news readers on TV make this error all the time. Nobody uses adverbs. I just want to scream "LY" at people when they omit it.

by Anonymousreply 88October 17, 2020 3:15 PM

" Better" vs " Best". "May the best team win" when there are two competing.

by Anonymousreply 89October 17, 2020 3:17 PM

[quote] I just want to scream "LY" at people when they omit it.

And here we thought you were mistaking everyone for your ex-boyfriend, Lee.

by Anonymousreply 90October 17, 2020 3:18 PM

But, r89, no matter how many teams are competing, whomever wins is “the best.”

by Anonymousreply 91October 17, 2020 3:19 PM

"Another vote for ditching the Oxford comma"

Fuck you, R73!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 92October 17, 2020 3:20 PM

Ditto.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 93October 17, 2020 3:21 PM

[quote]whomever wins is “the best.”

Ahem, r91.

by Anonymousreply 94October 17, 2020 3:22 PM

No, see... the oxford comma is REQUIRED. Anyone who ditches it is being a fucking moron. Anyone advocating for eliminating the oxford comma is a fucking moron. There is NO VALID REASON for omitting it, and MANY VALID REASONS for keeping it.

by Anonymousreply 95October 17, 2020 3:23 PM

I give a fuck about the Oxford comma.

by Anonymousreply 96October 17, 2020 3:27 PM

[quote]Good luck teaching America’s idiots about declensions.

Forum/fora; datum/data; alumnus/alumni; index/indices (fuck the morons who use indexes).

And fuck the Oxford comma, the most superfluous of punctuation marks.

by Anonymousreply 97October 17, 2020 3:31 PM

Please save your loved ones!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 98October 17, 2020 3:33 PM

I could care less when they likely mean couldn't care less.

Although I could care less is correct -- if one really means it that way, but of course 99.9% of the time, it's used incorrectly.

by Anonymousreply 99October 17, 2020 3:33 PM

Teh Oxford Comma is not superfluous. It's omission is ridiculously dumb and stupid and wrong. It's REQUIRED. And it makes no logical sense to EVER omit it.

by Anonymousreply 100October 17, 2020 3:33 PM

And "indexes" is correct in some circumstances.

When you're talking about a database, tables have indexes. Period.

Indices is correct in OTHER situations. Both have their meanings.

by Anonymousreply 101October 17, 2020 3:35 PM

The Oxford comma is more essential to my well-being than all the indices, fora, and morons in the world, r97.

by Anonymousreply 102October 17, 2020 3:35 PM

Found in Jeffrey Dahmer's room.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 103October 17, 2020 3:35 PM

[quote]It's omission is ridiculously dumb and stupid and wrong.

Know what else is wrong?

by Anonymousreply 104October 17, 2020 3:35 PM

Your right.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 105October 17, 2020 3:36 PM

Save the Oxford comma.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 106October 17, 2020 3:38 PM

[quote]It's omission is ridiculously dumb and stupid and wrong. It's REQUIRED.

R100

Apples, oranges and pears are good to eat.

Apples, oranges, and pears are good to eat.

There is absolutely no reason in ANY universe that the Oxford comma is required for a complete understanding of the second sentence. It is S U P E R F L U O U S.

by Anonymousreply 107October 17, 2020 3:39 PM

[quote]When you're talking about a database, tables have indexes.

Programmers have never been known for their command of English.

by Anonymousreply 108October 17, 2020 3:41 PM

I have come around to the living language thing. I used to get frustrated by snuck when the speaker meant sneaked or hung when it should have been hanged. And the whole "myself" and "seen" thing used to make me pop a blood vessel. I have accepted that American English is constantly evolving and at some point you have evolve with it. I have changed my thinking from strict grammatical rules to grammatical suggestions and have decided that a speaker saying irregardless (no matter how silly I think it sounds) is not going to doom the republic. However, not using the oxford comma will, in fact, doom the republic. So use it bitches.

by Anonymousreply 109October 17, 2020 3:54 PM

[Quote] all the indices, fora, and morons in the world,

It should be mora 🤣

by Anonymousreply 110October 17, 2020 4:27 PM

[quote]I have come around to the living language thing.

Brit here. This year I've noticed two women in public life who drop the 'g' from '-ing' words. The Home Secretary no less when, say, giving live Covid briefings (or in her style, 'givin briefins'); also a prominent journalist for Sky News, who would more than likely be askin' the Home Secretary when the infection figures would start improvin'.

This I note with unsnobbish interest, as a way of the world, and with no thoughts of writing, nor writin', an enraged letter to The Daily Telegraph. It would be a callow snob indeed who fell into that trap: the dropped 'g' was after all an upper class affectation, hence the term 'Huntin', shootin', fishin'.

by Anonymousreply 111October 17, 2020 4:54 PM

R107, because you cite ONE example where it's not absolutely required, and ignore all the other examples where it IS required to avoid ambiguity or misunderstanding... doesn't make you right. It just means you want some nebulous inconsistent ruling that changes all the time, when instead you can have a completely consistent, reasonable, rational, and obvious rule that works in ALL cases.

Basically, you're a dumbass. As is ANYONE and EVERYONE who tries to claim the Oxford Comma isn't a good thing.

by Anonymousreply 112October 17, 2020 6:04 PM

[QUOTE]I've been paid for enough written material and public appearances to be happy there are many ways to use the language, because it's lucrative for me to write speak differently from people who don't know or use the tools you and I and most people here at DL have at our disposal.

R58, I'm curious why someone "who has been paid for enough written material and public appearances" uses the construction "different from" instead of "different than," which is preferred in most style books. Granted, "different from" is correct and easily understood to mean the same thing as "different than," but for someone, such as yourself, who must be accustomed to following style guides, it seems odd to me that you would not immediately reach for the more accepted "different than." This is not snark; I'm just curious.

by Anonymousreply 113October 17, 2020 6:40 PM

Lie v. lay v. laid

by Anonymousreply 114October 17, 2020 6:41 PM

I loathe when people say "passed away" instead of "died" but it's not grammatically incorrect.

Now I often see someone writing "past away" and I just saw someone on FB that said that a friend "pasted" away. I mean, how? With Elmer's Glue?

by Anonymousreply 115October 17, 2020 6:53 PM

I'm just curious, and not trying to start anything, but how many of you are taking into account autocorrect and just simple fat finger mistakes?

by Anonymousreply 116October 17, 2020 7:04 PM

Right, r116. All the "looser" queens have sticky "o" keys.

by Anonymousreply 117October 17, 2020 8:19 PM

"I have come around to the living language thing."

When a patient is in hospital, gravely ill, we offer treatment and palliative care. We don't just shrug and say, "Well, he's going to die at some point anyway."

by Anonymousreply 118October 17, 2020 10:01 PM

That living language thing is a bunch of horseshit from people who can’t bother to learn or follow basic grammar rules and use that as an excuse when they’re called out on their errors.

by Anonymousreply 119October 17, 2020 11:40 PM

R116, we have an idiot right here on this very board who insists the correct spelling of the word “does” is “dose,” and when called out insists it was a typo.

Every. Time.

by Anonymousreply 120October 17, 2020 11:41 PM

R71, yes, I'm a priss. It goes with being an old-school queen who cares enough about grammar, usage, and style to have a perspective.

Nevertheless, the point stands. You can't stop other people from using the language however they want. You can stamp your feet, quiver with rage, and insist the world is wrong, or you can accept it and move on.

by Anonymousreply 121October 18, 2020 12:55 AM

[quote]That living language thing is a bunch of horseshit

That shows you're an idiot. Why don't we write and/or sound in the same way the original colonists did if language isn't always evolving? Why is the Chicago Manuel of Style on it's 17th Edition? Why do many Foreign language speakers consistently say that American English is the most difficult language to learn?

I would never say that proper grammar isn't important, but there is a huge difference between formal, professional writing and texting, social media, and message board writing.

by Anonymousreply 122October 18, 2020 1:08 AM

[quote] Why is the Chicago Manuel of Style on it's 17th Edition?

Oh, dear!

by Anonymousreply 123October 18, 2020 1:11 AM

R122, nobody is arguing that language doesn’t evolve and change over the years. The point is people are not merely using a different form of saying things. They’re making obvious grammatical mistakes (much like you did with the its/it’s mistake) and, when it’s brought to their attention they use “evolution of language” as an excuse.

I don’t care how evolved English is getting, to say “I want trump to loose this election” will always be wrong.

by Anonymousreply 124October 18, 2020 1:14 AM

But my silly it's versus its thing, which I admit was wrong, comes from hitting post too quickly and not proofing properly. Which I would argue is okay in this type of setting, without an edit feature. A post on Datalounge should not be held to the same proofing/editing standards as formal communication. Even though I love a good "oh, dear!"

by Anonymousreply 125October 18, 2020 1:29 AM

gee whiz. Before going to grad school for something other than being an English major for my B.A. degree, I might have something to contribute here. I realize that grammatical errors are rampant but it has become less important to me. But, however, I do apologize. These days, grammatical errors just seem so unimportant. Sorry.

by Anonymousreply 126October 18, 2020 3:09 AM

I was raised to believe that good grammar was like good manners -It demonstrated the effort and respect you gave to other people. Speaking and writing your language correctly is not snobbery or affectation. Nor does it mean you despise those who use the language differently. On the contrary, you can celebrate regional accents and dialects all the more because you have a common frame of reference via the written word.

by Anonymousreply 127October 18, 2020 3:27 AM

Flout and flaunt.

Affect and effect.

Discrete and discreet.

Misuse of reflexive pronouns. “Harold and myself went shopping.”

Phase and faze.

by Anonymousreply 128October 18, 2020 3:38 AM

“Should of” instead of “Should have.”

“I seen it” instead of “I saw it.”

:(

by Anonymousreply 129October 18, 2020 4:33 AM

People who write "Web sight"

Who who "site resources"

Learn the difference between sight, site, and cite... it ain't difficult.

by Anonymousreply 130October 18, 2020 4:34 AM

A co-worker said he was "waiting on a friend." Unless you work in a service industry, you don't "wait on" anyone. He was waiting FOR a friend.

by Anonymousreply 131October 18, 2020 12:39 PM

The increasingly prevalent misuse of "substitute" drives me crazy. For example, in a recipe for peach cobbler:

[quote]Substitute peaches for any other stone fruit.

by Anonymousreply 132October 19, 2020 3:31 AM

The use of an apostrophe to form a plural is the most irritating error to me, recently at least.

Today it was "the Sierra's are smoky." I made a comment that "It's just 'Sierra,' as in 'Sierra Nevada'." He replied, "I made it plural, that's why I added the 's." I replied, "Still wrong - a plural doesn't use an apostrophe. The plural would be 'Sierras'."

Oh, the hell with it. It's hopeless.

by Anonymousreply 133October 19, 2020 3:57 AM

I think you can blame Mick Jagger for popularizing "waiting on a friend."

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by Anonymousreply 134October 19, 2020 4:00 AM

"Waiting on" instead of "waiting for" has been with us for a long time. It was one of the first entries in the "Yeah, it's wrong, but so many people say it, we're gonna call it 'alternative' and let it slide" dictionary, back in the '50s or '60s, really.

by Anonymousreply 135October 19, 2020 9:26 AM

I am an adult, so none

by Anonymousreply 136October 19, 2020 9:27 AM

[Quote] increasingly prevalent misuse of "substitute" drives me crazy.

What would you re substitute it with instead? Like, in the example you give -

[Quote] Substitute peaches for any other stone fruit.

by Anonymousreply 137October 19, 2020 9:41 AM

R137, in a recipe for peach cobbler, i.e., one that specifies peaches as an ingredient, "substitute any other stone fruit for peaches" would be the way to go.

by Anonymousreply 138October 19, 2020 9:47 AM

" As, in the example you give-"

by Anonymousreply 139October 19, 2020 11:46 AM

I'm not following the objection to substitute. Seriously. They both read just fine to me and I'm not sure what the problem is with the first option.

by Anonymousreply 140October 19, 2020 11:57 PM

The only thing that can be substituted is a new item. Using peach cobbler again as the example, the peaches can't be substituted because they're the default in the recipe; they're already there.

Try it this way: Miss Smith is out sick and a substitute teacher, Mr. Jones, comes in. You wouldn't say that you're substituting Miss Smith for Mr. Jones, would you? The new teacher is the substitute; not the other way around.

This isn't an issue of people misunderstanding or misusing with/for, because "substitute" is involved every time this mistake is made.

by Anonymousreply 141October 20, 2020 12:20 AM

Talent at NPR attempt to make themselves sound more intelligent and more important than the listeners, by saying elec-TORAL. On November 3rd, we're having an ELEC-tion that involves the ELEC-toral College.

by Anonymousreply 142October 20, 2020 12:37 AM

Now I've vanished down my own rabbit hole.

If you're unsure, try to remember the following:

The item being substituted (meaning the new item) goes first in the sentence. Use the preposition "for."

[quote]Substitute any other stone fruit for peaches.

If you're stuck on having the original item first in your sentence, use "replace" and "with" as the preposition:

[quote]Replace peaches with any other stone fruit.

by Anonymousreply 143October 20, 2020 1:12 AM

ALOT. It's two words - A LOT, dammit!

by Anonymousreply 144October 20, 2020 1:23 AM

Yeah, but noone really writes it that way, R144.

by Anonymousreply 145October 20, 2020 1:29 AM

You never say "alittle", so you should never say "alot".

by Anonymousreply 146October 20, 2020 2:09 AM

Only idiots think that “alot” is a word, R145.

It isn’t.

Are you an idiot, R145?

by Anonymousreply 147October 20, 2020 7:19 AM

We're going to visit:

The Smith's The O'Conner's The William's The Brown's The Harrison's The Giuliani's

Especially if on an expensive wedding invitation!

by Anonymousreply 148October 20, 2020 8:04 AM

There is definitely an idiot here, R147.

by Anonymousreply 149October 20, 2020 8:17 AM

Before Nirvana's hit album came out, nobody spelled the expression “Never mind” as one word.

by Anonymousreply 150October 20, 2020 10:11 AM

[quote] Yeah, but noone really writes it that way, [R144].

It's "a lot," not "alot." A lot of people write it that way: "a lot."

Also, I could be wrong, but I don't think "noone" is a word. It's "no one."

by Anonymousreply 151October 20, 2020 8:27 PM

Another reason to keep the Oxford comma is when you're using semi-colons instead of commas.

For example: The pattern choices are: leopard print; polka dots; and red, white, and blue stripes.

The Oxford comma (semi-colon) is helpful to understand that type of sentence.

by Anonymousreply 152October 20, 2020 8:29 PM

Bless your heart, r151.

No, really. Just. Bless it.

by Anonymousreply 153October 20, 2020 8:37 PM

R151, you and r147 seem challenged. Did an occupational therapist send you to DL as a team?

by Anonymousreply 154October 20, 2020 8:47 PM

everyone:

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by Anonymousreply 155October 20, 2020 8:54 PM

When someone says "He gave the money to Mary and I", and they think they sound smart because they used "I" instead of "me".

by Anonymousreply 156October 20, 2020 8:56 PM

This is probably more of a usage example, but I cringe every time some "speaks an abbreviation": "i. e." instead of "that is," or "e. g.," instead of "for example". I've also found that many, if not most, people don't really know what these Latin abbreviation mean. I hear so many incorrect uses of spoken "i.e." being used when "for example" is meant. Further, I don't understand why so many people use these spoken abbreviations when their English equivalents would work just as well. I'm inclined to think that these folks think it makes them seem more intelligent if they use a foreign word for no apparent reason. It doesn't.

by Anonymousreply 157October 21, 2020 4:44 AM

Wrong usage of then/than irks me to no end.

by Anonymousreply 158October 21, 2020 4:52 AM

It's not wrong as written, but I'd've put a "the" before "trees" in r155. It would just sound better.

by Anonymousreply 159October 21, 2020 6:24 AM

The Daily Mail seems to have the most grammar and/or spelling errors per page than any other publication known to man. I wonder where they find their writers? I sometimes think that the writer may be using English as a second language. It is so bad that I use the DM as a reference spot for the days news, then go to the actual news site they are stealing from to read the copy.

by Anonymousreply 160October 21, 2020 8:18 AM

R157 I've also heard people say R. E. for re:

by Anonymousreply 161October 21, 2020 8:45 AM

[quote] but I'd've

Oh what fresh hell is this?

by Anonymousreply 162October 21, 2020 11:47 AM

Genuine question for the less/fewer crowd.

The other day I told my friend, “I hate Mondays, but at least it’s one less day until my vacation” (I’m on vacation next week).

Then I thought, “Shit. Days can be counted so that would be fewer. No, I’ve never heard anyone say one fewer day.”

Help me, DL, you’re my only hope.

by Anonymousreply 163October 21, 2020 11:49 AM

Good one r163 you sneaky little queen ☺

by Anonymousreply 164October 21, 2020 12:38 PM

All in good fun, r164! I swear.

by Anonymousreply 165October 21, 2020 12:44 PM

[quote]The pattern choices are: leopard print; polka dots; and red, white, and blue stripes.

R152 Overpunctuated and annoying to read. The pattern choices are leopard print, polka dots and red, white and blue stripes is far easier on the eye and comprehension.

by Anonymousreply 166October 21, 2020 12:51 PM

Not only that r166, the semicolon is not an Oxford comma. Take note r152.

by Anonymousreply 167October 21, 2020 12:59 PM

R163, the "countable/uncountable" thing is a rule of thumb, an approximation that makes you 99% right. There are exceptions. Kinda like the "I before E except after C" rule that isn't actually all that accurate, when you really get down to all the exceptions.

There are times and places where "Less' for a "countable" thing isn't actually wrong, and tends to sound/scan better... but those are really few and far between. And the rules for why that is are a bit more complicated so why bother..

Fun fact, there are definite rules for the order of adjectives in a phrase... like it's correct to say "Big Bad Wolf" but totally wrong to say "Bad Big Wolf". We're never actually TAUGHT these rules explicitly, but we all know and obey them.

The rule is that multiple adjectives are always ranked accordingly: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose. Unlike many laws of grammar or syntax, this one is virtually inviolable, even in informal speech. You simply can’t say My Greek Fat Big Wedding, or leather walking brown boots.

by Anonymousreply 168October 21, 2020 6:10 PM

[quote]The rule is that multiple adjectives are always ranked accordingly: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose.

But the Big Bad Wolf example violates your own rules:

Opinion: Bad

Size: Big

by Anonymousreply 169October 21, 2020 7:18 PM

Thanks for the explanation, r168.

I was losing my mind for a while there.

by Anonymousreply 170October 21, 2020 7:19 PM

Buck'd've never put the "the" before "trees" in R155!

by Anonymousreply 171October 21, 2020 11:19 PM

Or...Buck never'd've put the "the" before "trees" in r155.

But I would have.

by Anonymousreply 172October 21, 2020 11:21 PM

Buck'd never've put the "the" before "trees" in R155, but Connie'd've. And that's why Buck'll always be my favorite.

by Anonymousreply 173October 21, 2020 11:27 PM

Anyone vs. any one.

by Anonymousreply 174October 22, 2020 12:30 PM

Do some of you really consider "I'd've" incorrect? I've been saying it all my life. Or else "I wouldn't've."

Is it a regionalism (North Jersey)?

by Anonymousreply 175October 22, 2020 12:37 PM

Or for I would've. I use it too r175.

by Anonymousreply 176October 22, 2020 12:41 PM

You haven’t been saying that your whole life. It just sounds like that if you’re speaking. If you were in court or listened to for closed captioning, do you think the transcriptionist would transcribe it that way?!

How the fuck are you going to put two contractions of two different words together to form one word?

by Anonymousreply 177October 22, 2020 12:49 PM

What R14 said...the incorrect use of subject and object pronouns as in

"This remains just between you and I."

Drives me up the wall!

by Anonymousreply 178October 22, 2020 1:06 PM

Again, r177, I've been doing it my entire life. Haven't been closed-captioned or court-transcribed, however, so I can't really address those.

I wouldn't've known about those, so to abbreviate.

by Anonymousreply 179October 22, 2020 1:29 PM

R63

[quote] Yes in english has to make due with saying,

Oh Dear.

by Anonymousreply 180October 22, 2020 2:59 PM

Not a grammatical error but one of syntax. News reporters and the screen crawler across the bottom will say "A man was shot in the Bronx." No, he was in the Bronx when he was shot. To my knowledge, there is no place in or on the human body that is called "the Bronx."

by Anonymousreply 181October 22, 2020 4:41 PM

How would you write it?

by Anonymousreply 182October 22, 2020 4:51 PM

Another one! Sub-conscious and unconscious. They really are two different things! There are very few things you can do "unconsciously."

by Anonymousreply 183October 22, 2020 4:54 PM

Kramer, er, Cosmo, that’s completely untrue. Of course you can do things unconsciously. Not in the sense of being unconscious, but reflexively, or without thinking.

by Anonymousreply 184October 22, 2020 5:08 PM

R184, please note that I said "FEW things . . ." I'm not referring to the psychological definition. I'm referring to the physical definition.

Would you say you unconsciously slept with someone and sabotaged your relationship with your SO?

by Anonymousreply 185October 22, 2020 6:33 PM

"I says"

by Anonymousreply 186October 22, 2020 6:44 PM

But that’s not true, r185, and your one example is a specious attempt at trying to prove it.

Anyone can come up with an example of something you wouldn’t say and sit back and say, “Ha! See?”

There are many, many things you can do unconsciously: smile when you see someone you like, blush when you’re embarrassed, forget your keys in your car.

I mean, c’mon.

by Anonymousreply 187October 22, 2020 7:31 PM

R187, I'm just citing a case when the word has been used incorrectly. I'm not saying it's a hard and fast rule or ALWAYS used incorrectly. Take it easy. Am I unconsciously upsetting you or are you subconsciously picking a fight?

by Anonymousreply 188October 22, 2020 7:44 PM

How are you ^ saying anything different from cosmo said?

by Anonymousreply 189October 22, 2020 8:02 PM

R189, I am Cosmo. :-)

by Anonymousreply 190October 22, 2020 8:36 PM

No, not trying to pick a fight at all. That’s why in my original post I called you Kramer, and that was done with a big smile on my face.

Anyone named Cosmo ain’t bad in my book.

I may have misinterpreted the intent of your post.

Either way, there’s nothing but love emanating from this end. (Well, and a little funk since I haven’t showered yet, but that’s neither here nor there.)

by Anonymousreply 191October 22, 2020 9:26 PM

I seen.....

Which apparently has become so common that even Judge Judy no longer corrects people when they say that.

by Anonymousreply 192October 22, 2020 10:12 PM

R185, I'm sorry I mistook your intent. If you read The Cat Thread, you'll see that Cosmo is the name of my cat. It's sort of an homage to "the Cosmos", my favorite drink, and Cosmo Casterini from "Moonstruck." I actually couldn't stand Seinfeld.

Anyway, it's Friday so let's be happy about that.

by Anonymousreply 193October 23, 2020 12:50 PM

My brother always says, "supposably".

by Anonymousreply 194October 23, 2020 8:19 PM
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