Grammatical NIGHTMARES

[Miranda]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:17:01 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 11/14/2007 4:12:06 PM
Author: Miranda
Good thing he''s hunky...I can overlook it easier

Ya mean ''more easily''?

*this is fun!*

I meant to say that, of course. I just wanted to see if you would catch it

. Are you sure it isn''t more easier? LOL!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:30:56 PM
Author: Harleigh
I think I posted this before in another thread much like this, and I believe it may now be an actual word in Webster's, but people using the word FLUSTRATED drives me batty!

Tell me, are you flustered or frustrated? Make up your cotton-pickin' mind already!

Also, being an elementary school teacher, the following could possibly lead to insanity:

kindygarden and kindygardners-it's kindergarten and kindergarteners...our principal is a horrible speller, so in the newsletter he just writes 'kinders'

punkin-pumpkin...it really IS a word, try it sometime! (This goes out to my mother...)

hehee Harleigh, I never heard Flustrated, crazy!!! I heard people say liberry not library and that drives me crazy for some reason but I am not perfect either. I heard kindygarden a lot and I think "what?" Are people trying to be funny or is it for real?

ETA: I have a friend who has her MBA in finance and has my dream job. One time she was dating a younger guy and said she felt like she was "Rocking the cradle." I said do you mean "Robbing the cradle?" hehee I liked her too much to let her go around saying she was "rocking the cradle."

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:37:19 PM
Author: Miranda

Date: 11/14/2007 4:17:01 P
Author: decodelighted

Date: 11/14/2007 4:12:06 PM
Author: Miranda
Good thing he's hunky...I can overlook it easier

Ya mean 'more easily'?

*this is fun!*

I meant to say that, of course. I just wanted to see if you would catch it

. Are you sure it isn't more easier? LOL!

Hee! Your mini-intentional-slip is the kind that shows up also-semi-intentionally in advertising ALL THE TIME! Because it really is how most people talk, is easier to say (ha!), and has a "catch" factor -- where some folks will instant rewind "hey -- was that right?" and, if you do that, they've GOT YOUR ATTENTION.

Here's the most famous example of that phenomenon ... which was pointed out in Malcolm Gladwell's book The Tipping Point.


ETA: It's hard to believe that a single instance of bad grammar caused such a SENSATION back in 1954. No wonder me likie RETRO-viosity. And, no, that's not a word.

 

[Miranda]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:39:14 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 11/14/2007 4:30:56 PM
Author: Harleigh
I think I posted this before in another thread much like this, and I believe it may now be an actual word in Webster''s, but people using the word FLUSTRATED drives me batty!

Tell me, are you flustered or frustrated? Make up your cotton-pickin'' mind already!

Also, being an elementary school teacher, the following could possibly lead to insanity:

kindygarden and kindygardners-it''s kindergarten and kindergarteners...our principal is a horrible speller, so in the newsletter he just writes ''kinders''

punkin-pumpkin...it really IS a word, try it sometime! (This goes out to my mother...)

hehee Harleigh, I never heard Flustrated, crazy!!! I heard people say liberry not library and that drives me crazy for some reason but I am not perfect either. I heard kindygarden a lot and I think ''what?'' Are people trying to be funny or is it for real?

So funny Skippy! My MIL says ''kinnygarten''. She also says Trader Joe. Every time it makes me twitch...It''s possessive...It''s Trader Joe''s - as in Trader Joe''s store... Ah well, I guess my endless run ons could be criticized! We all do funky things!

 

[Miranda]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:46:06 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 11/14/2007 4:37:19 PM
Author: Miranda

Date: 11/14/2007 4:17:01 P
Author: decodelighted

Date: 11/14/2007 4:12:06 PM
Author: Miranda
Good thing he''s hunky...I can overlook it easier

Ya mean ''more easily''?

*this is fun!*

I meant to say that, of course. I just wanted to see if you would catch it

. Are you sure it isn''t more easier? LOL!

Hee! Your mini-intentional-slip is the kind that shows up also-semi-intentionally in advertising ALL THE TIME! Because it really is how most people talk, is easier to say (ha!), and has a ''catch'' factor -- where some folks will instant rewind ''hey -- was that right?'' and, if you do that, they''ve GOT YOUR ATTENTION.

Here''s the most famous example of that phenomenon ... which was pointed out in Malcolm Gladwell''s book The Tipping Point.

HaHa, Deco, I was kidding! It wasn''t an intentional slip! I wrongly meant to say easier. But, since I was talking about my hunky yard man (a term coined by mom and sister) you cannot expect me to be in my right mind!

I know all too well how marketing and advertising goes. DH has been in that industry for years. Whenever I think a commercial was bad or stupid he is quick to point out that it got my attention. And that''s what it''s all about!

 

[Ninama]

Oh, hooray!


: : : : cracks knuckles and neck : : : :


alot

rediculous

apple's, car's, ... errant apostrophes

"I seen", "he don't"

"Yeah" for "yay"

"2" (2 the mall), "U" (U will laugh, 2), "4" (U 4got 2 do it) and "b/c" (is typing b/c that much easier than typing "because"?)

per say

expresso

"It's no skin off my back. (instead of "nose")

irregardless


For everything that hasn't been mentioned, just go here... they're all here:

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html

 

[E B]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:46:06 PM
Author: decodelighted

Hee! Your mini-intentional-slip is the kind that shows up also-semi-intentionally in advertising ALL THE TIME! Because it really is how most people talk, is easier to say (ha!), and has a 'catch' factor -- where some folks will instant rewind 'hey -- was that right?' and, if you do that, they've GOT YOUR ATTENTION.

Another incorrect slogan: "Nobody doesn't like Sarah Lee!"

 

[Sparkster]

Date: 11/14/2007 4:28:21 PM
Author: CrownJewel

Date: 11/14/2007 4:23:14 PM
Author: Sparkster
I hate hate hate it when people use an apostophe in a plural word, ie, ''I took the dogs'' out for a walk'' or ''I took the dog''s out for a walk''

Yeah! I hate that too!!! I was in line for the dressing rooms at a Marshalls. There was a sign on the left side (not just a paper sign, these were actual manufactured signs just for Marshalls, in their colors, design and everything) that said, ''Men''s'' with an arrow. And there was another one on the right side with an arrow that said ''Ladie''s.'' EEEEK!

ETA: I had to edit my own post. I guess it''s Marshalls not Marshall''s.

They should have used the words "Men" and "Ladies" if they were referring to plural. If it referred to the changeroom of the men and ladies then it should have been "Men''s room" and "Ladies'' room"

 

[Maisie]

Date: 11/14/2007 3:34:17 PM
Author: EBree

Date: 11/14/2007 3:20:12 PM
Author: Maisie
No, I don''t get it. I think I need to go back to school.

Does this website make more sense? I agree, the way the first website presents it is a little confusing.

It''s vs Its

Yes!! I understand it now!!

Thank you for your patience!

 

[belle]

hehehehhe.....funny this thread is already three pages long!

at least i know i''m not the only grammatical nut.

 

[AmberWaves]

Ebree, that phrase right there

. I despise all Sara Lee commercials now!

Also- my mom says, "So I says..." and "I seen this shirt at the store, you would have loved it."

Which reminds me: Would of? I would of loved it? No no no.

 

[belle]

Date: 11/14/2007 5:30:19 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Ebree, that phrase right there

. I despise all Sara Lee commercials now!


Also- my mom says, ''So I says...'' and ''I seen this shirt at the store, you would have loved it.''


Which reminds me: Would of? I would of loved it? No no no.

of course you would of. or you should of anyway. you definitely could of.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrggghhhhhh

it hurt just saying that

 

[mercoledi]

I once caught an error in DH's cover letter after it had been sent out a few times:

Peaked instead of piqued, which I suppose is better than peeked.

His family also says "Walmarts" for "Walmart" (see, that s missing from Trader Joe's found a home) a La Torteca for La Tolteca. The Toltecs, not the turtles people!

I know I have tons more, but I can't recall them now. There/their drives me crazy.

And add me to the list of bad typists/spellers! I try to re-read and edit, but I know I miss plenty! My computer's too old to do the red-line-under-misspelling thingy.

ETA: Nite for Night! Lite for Light! Seriously people, it isn't that hard!

 

[zoebartlett]

This is fun! Some of my biggest pet peeves have already been mentioned but here are a few others:

"irregardless" is NOT a word

"prolly" for "probably" (actually, my second graders use this one all the time and it drives me nuts)

"it''s" vs. "its"

"libary" instead of "library" (actually, sometimes I speak too quickly and it comes out sounding like "libary" but still...)

This is one I think is cute but that''s probably because one of my students is the cutest little girl. She comes up to me all the time and says "...just for you know..." but what she means to say is "just so you know."

My #1 pet peeve is when certain stores purposely misspell words to be cute or funny. "Night" is NOT spelled "nite." There''s also a hair salon for kids where I live called "Kids Kutz." I can''t stand it. It doesn''t look cute - it''s annoying!

Random question: Is it true that the period is no longer being used when writing abbreviations (states'' names, Mr., Mrs., etc.)?

Random thought: I like reading Mara''s posts because it''s like I''m hearing her side of a conversation. I picture her speaking the same way she writes.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I''m amazed at how many of my friends spell ridiculous rEdiculous. It drives me absolutely insane!!

One thing BF does that drives me crazy is he always says "Ingunna instead of I''m gonna.. or even better I''m going to.." Ahhhhh

 

[AGBF]

Date: 11/14/2007 1:58:02 PM
Author: Chrono

The Edit button is my best friend. I find myself coming back to my own posts to edit it after catching grammatical and spelling errors upon re-reading them. It drives me crazy to see simple errors like those you gave examples off but hey, I can only correct my own, not others. Still, the level of English here is very high compared to other forums that I peruse. At least capital letters are used correctly and no funky short forms makes for easier reading.

Chrono,

You are speaking for me, too! I am bothered (greatly bothered) by the poor grammar of others, but nothing bothers me more than my own errors! When I see a typographical or grammatical error in one of my postings that I was too late to fix, I go crazy. (One only has a certain amount of time after posting in which he can edit his posts. Once that time passes, the posts are immortalized.)

There are certain grammatical errors that bother me more than others. I am annoyed that people cannot tell when to use "less" and when to use "fewer" and also that they do not know when to use "number" and when to use "amount".

The linguists will tell us grammarians that this is a natural process, however, and that as mistakes become acceptable, languages evolve!

Deborah

 

[Harleigh]

Date: 11/14/2007 6:21:21 PM
Author: OUpeargirl
I''m amazed at how many of my friends spell ridiculous rEdiculous. It drives me absolutely insane!!

One thing BF does that drives me crazy is he always says ''Ingunna instead of I''m gonna.. or even better I''m going to..'' Ahhhhh

I''n gunna...my Master''s Degree toting teacher mother uses this one ALL the time. I HATE IT!!!

 

[mercoledi]

Eeeek less and fewer! That''s a pet peeve of mine too and _no one_ seems to know how to use it!

Also "that that" as in "The thing is that that in that book..." Can we please just skip to the "In that book.."? Please?

And between and among. Between only ever refers to 2, more than that and it becomes among.

Oooh, ooh and refer back to. Um no. You''re refering to it. That implies that you know where it is. We don''t need the back. Thanks, just save it for another purpose.

Broke instead of broken. "It''s broke, you''ll have to use another one." It broke or it is brokEN but I don''t believe that whatever it is is out of cash.

 

[zoebartlett]

I thought of another one. Saying "good" when it should be "well."

For example, saying something like "I did good on that test" instead of "I did well..."

 

[mercoledi]

Date: 11/14/2007 6:44:59 PM
Author: zoebartlett
I thought of another one. Saying ''good'' when it should be ''well.''


For example, saying something like ''I did good on that test'' instead of ''I did well...''

Or "How are you?" "I''m good."

Are you. Are you really? How would I know for certain? I''d rather you be well or fine or just terrible!


And is healthful a word? I thought it was healthy, but I''ve seen healthful pop up everywhere.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 11/14/2007 6:44:14 PM
Author: mercoledi
Eeeek less and fewer! That's a pet peeve of mine too and _no one_ seems to know how to use it!

Well, I do! We can sit in an ivory tower together, mercoledi, and speak to each other in refined tones .

By the way, what is the origin of your user name? I have an Italian connection.


Deb

 

[mercoledi]

I studied Italian/ in Italy briefly and think that it's a beautiful word. It's fun to say and I love lingering on the long "o" sound. It also uses a few letters that are in my IRL names and I tend to graviate toward the familiar even in aliases. From one of the Webinars it became apparent that it isn't easy for most people to guess the pronunciation, but oh well. I like it.

Can I get the address of your tower? I'll bring the wine. Or gin. Whatever you prefer.

 

[777_LDY]

I misspelled the word budget in another thread and spelled it budjet. I figured no one would care so I didn't bother to edit!!! I guess I was wrong! Oh well, I know my spelling is terrible.

As a child I remember thinking that the word stomachache was really stomachegg. I didn't like eggs!

When my grandfather was alive it used to drive him nuts when others called their child a kid. He used to say that nobody should refer to children using the same definition as a baby goat!

Honestly though, the extent my my communications skills is typically dealing with my three small children. As I type I'm listening to my three year old make up a song called "There's no more poop in my butt" (doesn't leave much to the imagination!) and my seven year old just asked if he could mix apple syrup with apple juice! Which means it's time for me to log off!

 

[isaku5]

Also, the thing is is that

bugs me.

I agree with Deb that many people use "less" and "fewer" incorrectly. Simple rule for that one is: If you could count them (even if you don''t want to) use "fewer". If not, use "less"

 

[Haven]

I have MANY pet peeves when it comes to grammar and usage, however here are the top five:

1. Misuse of "e.g." and "i.e." If you don't understand how to use them, please just say for example or in other words.

2. "Whole nother."

3. Misuse of "I" "me" and "myself" ("I" must be the most improperly used word in the English language; me, myself--I am sure of it.)

4. Anaïs--The diacritic in this word is NOT an umlaut, it is a trema or diaeresis. It doesn't like to be called an umlaut, this makes it feel like the loneliest diacritic on the block. And please don't place this particular diacritic over a random vowel in the name of your band just because you think it looks cool. It does not look cool. It makes you look like a diacritic abuser, which you are.

5. It's/Its. They're/Their/There. To/Too.

ETA: Okay, I have one more--lack of pronoun/antecedent agreement. ERRRRRRRR. This should probably be number one, it is so very irritating.

 

[Selkie]

Date: 11/14/2007 7:19:23 PM
Author: Haven
I have MANY pet peeves when it comes to grammar and usage, however here are the top five:
...

4. Anaïs--The diacritic in this word is NOT an umlaut, it is a trema or diaeresis. It doesn''t like to be called an umlaut, this makes it feel like the loneliest diacritic on the block. And please don''t place this particular diacritic over a random vowel in the name of your band just because you think it looks cool. It does not look cool. It makes you look like a diacritic abuser, which you are.

Am I a complete geek for both understanding this AND laughing at it?

This is spelling, not grammar, but bear with me: writing "wah-lah" (and variants) for Voila. Maybe that phrase is more often heard than seen in print, and so people just phoneticize it? It still makes me cringe, and I couldn''t figure out what the hell it meant the first time I saw it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Now, I'm paranoid to type anything b/c U all R 2 picky!

One of my big pet peeves is when a person says "graduated college," instead of "graduated FROM college."

There are a lot more annoying habits, but since my grammar sucks, I'm going to quiet read while you all point out things that are impossible for the grammatically challenge to avoid.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

. . .

 

[nebe]

Take... a breath. Please.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 11/14/2007 7:11:21 PM
Author: 777_LDY

Honestly though, the extent my my communications skills is typically dealing with my three small children. As I type I''m listening to my three year old make up a song called ''There''s no more poop in my butt'' (doesn''t leave much to the imagination!) and my seven year old just asked if he could mix apple syrup with apple juice! Which means it''s time for me to log off!

Kids, gotta love em.