Posted on 09/08/2014 6:29:29 AM PDT by PeteePie
Discussions of English Language pet peeves provide an entertaining forum for the expression of ire. In fact, if a “pet” is something we cherish, and a “peeve” is something that annoys us, “pet peeves” are what we love to hate. Here’s a collection of common English solecisms—guaranteed not to literally blow your mind:
(Excerpt) Read more at theworldsgreatestbook.com ...
"Administrate."
That's presumably what an administrator does. I've seen it occasionally in print, but more often heard it on talk shows.
But isn't the accepted verb form of administration "administer?" Is there a subtlety of meaning those of us not so privileged as to be administrators cannot recognize?
This morning a high-profile print journalist who has been covering sports in this town for three decades went on the radio and described Ray Rice’s behavior as “undefensible”.
AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I’m just a guy doinking around in the internet and I know better than that. You’ve been getting paid to write for thirty years!
His left hook was pretty much undefensible.
The worst is constipated grammar Nazis. :-)
However, I am surprised I did not see “more xxxxer”, such as more bigger, more faster, more taller = bigger, faster, and taller.
“It was a very unique experience – Are there degrees of uniqueness?” The article should not have included this one. The article is assuming only the first definition of unique. Using other accepted definitions of unique there are indeed degrees of uniqueness.
“Hot water heater” – one could argue that 120°F is hot water but that 130°F water is the desired temperature. So most of the time when you are not actively drawing in cold water in large amounts a water heater is actually heating hot water, and making it hotter.
PeteePie, CodeToad “I can’t stand American’s using the word “ whilst “. Absolutely phony and I will can out anyone using it in a sentence in front of me.” Why would you out someone for using a perfectly legitimate dictionary word? Also remember that many Americans were raised in families where the King James version of the Bible is read daily. That old English sometimes naturally escapes into language and is not phony.
PeteePie “Dove” Every dictionary I looked at lists “dove” as a legitimate past tense of dive.
PeteePie “My Bad” – Some here seem to not like the evolution of language. “My bad” is very informal, but is a natural extension of the adjective bad into a noun form. It is not on the same level as committing nonsensical repetition or some of the other mistakes shown which lack understanding.
PeteePie “Coronate” is certainly not proper English, but based on the Latin root, it probably should be. If it were used in situations as frequently as “My bad” it would probably already have become accepted.
Calling a Republican state a “RED” state.
Good info. Thanks KC.
I’ll offer a regional. If an old time in Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas City, Kansas says “I’m going over-town” instead of “I’m going down-town” those familiar with the region know which side of the state line that person is from.
That’s because commuters to downtown Kansas City, Missouri from the Kansas side used an incline streetcar line to cross the Kansas River and go over the bluff to connect to KCMO on the 12th street line. Therefore, the Kansas City, Kansas folks grew up using “over town” instead of the more regionally common downtown.
Dew knot trust ewer spell chequer two ketch awl you're missed takes.
The only one a spell checker typically catches is the Brit spelling of checker, but auto-cowreck invents gnu weighs too mangle it. ;-)
I’ve never utilized anything.
Him and me are going to the store.
This is him and I’s couch.
(As heard on The Bachelorette more than once.)
You mean the Beverly Hillbillies were wrong when they talked about that cee-ment pond?
None
I come from them largely
And they made Caroline Stanbury
They rock..
My pet peeve is peevish people practicing prejudice per perverse personal prohibition.
Oh, and alliteration.
What does does datum mean?
Grammatical rules are not natural law; they change with use.
You will never hear/see from me “The data are here.” etc. When I was a freshman in college, a professor told us that “whom” was on its way out, and it basically is in spoken English. When was the last time you noticed anyone using “datum”?
http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/dived_dove.htm
proactive
Thanks B4. I still prefer “dived” though. “Dove” kind of grates on me as does “irregardless.” ; )
As BGen Morrison said in Vietnam in 1964 In a memo, due to the over utilization of the verb utilize, do not utilize utilize, utilize “use.”
Colleges of Nursing all over America are responsible for “orientating”, “orientated”. Drives me crazy.
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