I also am by no means an English scholar, but I also have pet peeves.
You singled out one of them. Another one that annoys me is the use of the word "gender" when referring to the sex of a human. The word gender refers to grammar, not human sex.
Yet another is when one says they "got" married. They did not get married; they married.
The worse, and it is virtually everywhere, is something "for" free. It is not for free; it is just free.
When I was a young man, I might not have known the correct pronunciation of a word I read for the first time. Then, one day, I would hear it used by a radio commentator and learned the correct pronunciation and the proper grammar. Today, television news people’s grammar is terrible and should be avoided as a learning tool.
Kinda like on purpose, instead of purposely
or, on accident as oppose to accidentally, or
or until instead of til?
I prefer the phrase 'they committed matrimony'...
Free Gift. Sexual Orientation (preference didn’t make the cut).
Speaking of “got married”, here’s an interesting tip from a good 60s etiquette book, (a handy tome to have btw, it’s full of common-sense stuff that everyone can use to good effect regardless of station in life, etc, but prior to everything useful being expunged during the Great Purges.
To the groom, “Congratulations” is in order, but not the Bride! “Best Wishes” is suggested, because congrats can imply a sort of “well, you finally snagged somebody, at least”. Now, I’m not necessarily signed on to all of that, but *knowing what is expected* is never a bad thing, particularly in public.
Could be. Conservative radio talk show hosts do fairly well.
It is not for free; it is just free."
Hey, thanks, I'm always interested in correct grammar and I didn't know this. On the other hand, now that I am aware I will be tormented by hearing everyone else use these words incorrectly
That is, if I don't first go on a mad rampage because I saw an apostrophe used to make a plural one too many times.
Or "caramel" not only pronounced "carmel" but actually spelled that way.