s that "English" enough for you?
Absolutely (-:
Is any of this really that annoying? Really?
"Annoying" is probably the wrong word. Irritating? Frustrating?
Not specifically, no.
Fair do's.
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Incorrect uses of the English language - what really gets under your skin?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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"Different tact" has an irrationally massive effect on me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Fair do's.
StoppitPosted 1 year ago # -
The word "no" being used as a question tag. OK in Spanish, not OK in English!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Affect / effect is another. Two wildly different words that I've never, ever had a problem with confusing, or even known that anyone else did, up until the Internet
I'll put my hand up to that one. I struggle with these.
OED simplify it like this:
affect is "to influence or make a difference to",
effect is "to bring something about as a result".which are fairly similar definitions.
And then you get into all the other definitions:
affect v.
have an effect on; make a difference to
touch the feelings of; move emotionally
pretend to have or feel (something)
use, wear, or assume (something) pretentiously or so as to make an impression on others
emotion or desire as influencing behaviour.effect v.
cause (something) to happen; bring abouteffect n.
a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause
an impression produced in the mind of a person
the lighting, sound, or scenery used in a play, film, or broadcast
personal belongingsIn effect, you may effectively affect affection for effect. To the effect that I am affected. But that effect does not affect my effects.
I think.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I got lost on the first page,as I think I grow potatoes,but according to saxonrider I cultivate or nurture them.Where did the language go wrong?
IanPosted 1 year ago # -
I got lost on the first page,as I think I grow potatoes,but according to saxonrider I cultivate or nurture them.Where did the language go wrong?
Your problem is, you're stuck in a rut.
Posted 1 year ago # -
In effect, you may effectively affect affection for effect. To the effect that I am affected. But that effect does not affect my effects.
*applauds*
The word "no" being used as a question tag. OK in Spanish, not OK in English!
It's ok in some situations, n'est-ce pas?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Cougar,I'm not convinced by your comma in that sentence.
IanPosted 1 year ago # -
It's ok in some situations, n'est-ce pas?
When?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I suspect that the rate of change of English usage,and hence grammar,is catching you out.Just because you don't like a usage or construction,doesn't mean it's wrong.The great strength of English as a language is its flexibility,and this includes the ability to absorb not only vocabulary,but also structure.Moan on,it amuses the rest of us greatly.
IanPosted 1 year ago # -
I suspect that the rate of change of English usage,and hence grammar,is catching you out.Just because you don't like a usage or construction,doesn't mean it's wrong.The great strength of English as a language is its flexibility,and this includes the ability to absorb not only vocabulary,but also structure.Moan on,it amuses the rest of us greatly.
And a great excuse when the grammar isn't used correctly, no?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Si ,mon brave.
IanPosted 1 year ago # -
Grammarians seem to have lost sight of the essential function of language,which AFAAIK is to clearly transmit information between people.If this is successfully managed by using "foreign" usage,then as long as the transmission of information is successful,who cares.
Ian
P.S. Just because you don't like it,doesn't make it wrong,and I'm still growing potatoes,like the rest of the normal people.Posted 1 year ago # -
You are Dr Zamenhof and I claim my 5,00€!
Posted 1 year ago # -
My pet hate is the use of disinterested when the word should be uninterested, disinterested means unbiased, not swayed by outside influences.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Grammarians seem to have lost sight of the essential function of language,which AFAAIK is to clearly transmit information between people.
And but like I defiantly agree, but you must except you can gleam some pacific example's hear were they're claritys lost, no?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Crikey, Mastiles, opened a can of worms here! I have found myself correcting random people when they say "them" when they should correctly say "those" and "can I get a ..." instead of "please may I have". Nooo...please no!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I absolutely love using "what" instead of "that" to wind people up.
My biggest day to day bugbear is the number of people who've been through education, even to degree level, and can't express themselves in a concise and clear manner.
The second one is the misuse of "percent" when the speaker actually means "percentage points". If you can't get that one right, don't even bother trying to produce or interpret statistics.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Can we have thee and thou returned to their proper usage please?
Posted 1 year ago # -
In Glaswegian it is "sangwidgies", which I quite like the ring of.
It's 'a piece' or 'your pieces'!Oops! Split infinitive I think. "...Of which I quite like the ring" more correct, perhaps?
Sandwich sounds odd to me which ever way I say it...
Posted 1 year ago # -
My pet hate is the use of disinterested when the word should be uninterested, disinterested means unbiased, not swayed by outside influences.
disinterested adjective
- 1. not influenced by considerations of personal advantage:
a banker is under an obligation to give disinterested advice - 2. having or feeling no interest in something; uninterested:
her father was so disinterested in her progress that he only visited the school once
Posted 1 year ago # - 1. not influenced by considerations of personal advantage:
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Can we have thee and thou returned to their proper usage please?
Simply move to Yorkshire.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tha knows it
Posted 1 year ago # -
Adding the last word of an acronym into a sentence ie The GMT time is
People that don't know what an acronym is.
People that don't know when to use i.e. and when to use e.g.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Redundant "it" there,TJ
Posted 1 year ago # -
People that don't know when to use i.e. and when to use e.g.
So when do you use it? Must admit I just use i.e. all the time without a thought about it.Posted 1 year ago # -
e.g. means 'for example
i.e. means 'that is to say'
Very different meanings.
Posted 1 year ago # -
e.g. means 'for example
i.e. means 'that is to say'Yep remember it as, ie-xplain and eg-sample.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Use of the word horrorshow, or even worse, horror show, to mean something bad or unpleasant.
It makes the user look stupid, as the original meaning is the complete opposite.
Anyone who uses Nadsat without being able to prove ownership of the book in question should be whipped in the street.The use of swap out by anyone but an American should be dealt with in the same manner.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Rusty Spanner - Member
Use of the word horrorshow, or even worse, horror show, to mean something bad or unpleasant.
It makes the user look stupid, as the original meaning is the complete opposite.
Clockwork Orange was hardly the first place the term was used. Are you really assuming that they're trying to use nadsat, rather than using it as a simple description? That does strike me as ironic- complaining that their correct use of the real english language contradicts its use in a made up language which in turn was a corruption of russian.
Unless this was a joke of course
Posted 1 year ago # -
People, especially those in the media, who incorrectly pronounce 'privacy' and/or 'controversy'. I'm not even sure why they pronounce them wrong, is it to appease the Americans?
Posted 1 year ago # -
People who misuse the words surreal, pedant(ry) or pedantic,who from their usage of the word obviously have no idea of what the correct definition is.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is "horrorshow" from clockwork orange not used to describe something they liked?
Posted 1 year ago # -
TandemJeremy - Member
Is "horrorshow" from clockwork orange not used to describe something they liked?Yes, but they liked some pretty awful stuff to be fair.
And Tucker, I always thought that the stress in the word 'controversy' could go on either the first or second syllable.
Just as an aside, my wife is a speech therapist and she never tries to stop patients from using colloquialisms, or using local words / pronunciations.
Posted 1 year ago #
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