4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Aug 26, 2018 4:56:05 GMT
I was at Sainsbury's yesterday and there was a sign warning of an overnight car park closure saying that "all car's must be moved".
Why do people get this wrong? It's not like 20% of nouns take an apostrophe in the plural and it's difficult to remember which ones they are. How do people get the idea that plurals have an apostrophe in the first place? Do they not understand the concepts of "one" and "more than one" and think that an apostrophe is something you occasionally stick before an "s" at the end of a word just because? I really don't understand how this can be a source of confusion.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Aug 26, 2018 22:10:44 GMT
I was at Sainsbury's yesterday and there was a sign warning of an overnight car park closure saying that "all car's must be moved". Why do people get this wrong? It's not like 20% of nouns take an apostrophe in the plural and it's difficult to remember which ones they are. How do people get the idea that plurals have an apostrophe in the first place? Do they not understand the concepts of "one" and "more than one" and think that an apostrophe is something you occasionally stick before an "s" at the end of a word just because? I really don't understand how this can be a source of confusion. Imagine my horror when I note on a recently purchased moonpig card I've bought an apostrophe in the word hugs, i'm sure I didn't type that and am now wondering if I can tipex it out in case my niece or someone else points out the error.
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Sept 19, 2018 15:45:15 GMT
I've not been that long in my job and am still struggling to remember some names. Today I had a discombobulating conversation with a colleague.
Her: Mrs Adder's made some mistakes on maths answer sheets C and D, but Mrs Becile has corrected sheet C. So the children who have marked the maths from sheet C, that Mrs Becile has corrected, are ok. However, the ones who have marked from sheet D, that Mrs Adder did wrong and Mrs Becile hasn't corrected will need to mark them again with the right answers.
Loooooooong pause. My resting bitch face changes to one of bewilderment.
Me: O-kaaaaay.....um.....
Her: I know it's confusing, but I have told the children to only use answer sheet C, the one that's been corrected by Mrs Becile.
More pausing. My lips twitch.
Her: You look confused?
Me: Um....sorry.....um, but I thought you were Mrs Becile...?
Her: I am.
WHAT? WHY? AGGGGHHHHHH! Who speaks like that?
(Names have been changed to protect the innocent morons. Mrs Becile's first name is, obviously, Immy.)
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1,089 posts
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Post by tonyloco on Oct 7, 2018 13:03:56 GMT
I read in the Telegraph today that Fergie had met with her ex-husband and her youngest daughter to discuss the forthcoming wedding. But Fergie only has two daughters – Beatrice and Eugenie – so to my mind it should have referred to 'her younger daughter'.
This same thing has been annoying me in my work on Maria Callas where a researcher working for a TV production company keeps referring to Maria as the youngest daughter of Evangelia Callas, but Evangelia had only two daughters – Jackie and Maria – so surely Maria is the younger, not the youngest.
Is this a bit of English grammar (positive, comparative, superlative) that is no longer taught in schools?
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Oct 7, 2018 13:47:03 GMT
Is this a bit of English grammar (positive, comparative, superlative) that is no longer taught in schools? We're far too busy teaching fronted adverbials and chunking to worry about such matters. In all seriousness, it is taught, but perhaps a lot of the adults doing the teaching (in common with Telegraph journalists it seems) don't use it properly themselves? And while I'm here. Dear Radio and TV News Readers, The word is Brexxxxit Not Breggggg Zzzzzit. (Though personally I find it still jars after all this time. Such merging should be left to the fluff of Brangelina or Pashley.)
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2018 14:00:55 GMT
Nothing Annoys Me More Than When I See People Writing Like This! I don't understand why they would wrongly capitalize each word and also it takes so much longer to type. Just why??? Even worse is using no capitals at all. I'm dragging this one back up: Amanda Palmer does this in all her social media posts and it DRIVES ME UP THE WALL. Especially as I assume because it's Amanda Palmer it's some kind of 'political statement'. Well let me tell Ms Woke-Inclusivity it's bloody hard to read.
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231 posts
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Post by harrietcraig on Oct 7, 2018 19:25:32 GMT
And while I'm here. Dear Radio and TV News Readers, The word is Brexxxxit Not Breggggg Zzzzzit. Ah, that brought back memories (more than 60 years old) of my father shouting at the television, "It's LUXury, not "lugzhury"!
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4,960 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 8, 2018 15:40:54 GMT
The rot set in when newsreaders (who had often been actors) stopped wearing dinner suits to broadcast. These days the BBC is all about 'regional voices'.
New recruits should be made to watch recordings of Ken at al!
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4,458 posts
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Post by poster J on Oct 8, 2018 19:11:51 GMT
I'm almost certain Jodie Whittaker said "should of" at one point during Doctor Who last night - or else it was some other grammatical error that made me cringe!
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Apr 10, 2019 7:35:48 GMT
I've recently had cause to give out my personal details on the phone. On three occasions it has gone something like this:
What's your surname? Tibidabo Amazin'. And your first name? Dame Amazin'. And your address? Tibidabo Towers Amazin'. Post code? UR4 T1T That's amazin'. Thank you.
Totally new one on me. And makes me want to scream. I'll let you know when one of them slips up and actually says Amazeballs accidentally.
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Post by winonaforever on Apr 10, 2019 8:56:56 GMT
It's depressing to read Twitter or Instagram posts by a performer you admire (or, even worse, have rather a crush on) only to discover that they can't spell and don't know the difference between its and it's. This happens a lot😕
The one that really infuriates me is "chomping" at the bit. I heard someone saying that recently, but she's older than me and very nice, so I didn't correct her. I just cringed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 9:56:11 GMT
I've been working SO hard to be less prescriptivist about spelling, punctuation, or grammar unless I'm reasonably confident the person I'm talking to would be open to hearing it (more than one blogger of my acquaintance has actively stated they welcome any corrections I may wish to point out, as long as I do it kindly), but I've spotted some really bizarre malapropisms lately, even on this very board. I'm leaving them alone, because the meaning is still fairly clear even if the word is completely not what they were reaching for, but it turns out that malapropisms test my patience far more than any rogue apostrophe or "should of" ever could.
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1,244 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 10, 2019 10:11:35 GMT
I've been working SO hard to be less prescriptivist about spelling, punctuation, or grammar unless I'm reasonably confident the person I'm talking to would be open to hearing it (more than one blogger of my acquaintance has actively stated they welcome any corrections I may wish to point out, as long as I do it kindly), but I've spotted some really bizarre malapropisms lately, even on this very board. I'm leaving them alone, because the meaning is still fairly clear even if the word is completely not what they were reaching for, but it turns out that malapropisms test my patience far more than any rogue apostrophe or "should of" ever could. One of my Directors, when in the office and very busy, likes to announce he's going to be incognito for the rest of the day. I told him (9 years ago when I started) the word he wants is incommunicado but I just love the idea of him maybe wearing a mask while at his desk so I say nothing now ....
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Post by winonaforever on Apr 10, 2019 10:19:56 GMT
Although, with the malapropisms and mangling of phrases, sometimes it's deliberate because you're quoting something or someone that isn't recognized by the person who's judging you! For instance, I often say "It's not rocket surgery" which is obviously a mash up of "It's not brain surgery" and "It's not rocket science" I picked this up from Kat Von D, but maybe she doesn't use it ironically at all??😂
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Apr 10, 2019 10:40:55 GMT
Well I've learnt the meaning of a word from this, malapropism. I'm often aware half way through a sentence that I've used the wrong word and don't know whether to correct myself if in fact I know the right one or plough on and hope no one has noticed. Recently I seem to have a very weak grip on any kind of proper English.
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4,038 posts
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Post by kathryn on Apr 10, 2019 11:19:40 GMT
Fun fact: 'malapropism' is named after Mrs Malaprop, a character in Brinsley Sheridan's 1775 play The Rivals.
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4,960 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 10, 2019 12:16:05 GMT
I've spotted some really bizarre malapropisms lately Yes, one of them really gyrated with me too.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 12:34:28 GMT
I've been working SO hard to be less prescriptivist about spelling, punctuation, or grammar unless I'm reasonably confident the person I'm talking to would be open to hearing it (more than one blogger of my acquaintance has actively stated they welcome any corrections I may wish to point out, as long as I do it kindly), but I've spotted some really bizarre malapropisms lately, even on this very board. I'm leaving them alone, because the meaning is still fairly clear even if the word is completely not what they were reaching for, but it turns out that malapropisms test my patience far more than any rogue apostrophe or "should of" ever could. One of my Directors, when in the office and very busy, likes to announce he's going to be incognito for the rest of the day. I told him (9 years ago when I started) the word he wants is incommunicado but I just love the idea of him maybe wearing a mask while at his desk so I say nothing now .... I’m so going to do this. Nobody talk to me! I’m incognito!
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Apr 10, 2019 12:44:47 GMT
I've spotted some really bizarre malapropisms lately, even on this very board. What are you incinerating @baemax?
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749 posts
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Post by horton on Apr 10, 2019 16:07:20 GMT
I join those who despise the phrase, "I was sat".
Should we also say, "I was ate a pizza" by that logic?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 16:34:59 GMT
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578 posts
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Post by lou105 on Apr 10, 2019 16:43:16 GMT
I'm aware that I do this but it's genuinely a problem of hasty typing, not ignorance. Today, to join the shudder-inducing you's, I saw he's used- as in "lost he's marbles.."
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2,041 posts
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Post by 49thand8th on Apr 10, 2019 16:56:48 GMT
Alot is easily avoidable if you remember that you also don't say alittle.
Similarly, "best friend" is two words.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 17:02:04 GMT
And "pastime" is only one!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 17:41:23 GMT
I'm aware that I do this but it's genuinely a problem of hasty typing, not ignorance. Today, to join the shudder-inducing you's, I saw he's used- as in "lost he's marbles.." Oh typos are different! That's normal. But I know a couple of people who always write correctly with the sole exception of ALOT.
You've just reminded me - where I live, I regularly see people writing 'is' when then mean 'his' - as in "he lost is bag it's got is homework in...".
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4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Apr 10, 2019 19:36:16 GMT
English is considered to be one of the easier languages to learn, but for some reason many native speakers of English act as though knowing your own language is a feat so difficult to master that they should be excused for being no good at it. Do native speakers of other languages do the same thing? Do Russians claim Russian is beyond them? Is Greek all Greek to the Greeks?* Do the Welsh say "What do you mean, the P becomes a B?" I'd be surprised if this is a uniquely English thing but I've never heard anything to suggest it isn't.
* The answer is obviously "yes", but you know what I mean.
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Post by hulmeman on Apr 10, 2019 20:16:44 GMT
In a mixed group, I dislike being referred to as "guys".
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Post by daisy24601 on Apr 10, 2019 20:28:42 GMT
YES. I was going to put this. It bugs me more than any other for some reason, maybe for reasons stated in that link. It's not one where it's potentially confusing as to where to put an apostrophe (e.g. you're/your) or a difficult spelling. Alot is simply not a word!!
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1,907 posts
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Post by sf on Apr 10, 2019 20:33:04 GMT
Huge pet hate: the phrase "lost his/her battle with cancer". It's horribly disrespectful. People who die from cancer don't "lose" a battle.
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874 posts
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Post by daisy24601 on Apr 10, 2019 21:11:08 GMT
Huge pet hate: the phrase "lost his/her battle with cancer". It's horribly disrespectful. People who die from cancer don't "lose" a battle. Yes also this! When people say they "won their battle", I always think so those who die what, didn't fight hard enough? Disrespectful as you say.
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