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Post by d'James on Sept 6, 2017 15:34:10 GMT
I don't think it's taught properly in the UK though. I only learnt English properly when I learnt foreign languages. That's... basically what I said? Or at the very least it complements rather than contradicts what I said. Mayhap it does, mayhap it doesn't! :-p |
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Post by d'James on Sept 6, 2017 15:35:58 GMT
Ooh. 'Hence why.'
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Post by Jon on Sept 6, 2017 15:37:24 GMT
Not quite under the same category but while we're here, I think it's the absolute height of rudeness to get someone's name wrong. We all make mistakes sometimes, as long as we apologise and learn then it's completely forgivable, but if you're continually misspelling someone's name, especially in a place where all communication is written (like, say, the internet) and you therefore have no reasonable reason to get the spelling wrong (typing Clare when it should be Claire, for instance), then I have to assume you're just an exceptionally rude human being. I think it's the absolute height of rudeness to get someone's name wrong. I also hate it when someone abbreviates a name or uses a variant form on the assumption that it's close enough. The name someone gives you is the name they want you to know them by, so don't decide that a different name would be better. Where I used to work we had someone who went by Dave as a shortened form of his given name, and some slightly officious person decided this was too informal and insisted that the company records had him listed as David. Except that his name was actually Sukhdave. Oops. See I don't mind shortening of my name but not variants and don't get me started on people getting the spelling of my name whether it's the full name or the shortened one. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 15:46:07 GMT
I actually use 'Emi' as a shortened version of my name because I got sick of being called 'Emma' as a kid. I don't actually mind 'Em' as a shortened version, I just don't particuarly like being an 'Emma' when I'm an 'Emily' (Emilia isn't so bad as technically my actual name could be a shortened version of it)
But really in general, it's not hard- if you forget/mispronounce a name apologise and everyone can move on.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 15:56:06 GMT
People saying 'can you borrow me....' instead of Lend Me.... ugh.
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Post by viserys on Sept 6, 2017 15:57:47 GMT
For example, in Dutch we have different genders for nouns. In English it's only 'the' or 'a/an', while in Dutch it's 'de/het' (the) or 'een' (a/an). When the gender of the noun is female or male, it gets 'de', and when it's neutral it gets 'een' as a determiner. I see your "de/het" and raise you our der/die/das  But as a learner of both Dutch and French (le/la) I know I tend to just go on instinct and hope for the best. English is actually a fairly easy language to learn (all things considered), so I'm glad it's the one that made it as lingua franca as the world. We'll all be screwed when the Chinese start ruling the world. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 16:57:58 GMT
Guilty. Why is it bad use of English? Edit: Ignore. Hence is why. Also, should have said "Why is it poor grammatically". Failing my way through Wednesday. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 6, 2017 17:08:25 GMT
Look, if my mum wants an advocaado bathroom she can have one! She might even ask me to take a photo of it as a silvernir. Love you mum!   |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 17:10:56 GMT
Have noticed particularly amongst Americans a tendency to say that they *could* care less when they mean couldn't. Don't know why but it drives me insane.
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Post by d'James on Sept 6, 2017 17:14:03 GMT
Have noticed particularly amongst Americans a tendency to say that they *could* care less when they mean couldn't. Don't know why but it drives me insane. Yes. 'I could care less,' so you do care. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 6, 2017 17:18:03 GMT
Try getting an American to say "chip butty". Good luck with that. I used to take my American ex to the chippy more often than was healthy just to give the ladies behind the counter a laugh.
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Post by infofreako on Sept 6, 2017 17:26:44 GMT
Could of... Would of... Should of... There's a chap on here who does it constantly. Ooh I hope it's me. I love annoying people. |
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Post by infofreako on Sept 6, 2017 17:30:43 GMT
It really annoys me at the moment when somebody on facebook says 'can everyone stop hassling me' when most of the time they're referring to one or two people doing so
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Post by alece10 on Sept 6, 2017 17:32:17 GMT
Lend and borrow drives me mad and the current trend to start every sentence with "so".
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 18:21:20 GMT
Could of... Would of... Should of... There's a chap on here who does it constantly. Yes, we've been here before, and he went off alarmin' last time! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 18:24:21 GMT
"Can I get a coffee please?"
"No, I will get it for you after you have ordered your preferred choice."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 18:44:21 GMT
Using less and fewer interchangeably. It's everywhere on broadcast media, which makes me concerned at how many don't realise that there's a difference between them.
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Post by infofreako on Sept 6, 2017 18:55:09 GMT
Could of... Would of... Should of... There's a chap on here who does it constantly. Yes, we've been here before, and he went off alarmin' last time! Oh dear. I don't think it can be me then. Crushing disappointment here I come |
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Post by peggs on Sept 6, 2017 18:56:34 GMT
Am reading this thread in some in trepidation as I'm aware my grasp of grammar is pretty dicey at times and am now wondering (but at least not wandering) if I say 'could of' rather than 'have', I think I might, will change!
Yes the misspelling of names bugs, happens a lot to me at work which when people are replying to an email seems particularly unhelpful, I only have two letters in my name but often get a third added to it which makes me change gender. My bosses shortens people's names who don't shorten them all the time, I wince but there is only so many times I can pointedly use their chosen name and hope she'll catch on.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 6, 2017 19:08:30 GMT
The name thing is very easy. If people shorten me to Matt, which they often do when first introduced, I just say No, it's Matthew. Same on email. You have to nip it in the bud right at the start, you can't go a month down the line then cringingly say 'actually, I usually don't go by Matt'.
I'm not really into correcting people on their English. I don't think most people make mistakes on purpose (some do, despite being corrected numerous times for reasons unknown) but names are unforgivable.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 19:33:18 GMT
Double negatives.
"I ain't done nothing."
Well, if you "haven't" done nothing, then surely you've done something?
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Post by d'James on Sept 6, 2017 20:13:13 GMT
Double negatives. "I ain't done nothing." Well, if you "haven't" done nothing, then surely you've done something? Do not get me started. I was breaking up with an ex and he texted me 'I ain't even done nothing.' That was the final nail in the coffin! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 20:26:39 GMT
I think its usually pronounced 'i aint dun nuffink'
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 6, 2017 20:44:21 GMT
I think its usually pronounced 'i aint dun nuffink' Did you both break up with the same person? |
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Post by bordeaux on Sept 6, 2017 20:51:05 GMT
Using less and fewer interchangeably. It's everywhere on broadcast media, which makes me concerned at how many don't realise that there's a difference between them. Yes, and 'amount' and 'number' similarly. What annoys me is when people use 'I' when they mean 'me': over-correction. So they say 'This is a present from my wife and I' or 'He showed David and I the letter' when in both cases it should be 'me'. |
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But as a learner of both Dutch and French (le/la) I know I tend to just go on instinct and hope for the best. 
