Lousy English that aggravates the hell out of me....

[Total Disaster]

"for free"....no, it's free. Because it's an abbreviation of free of charge.

"free gift".....how often do you get a gift for which you've got to pay?

"very unique".....it's either unique or it's not.

There, I feel better.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Two words you should never use.

Lousy and Swell. J/K

And welcome to DU.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

2. Yeah, that "unique" one bugs me too. -n/t

[Midlodemocrat]

26. I also can't stand it when I get a wedding invite that says

'our joy will be more complete'. WTF? Either it is complete, or it ain't. It can't be more complete.

[Total Disaster]

34. Like being a little bit pregnant? n/t

[billyskank]

36. Or somewhat dead. n/t

[ashling]

87. I remember a case from Law school

(Criminal Law) The facts given, stated that "she was found in a dying condition"

[GirlinContempt]

93. I hate invites that say

RSVP please

[Left Is Write]

3. Oh, thank you.

I've always hated very unique, and I always say the same thing you did. It's either unique or it's not. Unique cannot be qualified.

The "free gift" thing is along the same lines as calling store customers guests. I am not a guest at the store. If I were a guest, why would I have to pay for everything?

[LisaM]

4. Or the word "myself" - no reason to ever use it

If you say, "I did it myself" it's kind of redundant (because if you hadn't done it yourself, you'd say "WE did it") but I particularly dislike when people use it in place of "I" or "me." It reminds me of Marilyn Monroe saying "I and my roommate", an compensating for middling grammatical skills by trying to sound more formal.

[bugslsu9]

5. What about

Who and Whom. For the love of Pete, who can ONLY be used as a subject, not as a direct object. Whom is a direct object

Ok, I feel better now.

[LSparkle]

6. "Loan" in place of "lend"

I know they've become pretty much interchangeable, but you LEND (verb) someone money, and that is a LOAN (noun) ...

[Rabrrrrrr]

22. Hey, can you borrow me a dollar?

I fucking hate that, too.

[Madrone]

40. I'm with you on the "borrow me" thing -

aggravating as all get out.

[Karenina]

51. That one gets a free pass

as it's a difficult one for ESL Germans to grasp. Make/Do and Ready/Finish are others.

My pet peeves with native Englisch speakers are:

HYPOCRISY, definite

you're/your, there/their loose/lose

But in my old age, I'm just delighted that folks do their best to express themselves hier. ;-)

[leftofthedial]

7. misuse of "aggravate" just irritates the hell out of me

I know what you mean

LOL!

[skygazer]

8. "ATM machine"

What, it's an automatic teller machine machine?

"where are you at?" - no, it's "where are you?"

And of course, the use of "like" to denote speech - "He was like, do you wanna go to the game? So I was like, no I hate sports! And he was like, how can you hate sports?"

I swear, if I ever go postal, it will be caused by poor grammar!

[skypilot]

13. ATM machine.

Actually, I'm glad that people do this. Too many things these days get reduced to initials and I think that people don't want to simply say "ATM" and "PIN" and "MAC" but they don't want to constantly have to say "automatic teller machine" and "personal identification number" and "money access card" (which sounds very techno and stilted) so they've simply conflated the two into "ATM machine", "PIN number" and "MAC card". Actually, it should just be "AT machine" but maybe one day we'll get there. The reason I'm glad people do it is because it seems to me that it shows that people are making an attempt to hold onto WHOLE words in a time when, like I said, so many things just get reduced to initials.

[deliusmax]

95. HIV virus?

CD disc?
RSI injury?

All caused by the Redundant Acronym Syndrome, or RAS syndrome

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

52. I read your post

an' I was all, "Wow, this person is picky about grammar!"

[skygazer]

77. Agggghhhhhhh!!!!!!

:spank: You're trying to send me over the edge, aren't you?

[Kazak]

71. IBC Bank

International Bank of Commerce Bank

:crazy:

[Left Is Write]

76. Send that one to the Department of Redundancy Department.

[realisticphish]

94. IMHO, "like" gets a pass

it essentially replaces "uh" or "um" in speech... just a space filler.

And if we go down the path of slang, than "cool" is hideous grammar, not to mention essentially any comparative insult ("he's an asshole" well, no, he's not)

[Shell Beau]

9. I got this very unique free gift for free. I don't hardly believe it!!

[madinmaryland]

10. "Irregardless" drives me crazy.

It is not a word, just like nucular is not a word.

Use "Regardless"

:argh:

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

11. it's v its, there v their v they're,

lay v lie
your v you're

I am with you.

[Hugin]

19. Hmm... I need to book mark you.

I recently ran into a case where I honestly couldn't
decide which to use... lay or lie.

Can't remember exactly what I was talking about.

[suigeneris]

96. Here you go:

Lay is transitive - the action of the verb carries from the subject to the object. For example, I lay my head on the pillow. I lay myself down.

Lie is intransitive - there is no direct object and the action of the verb applies to the subject. For example, my head lies on the pillow. I am lying down.

Look up the tenses for the lay/lie pair as there are some surprises you should be aware of.

Another common pair is set/sit. I set the pillow on the bed. The pillow is sitting on the bed.

[RebelOne]

97. A lot of people at this board are guilty of those errors.

Also, here vs. hear. It all drives me up a wall.

[Shell Beau]

12. When people say

"Him and me" instead of "He and I" or when people say "I" when it should be "me".

[Left Is Write]

18. There are some who always say "I" thinking that "me"

simply isn't correct.

My mother sent a gift to my husband and I.

No, no! It's My mother sent a gift to my husband and me.

Some people will always use the "I" though.

Another peeve: misuse of myself.

[Shell Beau]

23. Yes, I agree!

[Rabrrrrrr]

24. You get peeved when you misuse yourself?

How does that kind of self-abuse happen?

:P

[Left Is Write]

28. Oh, darling.

Your rapier wit wounds me.

:D

[Total Disaster]

30. I was always taught that if you were unsure of which to use...

....just drop the "my husband" part and see what works best.

You'd certainly not say, "My mother sent a gift to I".

The misuse of myself is rampant.

[reprehensor]

56. It's actually the preposition that determines it here, plural or not.

If a word (or words) are an object of a preposition or a direct object, they are in the "objective" case, so the correct use would be "my husband and me."

If something is in the "nominative" case (subject, for instance), then you use "I" instead.

FSC, grammar geek
(borrowing reprehensor's system today)

[PittPoliSci]

55. here's my peeve.

when people wrongly try to correct you for using the word "me" properly.

"My mother sent a gift to my husband and me."
"That should be 'my husband and I.'"
"No, you are a dumbass."

I've had that happen to me twice in last week, it really is starting to bother me.

[Left Is Write]

61. Yes, that would bug me too.

[Karenina]

81. Having made such a concerted effort

to understand the difference between Dativ and Akkusativ declinations
(See: Mark Twain "The Awful German Language"), I had to toss a bf who incorrectly "corrected" me, one time too many, to the curb...

[uppityperson]

49. Me and John went out to dinner-ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH

Other person first, then "I". Makes me wince.

[RebelOne]

98. I know. It makes me want to scream, too. n/t

[Total Disaster]

14. Hot water heater......

If it's already hot, why heat it?

[Left Is Write]

20. And I thought I was the only one.

You will not catch me saying hot water heater.

[DemGa]

58. Me too

[miss_american_pie]

15. Fewer and less

Did the grocery stores have to take all the joy out of the express lane?

[Hugin]

16. Also, "something free" bugs me.

I always see... Sugar free, and I think. Oh, so the
sugar in there is free?

Smoke free... Free smokes?

[LSparkle]

17. For the LAST time, "ITS" is possessive, not "IT'S"

I even see that error made by LAWYERS ...

[Hugin]

21. I'm guilty of that error.

I caught it when I was trying to write the plural of "ass"...

No kidding.

<hangs head in shame>

What's the rule for plural possessive nouns which end
in an 's'?

[Richardo]

29. just add an apostrophe

The cracks of two asses = the two asses' cracks.

[Hugin]

33. Oooo... Ahhhh! Thanks Richardo.

Now do Assessors!

[Richardo]

47. Assessors assessors fo-fessors bonana-fana bo-bessors, me mi mo-messors

Assessors! :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

25. if it ain't a contraction, no apostrophe action!

[Bullwinkle925]

27. Here is another one - "Stupid Idiot" - ever know of one who wasn't

stupid?

[jswordy]

31. how often do you get a gift for which you've got to pay?

Uh, I hadda pay her $25 to give it to me.

:shrug:

Oh, and the one I don't like is PEW-litzer Prize...it's

PULL-itzer!

"Very unique' is an astute point.

[Hugin]

37. Unfortunately, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool linguarian.

Due to the fact I also believe in the evolution of
language over time.

http://lingua.utdallas.edu/linguarians.html

I'm not a grammarian.

[jswordy]

41. I just had some spinach linguarian last night! MMMMM! n/t

[Left Is Write]

43. I thought it was "linguistini".

[jswordy]

45. Only in Northern Italy!

[Total Disaster]

32. How about "try and"???

Shouldn't it be, "try to"? Afterall, if you're going to add the 'and', then why even try?

[Debi]

35. Once again I'm irritated

by elitists :eyes:

At least somebody is talking at you.

[Hugin]

38. I have a joke to be sending you at.

[Left Is Write]

39. It's elitist to have grammar/word usage peeves?

I can't help that I *have* the peeves. I just do. I don't exclude anyone over them. I don't treat anyone as lesser over them. They are just peeves. I'm pretty sure just HAVING the peeves doesn't make me an elitist.

Is it "elitist" for you to be irritated by people who have language peeves?

[jswordy]

42. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MsAnthropy]

44. How about "Go ahead and..."

"Why don't we go ahead and go out to dinner." I know someone who puts it in every sentence. Drives me NUTS!

[Richardo]

46. Have you seen 'Office Space'?

Bill Lumberg (the boss) literally (and I do know the meaning of 'literally') uses it in almost every utterance. Hilarious.

[MsAnthropy]

48. Where does a verbal tick like that get started?!

And how do you stop it once it's implanted? Ish!

[uppityperson]

50. "Drive Safe" signs by the road

drive safely perhaps since I drive car? Noun vs adverb. You would think that DOT would be able to use proper grammar. DOT? oh. never mind.

How about "for sure" "for neat" "for real"?

[luvLLB]

53. omg..after reading some of these posts...

I realize i commit most of the mistakes ya'll are pointing out. I think it would be in the best interest of all if I kept my country bumpkin mouth closed. On the other hand...:silly: I'm not really known for being quite.

[DrDebug]

54. y'all ;)

y'all (yôl)
pron. Chiefly Southern U.S.

You. Used in addressing two or more people or referring to two or more people, one of whom is addressed.

--- --- --- --- --- ---
Since it is in the dictionary it is allowed, so don't feel guilty, y'all ;)

[Lannes]

57. I hate it when someone says I "heart" something

The heart symbol used to represent love like the old I love New York slogan.Noone said I heart New York.

[Total Disaster]

62. Quite what? n/t

[RebelOne]

100. I think the poster means quiet. n/t

[ComerPerro]

59. Gettin a lot of spam?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

60. Thomas Merton rocks!

I can't stand people who say something "rocks!"
I can't stand people who say "I can't stand" something.

[Left Is Write]

63. ...

I can't stand people who say they can't stand people who say "I can't stand" something.


Well, not really, but it was fun to say.

[NoPasaran]

67. But Jelly rolls!

[swag]

64. "Adobe" when referring to "Acrobat"

and "literally" when modifying any unliteral action.

"Conservative" when describing Bush supporter.

[Rabrrrrrr]

83. Dude, that was so funny, I literally shit my pants!

"So, what did you do with your pants?"

"No, I didn't say I DID shit my pants, I said I *literally* shit my pants!"

"Yeah, so I'm wondering, what did you do with the shit-filled pants?"

[Crazy Guggenheim]

65. Just forget about it.

:hide: :applause: :popcorn:

[swag]

66. "My bad" turns my gut.

Idiot MTV Spring Break talk.

[JimmyJazz]

69. "I'll titfuck you for a nickle" pretty much does me in, but that's

just my opinion.

[swag]

72. Hey, grudgeholder.

You could be a member of my family.

It was a lounge thread, after all.

Gimme a fuckin' break here, sis.

[swag]

73. Anyway, the word is "nickel."

[JimmyJazz]

74. I don't think so. You change my name so that it's vulgar and you

post that you want to titfuck me and I'm supposed to "give you a break."

:wtf:

[swag]

75. I apologize

I'll leave you alone.

[JimmyJazz]

78. I responded to your message. Thank you.

I just didn't get your humor and, although you have no way of knowing this, your timing was horrible. Everything is fine as far as I am concerned. :)

[Karenina]

79. Actually, I LOVE that Sprichwort

My junior year we had a mandated course with a psychoanalyst who was always talking about "da GOOD me and da BAD me" (he was from New Joisey). Oh how I wish "MY BAD" had been in my vocabulary then! :evilgrin:

[Taxloss]

68. "Met with", or even (gah!) "met up with"!

"Met" works perfectly well in either case.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

70. Looser, as in, "You looser!"

It's loser, moreon.

[entanglement]

80. LOL

I've never so many language / style / grammar nazis in one place

:rofl: :rofl:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

82. Pick a verb, any verb.

[entanglement]

101. Aaaaaaaaargh, I forgot 'seen'

:spank: self

[Rabrrrrrr]

103. I just got back from a trip - let me tell you what we seen!

[Rabrrrrrr]

84. What it boils down to is: stupid fucks are fucking annoying

If you're gonna use a hammer, you would learn how to use it, right? And in learning, you would be careful and deliberate with it, right?

So, if you're gonna use a language, shouldn't you learn how to use it? And once learned, shouldn't you treat it with respect and be careful and deliberate about it?

I think so.

[Hardrada]

90. Something we need to deliberate about.

[lankypup]

85. I hadda laugh...

Read this on blatherWatch, one of my favorite reads lately http://blatherwatch.blogs.com/talk_radio/humor_in_a_jugular_vein/index.html

In the intimate facelessness of Internet chat rooms, you can prattle about skin diseases, Barbies, civil disobedience, incontinence, moral uncertainty, sexual proclivities, bass fishing, and vegetarian casseroles. Lesbians may speak as middle-aged men, and more likely, middle-aged men will speak as lesbians.

TV never stops blabbing. Oprah bares her airwaves to psycho-babblers, and Jerry Springer to babbling psychos. Dr. Phil, when he's not going on about himself, begs his segmentary patients to talk, talk, talk. Heads on cable TV bloviate, posit, infer, harangue, and declaim 24/7.

TWENTY-FOUR/SEVEN means all day, everyday and using that tiresome code brings me to my point. You'd think that with this new license to talk, we'd gain eloquence instead wallowing around in pop clichés, buzzwords and repetitive jokes.

It gets better...

[A-Schwarzenegger]

89. Huh?

"You'd think that with this new license to talk, we'd gain eloquence instead (of?) wallowing around in pop clichés, buzzwords and repetitive jokes."

I wouldn't think that. It's like saying, for example,

"You'd think that with this new license to shop, we'd buy beautiful and uplifting art and literature instead of useless, empty, ostentatious crap."

[Blaze Diem]

86. AND saying 911 instead of 9-11

as in September 11.
I saw three journalists on a Sunday morning talk show. They were discussing the situation in Iraq.
One journalist from a major newspaper kept saying "911" while the other two said "9-11". They were all discussing the destruction of the New York Twin Towers.
I wanted to call the show and tell him the difference between September 11, and the 911 emergency phone number.
I cannot believe this Harvard graduate cannot realize his own error.

This REALLY bothers me!!

[candy]

88. "For free "is one of my pet peeves as is "3:00 AM in the morning"

[Hardrada]

91. Why do you heart America?

[Abelman]

92. I hope there are no grammatical errors in this post.

But there probably will be. I laugh.

I hate the term "literally." I quite literally want to stab people who say it. Okay, maybe not literally.

I have a friend who says that language must evolve - which is fine with me. I just want to understand what people are saying. I get emails from friends with grammar so bad I cannot even replicate it from memory. Reading them is near impossible at times.

I don't understand how people for whom English is a first language can barely speak or write it. (is that where one uses whom?)

[Rabrrrrrr]

104. Yes, there's a big difference between natural evolution

and plain old fucking apathetic carelessness and intentional stupidity.

Misspellings, bad grammar, bad syntax - that's just fucking carelessness and stupidity and a sign of a total lack of respect for the language and the people with whom one is attempting to communicate.

Other things, like "irregardless" or "impact" as a verb, which I am sure will become official words soon, are more of a natural evolution in the language as I see it.

[VOX]

99. Spelling: "Alot" instead of "a lot," and "noone" instead of "no one"...

And while I'm at it, I'll toss in the constant fracturing of "It's" vs. "Its."

"Its" only has an apostrophe when it is a contraction of "it is." Otherwise, NO apostrophe!

"The cat bumped it's head." WRONG!
"The cat bumped its head." CORRECT.

"Its not hurt, though." WRONG!
"It's not hurt, though." CORRECT.

Call me a grammar nazi, but this is basic stuff. It's what separates us from the freepers. :crazy:

[Pert_UK]

102. Disinterested IS NOT a synonym for "Uninterested".....

Well OK, these days it is often used that way, but it shouldn't be.

Disinterested = unbiased.

A judge should be disinterested in a case, not uninterested!