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What are your pet peeves re English usage?

 
 
Roberta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 25 Jan, 2008 12:18 am
Re: its and it's
rainkeeper wrote:

"Its" does not get an apostrophe because it is only a pronoun. Right, but "it's" gets an apostrophe because it's a contraction of it is."

Bear's" does get an apostrophe because it is a noun. Wrong. Yes, bear is a noun, but the apostrophe demonstrates that it's a possessive.
0 Replies
 
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Fri 25 Jan, 2008 02:39 am
Yes and "retard" is not a proper word, is it? Not used in that sense anyway.
What lovely neighbours. Illiterate, vindictive, vicious. I'd move.
0 Replies
 
Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 25 Jan, 2008 09:28 am
JTT wrote:
What's wrong are all the nonsensical peeves that fill this thread.


What's hilarious is that you condescend to tell others whether or not they have a right to be peeved about any language usage. What is even more hilarious is that you have inferentially denied dictating what is or is not right or wrong in language, and yet come out with this condemnation of others for being peeved about an aspect of the English language. You constantly engaged in didactically telling others what they do or don't have the right to be peeved about, but claim not to tell others what is right or wrong in language.

Jackass.
0 Replies
 
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Fri 25 Jan, 2008 07:55 pm
Setanta wrote:
JTT wrote:
What's wrong are all the nonsensical peeves that fill this thread.


What's hilarious is that you condescend to tell others whether or not they have a right to be peeved about any language usage. What is even more hilarious is that you have inferentially denied dictating what is or is not right or wrong in language, and yet come out with this condemnation of others for being peeved about an aspect of the English language. You constantly engaged in didactically telling others what they do or don't have the right to be peeved about, but claim not to tell others what is right or wrong in language.



You're being mighty childish yet again, Set. I do condescend to answer your idiotic responses but somebody has got to set Set straight.

I've often said, "Peeve away"; that's a clear indication that all have a right to peeve. But just be prepared to defend your peeve. Why should anyone get a free ride if they are spreading falsehoods. That may work for you, Set, but it sure doesn't for me.

You seem like a pretty intelligent guy, why don't you just grow up and find out how language actually works instead of just spreading someone else's fabrications about language.
0 Replies
 
spendius
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 06:38 am
I spotted "least worst" in the Sunday Times Magazine feature on the wreck of the MSC Napoli in Lyme Bay.
0 Replies
 
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 07:33 am
spendius wrote:
I spotted "least worst" in the Sunday Times Magazine feature on the wreck of the MSC Napoli in Lyme Bay.


Journalists are so lazy these days. I have seen "sure-up" for "shore up" in the Daily Mail. (Not that I buy it)
0 Replies
 
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 10:17 am
contrex wrote:
spendius wrote:
I spotted "least worst" in the Sunday Times Magazine feature on the wreck of the MSC Napoli in Lyme Bay.


Journalists are so lazy these days. I have seen "sure-up" for "shore up" in the Daily Mail. (Not that I buy it)


And "wet your appetite" on the BBC website.
0 Replies
 
spendius
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 01:03 pm
I "wet" my appetite in the pub mainly Mac.
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SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 01:42 pm
"Wet your appetite" or "peak your interest," I believe are both caused by ignorance, not laziness.
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 03:15 pm
SCoates, they're caused by poor spelling.

I keep seeing "continue on" in the daily paper as well.
0 Replies
 
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 03:56 pm
SCoates wrote:
"Wet your appetite" or "peak your interest," I believe are both caused by ignorance, not laziness.


Yeah that's right SCoates.

There are more, but I can't think of any right now. Embarrassed
0 Replies
 
SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 05:26 pm
Letty wrote:
SCoates, they're caused by poor spelling.

I keep seeing "continue on" in the daily paper as well.


Oh, what is the correct way?
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 05:33 pm
Whet and piqued, of course
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SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 05:59 pm
No, I'm talking about "continue on."
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 06:02 pm
Sorry, dear. Continue means to go ahead. Continue on is redundant
0 Replies
 
spendius
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 06:10 pm
Oh--I don't know. It depends on the circumstances.

I have been told to carry on in the manner I had being going many times, a mere literary difference from "continue on", and to wait until being told to stop.

I understood it and that's the main thing in verbal communication to my mind.
0 Replies
 
SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 06:38 pm
Can anyone think of a circumstance where it would be grammatically necessary to ask someone to continue continuing?
0 Replies
 
spendius
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 06:45 pm
Couldn't you continue to continue to accelarate?
0 Replies
 
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 07:44 pm
McTag wrote:
SCoates wrote:
"Wet your appetite" or "peak your interest," I believe are both caused by ignorance, not laziness.


Yeah that's right SCoates.

There are more, but I can't think of any right now. Embarrassed


Here's a whole bundle of 'em, McTag. Enjoy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Fresh eggcorns

* in the rears
* slack (one's) thirst
* wreckless driving, wreckless driver
* kowtow»cow-tow
* sophomore»southmore
* perennial»preannual
* giga counter
* all tolled
* untolled
* migraine»mindgrain
* my as well
* jar-dropping
* knotical mile
* alterior motive
* byproduct»bi-product
* beyond the pail
* ruckus»raucous
* chalk(ed) full, chalk-filled
* midriff»midrift
* pawn off (on)
* strum up support
* exponential»expotential
* stalk-still
* in high dungeon
* haphazard»half-hazard
* with flying collars
* cognitive dissidence
* disillusioned»dissolutioned
* to name a view
* mix words

http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/english/2/eggcorn/
0 Replies
 
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Sun 27 Jan, 2008 07:48 pm
SCoates wrote:
Can anyone think of a circumstance where it would be grammatically necessary to ask someone to continue continuing?


Jack: I going to continue with or without you.

Jill: I've seen you continue to continue before. Last time you fell down and broke your crown. So maybe you had better not continue continuing anymore.

Smile
0 Replies
 
 

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