What are your pet peeves re English usage?

Language is "chuck" full of redundancies, Letty. Some are used for emphasis, some for making speech more friendly, some for other reasons, which escape me now.

We have "tonnes" [for the Europeans] of verbs that we add redundant prepositions to to make them more engaging, more friendly.

Thanks JTT.

I like "beyond the pail" best.

It's "pale" Mac.

The pale, originally, was that part of Ireland (the eastern counties) where English jurisdiction was established in the 16th century. Beyond that was the badlands. It derives from wooden fencing panels. Hence your neighbours are beyond the pale. Mine are.

It means unworthy of being a member of polite society due to unacceptable personal habits.

I rather think he knows that, Spendius.

Yes. The Pale of Settlement and all that.

Fetch me a pale of water

My father used to say, "You're looking pale. Have you been eating basins?"

Oh, the fun we had in the days before television.

No, it isn't, Spendius.

Bill: Where's the hammer, Jack?

Jack: There, beyond the pail.

JTT--

Love the Eggcorn site.

As for "beyond the pail" the drunk's outraged system is purging. The pail alone is inadequate and a mop is needed.

Perhaps also "beyond the pail" means that he can't carry the proverbial tune in the proverbial bucket and must restort to the proverbial peach basket.

I think this "President Osama" thing is gonna be pretty funny.

Some of these "misused" words carry the same meaning as the "correct" versions.

To "peak" someone's interest--to cause it to be at its peak.

A mute point (rather than moot)--the issue has been silenced.

I even like the metaphor of a "mindgrain." But it takes some imagination.

I agree, SCoates. I think some of these eggcorns are natural progressions. Who knows how many of these idioms that seem so natural to us now weren't progressions from other forms.

This, from AHD on 'acorn', also found on the eggcorn site.

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

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English akorn, from Old English æcern.

WORD HISTORY: A thoughtful glance at the word acorn might produce the surmise that it is made up of oak and corn, especially if we think of corn in its sense of "a kernel or seed of a plant," as in peppercorn. The fact that others thought the word was so constituted partly accounts for the present form acorn. Here we see the workings of the process of linguistic change known as folk etymology, an alteration in form of a word or phrase so that it resembles a more familiar term mistakenly regarded as analogous. Acorn actually goes back to Old English æcern, "acorn," which in turn goes back to the Indo-European root *g-, meaning "fruit, berry."

http://www.bartleby.com/61/5/A0060500.html

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

Debatable, that one, I think.

And "anchors away" and "anchor's a-weigh" have directly opposite meanings.

I found this eggcorn on the able2know site. The name has been deleted to protect the innocent. Now, no exact word searches, you guys. The person was under the gun, great pressure. It could happen to any of us.

I'm not sure whether I am remembering incorrectly, or if it is due to cultural differences, but (as a Briton) I would say that both of these are correct. Anyone care to agree/disagree? I'm confused!

Grand i hope you got the answer to this question...now u need to research on the word "remembering".as far i know that is an improper usage as per british english rules :wink:

I saw TOWING the line in an esteemed Sunday newspaper this week!

Quite common, is that.
And it's one you could believe, as in SCoates' comment, to pick up the rope and help by towing it, in other words to cooperate.

so what should it be toeing?

Yes, to toe the line. (Not to cross the line)