What are your pet peeves re English usage?

Well . . . and there's another feather in your cap, Miss Flyer . . .

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No peevishness today? Everyone in a good mood?

Why do some Americans say "momentarily" when they mean "in a moment"?

I don't like that. I believe I might have peeved about this before, bur we're discussing time after all, and I still don't like it.

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... and an egg in my thermos, too. I am imagining the sound as they plop out.

I don't think I say either of those things, McTag, but I'll try to watch it. "Momentarily" sounds like a telephone operator...

http://www.lilytomlin.com/cd_covers/this_is_a_recording.jpg

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"Momenterily" is just a haigh-falutin' way of saying " 'arf a tick, luv." Smile

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Back in the old days when you waited for a doctor in just one waiting room (fully dressed) receptionists were likely to tell you when you checked in that "The doctor will be with you momentarily." Ironically, there was always enough time, "momentarily" to ask niggling questions.

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And usually, time for a smoke . . .

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I took some city boys camping onc't, in the Shawnee Forest, one from Chicago and one from Rockford.

(chuckle) I just know this will be funny.

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The boy from Rockford soon got to complaining about the distance and the weight he was carrying. Pointing out that we would eat the weight and it wouldn't have to be carried out again didn't help. When he would ask how far it was, i'd say: "Oh, it's just about a half-mile up here, round that bend in the trail."

At what point during the complaining did you turn to him and say, "you sure do have a purty mouth"? Shocked

(Not everyone will understand the reference. My appologies to those who don't, and those who do.)

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As we forded one stream, he threw down one of the bags he was carrying in disgust--and broke a wine bottle inside.

Now, I'm not much on camping, Setanta, but if I had been you I'd have tied him to the nearest tree and told him I'd be back directly. :wink:

Virago

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Virago wrote:

At what point during the complaining did you turn to him and say, "you sure do have a purty mouth"? (Not everyone will understand the reference. My appologies to those who don't, and those who do.)

Oh my, you are a very, very naughty woman.

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Now, I'm not much on camping, Setanta, but if I had been you I'd have tied him to the nearest tree and told him I'd be back directly.

You watch too many a them movies, heeheeheeheeheeheehee . . .

okbye

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Oh my, you are a very, very naughty woman.

So sorry. But you gotta admit, that was an opportunity pleading to be taken. It would have been worth a camping trip to see it.

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You watch too many a them movies, heeheeheeheeheeheehee . . .

And that'll do it, too. I haven't felt the same about banjos since. Or pigs, come to think of it.

Okay, enough o' that. (((shiver)))

Virago.

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We should talk about how people offer directions. I always try to remember that they already know the way and will unconsciously leave important things like a left turn or a landmark.

My favorite bad set of directions was offered to me in a little town called Bernice, Oklahoma. I was looking for the turn-off to the DoubleJJ Ranch and the nice fella says, "It's easy. Go down this road about less than a mile, there'll be a turn in the road to the left, right after, go left on the road where the big white barn used to be. There will be a sign."

Joe(No white barn and no sign neither)Nation

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Joe, you forgot "If you come to a fork in the road, you should take it."

Mc(I can't think of anything original to say today, thanks Set)Tag

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You're welcome, Boss, i guess . . .

That's a classic Yogi-ism, McT . . .

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McTag wrote:

No peevishness today? Everyone in a good mood?

Why do some Americans say "momentarily" when they mean "in a moment"?

I don't like that. I believe I might have peeved about this before, bur we're discussing time after all, and I still don't like it.

I'll get back to you on this momentarily, McTag.

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The local bygone landmark in directions by the locals is:

"Go down the Kunkletown road until you come to where the one-room schoolhouse was before burned down. Make a right here."

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hi

it is sylvie here!!

"Frogs", that i know, but "surrender monkey", what is that??

sylvie b

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It's a rude but funny term for our friends from France that was coined on the Simpson's Cartoon series.

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Okay, I've got one.

Writers or speakers who repeatedly use "he/she", "his/her" rather than just saying "he" or "she". It's as if they're terrified of offending someone by only using one gender - or that they fear they will be misunderstood if they don't use both he and she in each and every place. It's jarring to come across it while reading, and it throws me out of the story or article.

And speaking of directions, any time the directions begin with "Well, you know, you just..." I know I'm in trouble.

Virago

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I AGREE! And what about people who waggle their fingers in the air, putting in imaginary quotation marks?

I DON'T AGREE for written stuff, though. Only spoken.

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Yes, finger wagglers too. Why is it only quotes? Why not commas? Why don't they draw an imaginary line in the air and then a finger jab for an exclamation mark?

I find the he/she thing more irritating when written. I tend to get absorbed in whatever I'm reading. I like it way. I want it that way. When I run across "he/she" it's like hitting a gigantic pot hole right in the middle of a very pleasant drive.

Virago

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There is a national patriotic song "America The Beautiful" that includes God shedding his grace on the country and crowning it with brotherhood. I don't care for that song because I think it is silly to say God (a male) is on anyone's side and I ain't no brother.

You can tell me all you want about what the definition of brotherhood and how it refers to everyone but I sincerely dislike the sexism of English. All you have to do is read a text that substitutes feminine words for the masculine and you'll become somewhat attuned to how jarring and ubiquitious this is for the opposite sex.

Howsomever, I don't care for he/she constructions either and generally finish it as he/she-it in my mind.

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What are your pet peeves re English usage?

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