Language Annoyances

[MrBurns]

Maybe because the teachers can't spell

Correct.

 

[burglar]

Correct.

In the 70's a wave of teachers came out of teachers college saying that it doesn't matter how it's spelt as long as it is understandable.

But that's the point isn't it.

A bit like saying size doesn't matter!

 

[MrBurns]

so fun

instead of

so much fun

ending sentences with ...so yeah

 

[Julia]

so fun

instead of

so much fun

ending sentences with ...so yeah

Yep, so agree.

He died "after a long battle with cancer". Whenever someone dies from cancer, this cliche is trotted out. Why not just say that he died from cancer if any illness needs to be offered?

"In this day and age". Another tired cliche which people utter without even thinking about it.

The use of "less" when it should be "fewer", and vice versa.
ABC reporters do this all the time. Once they were supposed to be the representatives of correct English.
No chance of that these days.

 

[johenmo]

Another tired cliche which people utter without even thinking about it..

Julia, at the end of the day I think you're correct.

 

[wayneL]

Salvador Dalí: "The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot."

 

[Tink]

Good thread.
LOL Joules, thanks for the laugh.

ears tha fing -- no wo' i mean -- how annoying.

 

[MrBurns]

Just watching members of the the public being interviewed on something or other on TV last night I think it's got to the stage where an the spot fine should be issued for the use of the word "absolutely" as a response to a question. $200.

 

[MrBurns]

Girl being interviewed on TV about the drowning of a guy yesterday said
"it was the most horriblist thing"

 

[Glen48]

Another is when some one witness a bad accident or shooting and say I have never seen any thing like it before, as if i t is quite common but they never had the chance to be see it.

 

[MrBurns]

Another is when some one witness a bad accident or shooting and say I have never seen any thing like it before, as if i t is quite common but they never had the chance to be see it.

It's usually I've never seen anythink like it.

 

[Glen48]

Thanks Mr.B that's sumfing I fergot.

 

[johenmo]

It's usually I've never seen anythink like it.

Which gets changed to anyfink. I have a rellie who says that, The child also says that. The grandchild is 10 and wrote "anyfink" in a card. That, according to my linguist child, is an example of language evolving. I think it's language dissolving.

 

[Ruby]

Being on 'tenderhooks' (instead of 'tenterhooks') setting a 'precedence' (instead of 'precedent')

'youse' (there is no such word!!), also 'snuck' (should be 'sneaked', 'snuck' being American of course). These two were always considered "common" when I was young, but I have heard both on newes bulletins, even on the ABC. It makes me cringe.

 

[Miss Hale]

Being a sports fan I listen to a radio station that spends a lot of time interviewing footballers and the mixed metaphors flow thick and fast . Heard a classic the other day, a footballer was talking about the wealth of knowledge that a new assistant coach had brought to the club and said that since since he had arrived they had really "picked his brains out"

 

[Glen48]

Same as paying the access on their insurance.

 

[Junior]

Analysing the way AFL players speak is interesting. A few years ago...can't remember the name of the player. St Kilda recruit was being interviewed.

Interviewer said 'I've noticed you're the only bloke with red hair down at the club, have the boys let you know about it?'.

He responded 'Yeah nah, Goddard called me last night and awared me of it'.

 

[MrBurns]

He responded 'Yeah nah, Goddard called me last night and awared me of it'.

While being totally incorrect thats quite a clever abbreviation.
That could almost be seen as a new word rather than a corruption of the language...maybe.

 

[MrBurns]

You should read this it's interesting about "awared"


http://www.englishforums.com/English/AreAwaredOrAreAware/gbhvm/post.htm

 

[Logique]

I don't mind 'awared' evolving as a verb, but I think 'advised' is more elegant. Or simply 'told'.

With football commentators '..the way he goes about it..' and '..the way he goes about his business..' is becoming repetetive, hopefully the use by date is imminent.