Bad Grammar

[marke]

This thread stems from a recent marvelous discussion between Nathan, Zooey, Kimbo, myself, and the Johnson Patriarch, Tyler (not yet a member on this forum) in our Boston apartment kitchen.

We were listing our favorite pet-peeve slanderings of the English language to great hilarity, and so I thought I'd post some of my favorites and open up the thread to everyone elses.

[marke]

No. 1: People Who Say "Literally" When They Mean "Figuratively"

As in: "Her grammar was so bad, she literally could not speak at all"

See...that is dumb to say.

[marke]

No. 2: The Confusion of "Meant" and "Supposed"

As I understand it, people on this side of the Atlantic consistently use the word "supposed" while the British consistently use the word "meant."

(Now there is no reason for this to devolve into another childish America vs. England spat, because both sides are equally culpable. And also because America is clearly and unarguably better than England.)

The point is, "meant" and "supposed" have entirely different meanings. If you say "I was supposed to do my homework" you mean your teacher believes you to have done your homework. If you say "I was meant to do my homework" you mean your teacher intended you to do your homework. (Recently I have been saying a lot of "I haven't done my homework," but that is another topic.)

Now, often, both are true, but this is no reason to be sloppy. If you snuck out of work for the afternoon you are both "supposed to be at work" and "meant to be at work.

Basically, the problem could be solved if we Americans said "meant" a little bit more, and donated our surplus "supposeds" to the British. Or vice-versa, I suppose.

[marke]

No. 3: Most Neologisms in General

Don't we have enough words allready?

Examples: Disneyification, Bling, Marxian, Freudian, Kantian, Metrosexual, Rasterbation, Gerundification, Gwilwilb, ad infinitum...

[Zooey]

My roommate from Kentucky or whatever, who speaks like this:

"I tarzan, you jane, you to do me, my dishes, and girlfriend, you to as well also do me the sex."

[Iris]

When people say "all-timers" when the word is supposed to be "alzheimers."  

[marke]

Confusion between "i.e." and "e.g."

(The following quoted from somewhere on the net) When you mean “for example,” use e.g. It is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia. When you mean “that is,” use “i.e.” It is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase id est. Either can be used to clarify a preceding statement, the first by example, the second by restating the idea more clearly or expanding upon it. Because these uses are so similar, the two abbreviations are easily confused. If you just stick with good old English “for example” and “that is” you won’t give anyone a chance to sneer at you. If you insist on using the abbreviation, perhaps “example given” will remind you to use “e.g.,” while “in effect” suggests “I.E.”  

[Rees]

Simple mis-pronounciations

Mis-pronounciations I hate:
"Scalectrix" instead of "Scalextric"
"Pacific" instead of "specific"

I don't think this one counts as a mis-pronounciation, as it's actually a made-up word - "illuminous" instead of "luminous". That one REALLY pisses me off.

Mis-use of punctuation

We may need to start a new thread for this one - that's how angry it makes me. In the meantime, check out The Apostrophe Protection Society

[rcjohnso]

Mark(e), you will find this hilarious.  I'm supposed to warn you though, it has some strong language (i.e., the 'f' word).

[marke]

rcjohnso, that is hilarious. Although now I feel I may have committed "Reverse Plagiarism" as defined in Writing with Sources: A Guide for Harvard Students

An excerpt:

If you encounter "your" idea in a source: Don't pretend that you never encountered the source; but don't panic either. If it's your major idea and you're near the end of work on the paper, finish writing your argument as you have conceived it. Then look closely at the source in question: chances are that its idea isn't exactly the same as yours, that you have a slightly different emphasis or sland, or that you are considering somewhat different topics and evidence. In this case you can either mention and cite the source in the course of your argument ("my contention, like David Cross', is that..." or "I share David Cross' view that..."), but stress the differences in your account....

Don't try to use such a note to cover plagiarism. Your instructor will know from your paper whether you had your own, well-develped ideas before reading the source, and may ask you to produce your rough notes or drafts. (To be safe, always hold on to your notes and drafts until a paper has been returned.)

Also, Rees, if you love punctuation and hate it's  misuse, check this out.


I would also add to your list of mispronunciations the people who pronounce "etc." as exsetera instead of et cetera.
 

[Nathan]

I think my all-time pet peeve related to language is the misuse of quotation marks in signage.
 

[marke]

I think my all-time pet peeve related to language is the misuse of quotation marks in signage.

examples?

[Rees]

Ooh, I've just thought of another REALLY annoying one - "definately".

And don't even get me started on people who write "ur" as a shortened version of "your". Tossers.

[unknownperson]

I must admit, I am anoyed by many of the writing habits brought on by chat rooms and the internet short hand. L8r, lmao, lol, and all as well as these 8-{ things.

[Rees]

As a user of text messages, I realise the usefulness of using abbreviations (or "abbreves" as I like to call them) - "u" instead of "you", "c" instead of "see", "2" instead of "to" or "too", etc. The problem I have with "ur" is that it should be short for "you are" if anything. When people use it instead of "your" then that just doesn't work, and illustrates the user's lack of basic English language skills. Fools.