Incorrect use of Language

People saying pacific instead of specific. Many years ago a colleague wrote it in a letter to a customer. And people who miss t’s out of words like wa-er or lo—ery.

Language may well change, but it shouldn’t do so to the detriment of correct grammar. I can only assume that grammar has not been taught in schools for a long time. Examples that spring to mind that haven’t already been mentioned are “ you and I” when it should be “ you and me”, “under the circumstances” when it should be “in the circumstances”. In addition the incorrect use of apostrophes drives me insane! The contraction of “it is” is “it’s” and the possessive is its - no apostrophe. All this and more was drilled into me at school in the 50s. Youngsters argue that it doesn’t matter as long as their meaning is conveyed, but I disagree. Call me old-fashioned but I find it difficult, unless I have met the person, not to make a judgement based on how they write.

PoliticsNerd

MaizieD

Well, I'm fed up with seeing 'forbidden from', 'review into' and 'different to'. But we pedants fight a losing battle

I also am irritated by people saying 'language changes'. Why does it have to change into something ungrammatical every time? 👿

But what is the point about being fed up or irritated by some thing you can't change and those concerned don't care what any of us think

About as much point as your post, GN

What's the point of telling someone they can't change anything when they already know it?

I reserve the right to be as irritated or annoyed as I please.

MaizieD

Well, I'm fed up with seeing 'forbidden from', 'review into' and 'different to'. But we pedants fight a losing battle

I also am irritated by people saying 'language changes'. Why does it have to change into something ungrammatical every time? 👿

But what is the point about being fed up or irritated by some thing you can't change and those concerned don't care what any of us think

Time to leave I think. People are getting nickery.

I hate “gunna” instead of going to.

Strangely it only seems to get abbreviated when it’s something that going to happen (I’m gunna take the dog out) and not when referencing somewhere to visit (I’m gunna Tesco). 🤷🏽‍♀️

I remember arriving in Australia in the early 60's and feeling confused about everyone making an appointment to 'see me later'. It had not yet reached these shores. Similarly they referred to my country as the 'UK', whereas we said GB or Britain. 'Neighbours' certainly has a lot to answer for!!!

Well, I'm fed up with seeing 'forbidden from', 'review into' and 'different to'. But we pedants fight a losing battle

I also am irritated by people saying 'language changes'. Why does it have to change into something ungrammatical every time? 👿

JamesandJon33

Yes I know all that MaisieD. And I do say an hotel. Similarly I say spoonsful and not spoonfuls , as the plural is in the spoons. May sound silly as someone said but correct I think.

Why ask the question, then?

Either 'an' or 'a' can be correct.

Different "to" is used constantly by many well educated people on Radio 4, the worst culprit is Evan Davies. It is different "from" something cn't be different "to".

My pet hates ! Get ready list is long using
Of instead of have
To when it should be too
Go and went
Bought and brought
To name but a few ………

There's lots of me on here!
See you later, drive's me insane, as does everyone starting a sentence with SO or Basically! Think I'd better stop now, but these are my pet gates!! Gates? Hates.

Caleo

Cariad Again, not only do you communicate with imagination and skill using the written word, I can well imagine you are intelligent enough to alter your diction to suit occasions.

I too cannot hear women whose diction is sibilant, high pitched, and whispery.

In the end the onus is on the transmitter not the receiver to make the message clear.

I just have a strong feeling they won't mind if you don't hear what the say. You are quite possibly not their target audience

They should of done better at school!

Caleo

Cariad Again, not only do you communicate with imagination and skill using the written word, I can well imagine you are intelligent enough to alter your diction to suit occasions.

I too cannot hear women whose diction is sibilant, high pitched, and whispery.

In the end the onus is on the transmitter not the receiver to make the message clear.

Aw! Thanks....

Thinks - is that why I've had a noticeable number of people saying "You should write a book" to me....?

Hmmm....thinks...wonder how long it would take for AI to nick it if I ever did so?

Oh you have made me laugh, Caleo

It's helpful to recommend changes to how to express oneself in written English, but unhelpful to criticise the person .

It's patronising to claim of anyone that they cannot improve their performance.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I say it & write it. Not pretentious.

It just is what it is. I also use less a fewer properly because I was taught to, but I don't expect everyone else to do so. People are interesting because of their differences.

I've always believed everyone on here writes as clearly as they can. People do not and can̈not always write as easily as they speak but cricising the style and loading it with perceived character flaws has to be none GN, surely.

Wanna and Gonna instead of Want To and Going To. I find wanna and gonna to be seriously common and vile!

And one that REALLY gets me is as I'm female and in England, I'm in a restaurant, shop, whatever, and the server calls me a ''guy''. As in ''OK guys, what can I get you?''

I tell them ''guy'' isn't my name or gender, and we're in England, not America!

Also ''hi'' instead of ''hello'', another one that bugs me when servers say to me ''hi, guy''!

I think we’re all on a hiding to nothing sadly. My pet hate used to be when a shop assistant asks me how I’d like to pay or whether I’d like a bag, TODAY.
I’ve stopped being annoyed because it’s pointless and it’s everywhere.
People nowadays just sound so uneducated but I focus on how I speak and make sure I read lots of books (I struggle to write that because we were always taught to use “many” at school) that feed my love of language.

I say it & write it. Not pretentious.

JamesandJon33

How about an hotel ? What are your views on that?

Its correct usage. ✔️

Cariad Again, not only do you communicate with imagination and skill using the written word, I can well imagine you are intelligent enough to alter your diction to suit occasions.

I too cannot hear women whose diction is sibilant, high pitched, and whispery.

In the end the onus is on the transmitter not the receiver to make the message clear.

JamesandJon33

Anyone going to answer my question?

I would say ‘an ‘otel’ now, whereas I would have said ‘a hotel’ before because that’s what I heard growing up.
I think ‘an ‘otel’ sounds pretentious and would feel uncomfortable saying it but would follow the crowd.

Sorry, I don't know why that image isn't showing, or if it will eventually appear - it showed in the preview!