What words annoy you when used wrong or people don't know the meaning of?

madeleine45

Today I heard two versions which particularly annoy me

1st person " Oh thats quite unique isnt it?" and a little later , heard "Its nearly unique"

Unique means a single thing or experience, so cannot be quite or nearly! As an ex teacher, I hear many phrases or things that may not be correct and can "live and let live" and say nothing if it is not appropriate to do so, but that for some reason sets my teeth on edge!

I am absolutely not with you here. It's clear that something can't be very unique, but it's also clear that something can be almost unique.

Unique is a difficult one. The problem lies in the difference between traditional and modern linguistics. In the former almost unique is unacceptable but in modern linguistics it would appear to be used.
With quite I think it depends on how quite is being used. If it means completely then I would say it is acceptable. Absolutely unique I would say is acceptable too.

Haven't scrolled through 9 pages to see if this has been mentioned, but it's 'floor' and 'ground' that annoy me.

I always thought that it's floor when you are indoors and ground is outside.

So why do people now say " He fell on the floor" or " She is lying on the floor" when they are very obviously outside, lying on grass or a hard surface. It happens a lot in these ambulance programmes from people who should know better.

It sets my teeth on edge and I shout at the tv "It's GROUND, not floor!"

And while I'm here, it's the fount of all knowledge, not font!

Similarly steps and stairs and also roof and ceiling.

Another one I have seen a few times recently - I wondered round the garden. No you wandered round the garden.

Oh yes, floor and ground really annoy me too when they are used the wrong way round! (Or should I say when they are used wrongly? )