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

(233 Posts)
CrazyUSA Tue 07-Jul-26 17:35:06

For example your instead of you're.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Mon 13-Jul-26 09:58:14

A ''bit'' of rain, ''bit'' of milk, etc. IT'S A DROP!

Mollygo Mon 13-Jul-26 10:03:08

TheWeirdoAgain60

A ''bit'' of rain, ''bit'' of milk, etc. IT'S A DROP!

What’s the word for more rain than a drop, but less than a shower?

BoggledMind Mon 13-Jul-26 13:43:58

Mollygo

A drop of rain is literally that - a raindrop. A bit of rain is perfectly acceptable, as is a drop of rain. Personal preference.

Witzend Mon 13-Jul-26 14:12:27

MissAdventure

By jove, I think I've got it! smile
Thank you.
So, i bought something from the shop, and brought it home?

Just think of the R:

bRing, bRought

buy, bought.

Witzend Mon 13-Jul-26 14:13:34

Mollygo

TheWeirdoAgain60

A ''bit'' of rain, ''bit'' of milk, etc. IT'S A DROP!

What’s the word for more rain than a drop, but less than a shower?

A sprinkling?
Or ‘spits and spots’ as some weather presenters like to say.

HowVeryDareYou2 Mon 13-Jul-26 14:51:24

Bunch or Ton

"I was with a bunch of people" - No, bunches are flowers or bananas.
" It was a ton of work" - just no.

HowVeryDareYou2 Mon 13-Jul-26 14:52:16

On a different thread on GN, someone said she woke up in a pile of sweat grin

Oldnproud Mon 13-Jul-26 15:09:45

HowVeryDareYou2

On a different thread on GN, someone said she woke up in a pile of sweat grin

I woke up in a pile of sweat many a time when I was menopausal - the sweat-drenched pile of bedclothes that was on, around or under me at that point.

Sorry to be so graphic.

Mollygo Mon 13-Jul-26 15:24:18

HowVeryDareYou2

Bunch or Ton

"I was with a bunch of people" - No, bunches are flowers or bananas.
" It was a ton of work" - just no.

Some groups of people definitely qualify for the bunch image.
As for ton
Carrying bags of work home to mark, together with a laptop, definitely felt like carrying a ton. (Informal word for a very large amount according to Google)

MissAdventure Mon 13-Jul-26 20:13:12

I like a "pile of sweat". smile

Petrina Mon 13-Jul-26 20:30:32

JMcB

Two times, instead of twice!

And you made me think - 'times' instead of 'multiply' (I know this isn't what you were doing), as in "times 2 by 3".

Also "one pence"

But do you use "three times" or "thrice"?

Petrina Mon 13-Jul-26 20:35:58

Cabbie21

Being really pedantic, the OP not only used ‘what’ and ‘wrong’ incorrectly, but also ended with a preposition.

In speech, I tolerate anything, reluctantly, but I expect written text to be correct. Sadly, I am often disappointed.

My list is too long to write, but poor grammar annoys me more than misuse of vocabulary.
The worst offence has to be ‘ would of’ ‘ should of’ etc.
I am a retired language teacher.

Not wanting to 'outpedant' you, but isn't the word 'of' at the end of the sentence acting as a particle of the phrasal verb "to know of", rather than as a preposition?

Petrina Mon 13-Jul-26 20:41:01

"From whence," and "the hoi polloi"

Petrina Mon 13-Jul-26 20:47:05

Romola

Bluebell I'm a pedant and quite like it when an adverb is used to qualify a verb rather than an adjective.
Errors of syntax annoy me more, starting with "between you and I". Ouch!

Which makes me think - I now even feel awkward saying the correct "it is I" (the verb 'to be' governs a subject complement rather than an object, which is why the book "Who's who" is not called "Who's whom")).

Witzend Thu 16-Jul-26 21:44:35

Since I’ve just seen it elsewhere, re drinks for children, people saying ‘juice’ when they mean squash!

Witzend Fri 17-Jul-26 11:58:13

IMO if you read a lot, you absorb grammar and correct usages naturally.

Magenta8 Fri 17-Jul-26 12:28:18

I am living proof that your theory is not always correct Witzend.

madeleine45 Sun 19-Jul-26 22:40:14

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!

Mollygo Sun 19-Jul-26 22:51:52

The word authentic wrongly used really irritates me.
Authentic means being genuine, real, and true, rather than a copy or an imitation.

Greenfinch Sun 19-Jul-26 23:20:35

The excessive use of the word unbelievable for things obviously in the range of belief.
The use of everybody instead of some people or even lots of people.

nanna8 Mon 20-Jul-26 01:03:24

I was thinking, we often have a ‘spot’ of rain. Mind you, sometimes it is accurate in our droughts!

Magenta8 Mon 20-Jul-26 08:53:01

The words 'ignorant' and 'common' are frequently misused in the context of class distinction.

Witzend Mon 20-Jul-26 11:28:41

Oldnproud

HowVeryDareYou2

On a different thread on GN, someone said she woke up in a pile of sweat grin

I woke up in a pile of sweat many a time when I was menopausal - the sweat-drenched pile of bedclothes that was on, around or under me at that point.

Sorry to be so graphic.

I had that. I’d call it a flooding or a drenching of….

I had similar in hospital a few years ago, side effect of pneumonia. Bottom sheet and pyjama top soaked - good old dh was bringing 2 clean tops every day!

The docs called them ‘drenching’ sweats.

Witzend Mon 20-Jul-26 13:11:32

One I’ve seen twice just lately,

E.g. ‘…to refuse doing (something)…’

To me it should be ‘to refuse to do whatever it is.

yogitree Mon 20-Jul-26 14:14:39

What words annoy you when used 'wrongly' grin