Evolution of the English Language

I don’t think I’m pedantic, but I do like English to be correct, especially when written down. Everyday conversation is a little different and I am more relaxed about it, but still cringe at errors like ‘between you and I”.

Gretchen McCulloch is Canadian. I doubt if that makes as much difference to her views as would be the case if she was from the USA.

If the use of casual language takes over, and formal language becomes extinct then the English language will go rapidly downhill.

I agree Witzend what would one have to tumble onto to "fall pregnant" Answers in a plain brown envelope please

One thing that really grates on me, although it’s almost universal now, is ‘like’ instead of ‘as if’.

As in, ‘She looks like she’s lost weight,’ etc.

It grates most particularly when uttered by upper-crusty people in some TV prog. or series set decades ago. They’d never have said it, grrrr!
Whether script writers/editors don’t know or just don’t care I wouldn’t like to guess.

Ditto the same sort of people in the same fictional era saying, ‘She fell pregnant.’ No!!!

Recently, I read the guide on writing abstracts and found myself thinking the same. It is written in great and easy language but still, I remember my university grammar books where was written another. Or am I exaggerate?

DoraMarr Agree with you on "of" when it should be "have"

Also "your". Some young people I know posted on Facebook yesterday re their delight at how well their son is doing with his spelling tests at school.

I was to read "Well done (name) your doing so well!"

I’m ambivalent about this. I’m enough of a pedant to be irritated by “your” instead of “you’re”, and “must of” really grates, but I can also see that language has to evolve, and the prevalence of texting and emojis has got to be considered as part of that evolution. After all, we use “don’t, can’t “ etc and don’t consider them ungrammatical or sloppy. There is English and English: the language we use formally, at a job interview, for instance, is different from the casual language we use with family. Perhaps there is room for emojis and text- speak too.