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Pedants' corner

Unpleasant modern expressions

(241 Posts)
mrsmopp Fri 23-May-14 07:44:05

Up for grabs. I hate it. Let's have your pet hate..

annodomini Fri 24-Oct-14 22:01:35

bags, don't forget that this is pedants' corner which we crawl into (into which we crawl) when the linguistic perversions of 21st Century youth are too much for us to bear. Please do not seek to deprive us of our mutual solace. grin

thatbags Sat 25-Oct-14 07:01:23

I don't. I'm just joining in in my own way. Grammatical errors irritate me. Different diction from what I'm used to.... shrug. We're all different in our approach to pedantry. I'm being pedantic about the pedantry of criticisers of "I'm good", as well as trying to soothe your angst by being rational about it smile

MiceElf Sat 25-Oct-14 07:20:24

Well indeed. Goodbye is a contraction of God be with you. Perhaps I should start a campaign to bring it back smile

papaoscar Sat 25-Oct-14 07:33:41

Iconic and eclectic. Much used media twins I don't like very much.

Anya Sat 25-Oct-14 08:14:47

Modern papaoscar? Both have been in use for centuries wink

feetlebaum Sat 25-Oct-14 09:10:57

A real tooth-grinder for me (or it was when I had teeth) is the erroneous use of 'begging the question' - that has a very specific meaning, that has nothing to do with asking questions! If you assume something is true, and then use that 'truth' as part of an argument - you are 'begging the question'.

papaoscar Sat 25-Oct-14 09:59:42

I and E. Yes, Anya, both are fine, upstanding words in their own way but rather formal, that I wouldn't usually toss into the mixing bowl of everyday conversation. I find that their use in that context verges on the pretentious. Often used by theatrical and media types playing to the gallery. In terms of more modern usages the phrases 'cool' or 'that's cool' and 'no trouble' together with the rising inflexion often used inappropriately at the end of an expression also cause my few remaining hackles to rise. And I'd almost forgotten the all-encompassing 'guys' or 'you guys'.

feetlebaum Sat 25-Oct-14 11:26:00

"Cool" is 1940s, if not earlier!

patpat1 Sat 25-Oct-14 12:19:39

'Less' and 'fewer' are my bugbear, especially in a current advert by Coca Cola, as in 'less calories'!

ginny Sat 25-Oct-14 15:45:04

I can't stand the expression 'Get in'. It seems to be used when someone is really pleased with themselves or have answered a question correctly.
What exactly are they getting into ?

d4dsquared Sat 25-Oct-14 16:08:37

This may be 'pedants corner', but are we not just reinforcing all the stereotypes of fusspot older people by banging on (another 'modern expression' for someone to hate) about trivialities. It doesn't matter that much. If you don't like an expression you don't have to use it yourself and you can just shrug your shoulders and ignore it if others do. It really doesn't matter that much. Find something more worthy of your disapproval on which to expend your mental energies.

Anya Sat 25-Oct-14 17:00:58

Right on! wink

Anya Sat 25-Oct-14 17:01:39

You've nailed it d4d

Anya Sat 25-Oct-14 17:04:00

Legendary shock

Nonu Sat 25-Oct-14 17:05:44

D4D, I like your post, spot on !!!!!!
wink

ginny Sat 25-Oct-14 23:37:20

d4dsquared Can I come to live in your world ,where nothing bothers or irritates you. My mental energies are used in many ways but sometimes it is a little thing that 'breaks the camels back'. smile

papaoscar Sun 26-Oct-14 02:53:04

Pedantic = = hairsplitting, particular, formal, precise, fussy, picky, nit-picking, punctilious, priggish etc., etc. Thats me, how about you?

NfkDumpling Sun 26-Oct-14 06:18:52

I can generally cope with new expressions. Many are very descriptive and apt. I really hate 'gobsmacked' but there are occasions when it's just the right word.

What I don't like is the way that perfectly normal everyday words suddenly become obscene or politically incorrect without telling me. Pedants are needed just to slow the process down.

(Pet hate expression for me is 'Lessons have been learned' when clearly they haven't.)

thatbags Sun 26-Oct-14 06:19:23

Pedantry has its uses but that's a good post d4d because all that "hairsplitting, particularity, formality, precision, fussiness, pickiness, nit-picking, punctiliousness, priggishness, etc., etc." about easy-going "trendy" expressions young people (or, even worse, foreigners like Americans!) use, is rather a silly use of it. Spot on smile. I like the directness of your post.

thatbags Sun 26-Oct-14 06:21:11

We oldies, of course, were never guilty of using trendy expressions when we were young and we'd never pick up and use (shudder!) American expressions! [sarc emoticon] smile

absent Sun 26-Oct-14 06:49:57

Far out bags!

Pamaga Sun 26-Oct-14 07:38:36

I hate when people say ' they are meeting with'. Why not just 'they are meeting'? The 'with' is redundant.
Also, there is a tendency now to say 'I am excited for the arena trip' etc instead of 'excited about'. Where did that come from?
No one seems to be able to spell 'definitely' any more - I have lost count of the number of times I've seen 'definately' No, it's not just fat fingers, it is happening too often. Okay, I know I am a pedant. We had English grammar drummed into us when I was at school!

thatbags Sun 26-Oct-14 08:17:49

Your first two examples come from the northern part of America. They speak English there to and use their own idiosyncracies of the spoken language just as we do.

You did ask, pamaga.

absent grin

thatbags Sun 26-Oct-14 08:18:07

whoops. too not to

thatbags Sun 26-Oct-14 08:26:51

Right, I've said my bit. Let the grumpy old fartishness continue undisturbed by any troublesome rationality and tolerance smile