When did X become Y?

When did 'May I have?' become 'Can I get?' I long for the person serving to say 'No you can't, I''ll get it, that's what I'm here for'.

When did 'pissed off' become 'pissed'? It sounds so very odd and has a completely different meaning.

I recently read an interview with an American who has just written a new guide to English usage. Previous editions of his book were called a Guide to American Usage but the title has changed to English Usage because he thinks that American English is the dominant version of English now. I suppose that answers our questions really. Cultural Imperialism rules!

I am bemused by people who post on a pedants' forum to tell us off for being pedants. They seem to be missing the point somehow.

I so wish my 81yr old widowed neighbour would stop talking about how much she likes going cruising
.

Bedside tables are turning into night stands...

Language is always evolving, think of Shakespeare/ Beatrix Potter. So perhaps we are just fuddy duddies not happy with the changing world. I still think I'm quite a hip grandma though and we were so lucky to be part of the swinging 60s!

I don't find train station irritating. It's a very clear expression, like bus station, fire station, ticket station, police station.

As for riding, well the same applies. Horse riding defines the type of riding. One can ride a donkey, ride in tandem, take a bus ride, ride a scooter etc.

When someone said they'd just been fencing, as happened several weeks ago, I knew it meant 'fencing in', as in making an enclosure, as he's a farmer. So using sword fencing is useful in defining the type of fencing.

I could go on.....

I guess pickiness works both ways.

The Americanisms in our language are beginning to get irritating! They seem to love making a verb out of a noun and the most ridiculous thing I heard recently was when a woman was talking about children playing in a park when she called it 'recreating' (pron, reckreating as in recreation, not re-creating)! Too much American telly methinks.

As to the 50s and 60s being history, this still jolts me, how can it possibly be history when I remember it so well !

I agree with train station, it always grates. I'm so pleased I'm not the only one! What about play dates?! An Americanism? Changing the subject slightly, pronunciation of words is another irritation.

Train station irritates me too, but Homeward Bound would not work if we couldn't sing 'Sitting on a railway station, got a ticket for my destination'. Love Alea's reason for 'de plane' ?

Well, 'riding' can be taken to mean something else, too, which might raise a few giggles!

I can explain 'tea lights': it has seeped in from the German 'Teelicht' which is what those little candles are called. They are mainly used for keeping tea pots warm, teacosies being unknown here in Germany. As the little knick-knacks which use them have spread around the globe, with sloppily translated descriptions and instructions, 'tealight/Teelicht' has become one of those 'false friends'.

Train station does sound wrong, but we do say Bus station and Coach station.

I certainly agree about 'train station'. Very grating!

I remember having a conversation at cross purposes when an American colleague told me that she enjoyed riding. She was very confused when I started talking about horses, because she had actually said 'writing' in her Southern accent!

Americans talk of 'riding' in a car, e.g. I'll give you a ride to... where we would use lift. So they specify horse if it's horse-riding.

When railway stations were first built, there were no bus stations. Now there are. Bus station, train station. Same pattern of construction.

Wish people'd stop moaning and just use the language as they like to use it while tolerantly giving everyone else the same freedom.

I'm glad so many of you mentioned train station. I loathe it . I think, though, that as many younger people call in train station, that is what it will become. Language does evolve, and the changed description is accurate. I will never say it though. Bit late now. I've never heard of de-planing ! How weird. I was going to mention horseback riding too, but see someone already has. Not too sure we say that over here? I don't mind ice skating, although I'm sure I just went skating. As roller skating, or blading, is popular, I suppose it differentiates between them. I've also heard cellphone here. We already have a word!! I know there are lots of other expressions that grate. I'll probably think of them after I press send.

Pippa or service users lol

Don't forget patients are now clients.

"Deplane" is what you take to go on de holidays, surely?

I do differentiate between a tube station and a train station- sometimes I call it the main line.

I also get off a plane, I do not deplane.

Station stop annoys me too*Alea*. As does customers rather than passengers.

I too am annoyed by train station. I always refer to it as the railway station. According to Mr. Wikki, tealight originated in Japan as added ambience to the tea ceremony. They then were used to put under the teapot to keep it warm. I would still rather call them nightlights.

Deplaning annoys me I just get off the plane or disembark

While in the railway "area" how about "station stop"??
"This train terminates here" - no it doesn't , the service does.

I'm glad its not just me who's noticed this. Railway station sounds so much grander than train station. Don't even mention horse riding and ice skating. Sword fencing anyone? I just used to fence!

I know they have slightly different definitions GrandTea but Cliff Richard didn't sing about being In The Countryside

Yes bbbevan. Train station always annoys me. I thought I had just always been wrong.

Also the swimming lessons are swim school. Yuk..