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Pedants' corner

Is she right?

(30 Posts)
Melanie Thu 29-Sept-16 17:19:05

I was out with my sister and I have to say it wasn't the most successful evening I've ever had but that's by the by. It started when I admired her earrings. "I like them" I said. "Those" she said!! She corrected my grammar! The nerve! The cheek! shock So here's my question. Is "I like them" wrong? Really, really wrong? Or was she being a pain?

Crafting Mon 03-Oct-16 19:28:36

Izabella I once drove to work listening to chirpy chatter on the radio whilst on of my sons was in despair about being made redundant and my DH was due to go to surgery for an operation which may have killed him or left him brain damaged. As I was driving I thought about all the people in the world who had no worries whilst I was going mad with anxiety. The answer is we all care (well most people do) about what is going on in the world around us, but we would all sink into despair if that's all we thought about. Every second thousands are being born, killed, tortured, starved, saved, happy sad etc. When some are very very happy, at the same second others are very very sad. We have to make the most of the time we have and if that is responding to threads on GN so be it. We are not all uncaring just getting on with life as best we can. (This response to your post is not meant in anyway to be nasty or critical)

Back to the OP I think your sister was mean to correct you I'd tell her you think they're horrible next time grin

wot Mon 03-Oct-16 19:45:51

Crafting, I love your post !

Melanie Mon 03-Oct-16 22:05:34

Thank you Crafting and every body else (nearly) smile

Isabella1 Thu 20-Oct-16 12:18:57

"I like them" or "I like those earrings". Sometimes the second is abbreviated to "I like those", but almost always with a clear gesture towards what you are referring to (e.g. point at them). Can I ascend my own heights of arrogance or sink to unprecedented depths of stupidity by saying that the common currently accepted usage is "by the bye" (as in byway or minor path). Sorry… blush