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Pedants' corner

Slovenly speech, incorrect grammar etc.

(156 Posts)
NanKate Mon 05-Mar-18 14:49:15

The DJ Steve Wright is appalling with his slovenly speech. He usually starts his Love Songs programmes with a long drawn out L O.

Yesterday I switched off when he said in response to a song finishing 'Don't that sound good' so his grammar is rubbish too.

Some presenters leave the g off ing and add a k, as in somethink.

I could go on but I won't.

Over to you.

MissAdventure Thu 08-Mar-18 16:31:20

I haven't listened to Steve Wright in years, but my daughter and I used to love his afternoon programme.
"I need an ambliance!" smile

patriciageegee Thu 08-Mar-18 16:27:20

Am I alone in liking Steve Wright's Serious Jockin' on Friday afternoonssmile

pollyperkins Thu 08-Mar-18 15:24:53

It annoys me when I hear incorrect grammar but having taught all levels of ability I remember that there were some children who would never get things right however many times they were told! So it's not fair to blame school or parents. Also a lot of words and phrases are picked up from others in today's culture. What does annoy me is hearing TV presenters (especially the BBC) using words incorrectly or misprounouncing. These people are supposedly educated and editors should make sure they know!
However, even my DS and DD use words and phrases that grate on me and were definitely not learned from us or from school eg 'I'm good', 'can I get' in a restaurant etc.

inishowen Thu 08-Mar-18 14:38:50

My 6 year old GD always said she loved banilla ice cream. We had to tell her it was called vanilla.

When I was an office junior I was sent to get some manilla envelopes. Unfortunately I misheard and asked for vanilla envelopes! Vanilla is one of those words that seem to confuse our family.

LesleyC Thu 08-Mar-18 14:18:40

I was just going to mention Beth Rigby acanthus! It does grate on me, especially in one so educated and knowledgeable. There was a Twitter stream about it once, but no-one has told her to change.

grandtanteJE65 Thu 08-Mar-18 13:59:59

Sorry! It should have been "such-and-such". OOPS!

grandtanteJE65 Thu 08-Mar-18 13:58:56

A century ago the person who said "If you was..." would have been thought to be using the language correctly!

"If you was" being the subjunctive (used in a hypothetical sentence) where "If you were" is the indicative (used for making ordinary statements.)

Probably most of you, like me, still say "If I were you I would do such-an-such" again the subjunctive, as I am not you, nor am likely to become you! Where " I was going out, when the phone rang," is the indicative.

I don't really mind yous as the plural of you, because I grew up outside Glasgow where at least half the population regularly used it. I myself do not, having been taught that it was a dialect form, not to be used in correct written or spoken English.

It takes all sorts to make a world; this applies to language as to everything else.

I also distinctly remember the elder generation criticising our use of the English language when I was a child, so I think it is a perennial problem.

"Things ain't what they were! " And, "No, they never have been!"

lindiann Thu 08-Mar-18 13:52:53

Ben Shepherd saying pound on tipping point.

Esspee Thu 08-Mar-18 13:41:57

Drawring conclusions or children's drawrings drives me mad as does prostrate for prostate.

gran5up Thu 08-Mar-18 13:40:55

Confusion of "me" and "I"-"Me and Mum went shopping" etc.

Drop the other person from the sentence, you wouldn't say, "Me went shopping" so it should be "I"

Aunt Ivy would be corrected by Mum but maintain that she always used "I" as it sounds more elegant!

soldiersailor Thu 08-Mar-18 13:38:05

BBC Radio 4 is becoming worse than ever. Last week I heard one of the interviewers, not for the first time, talk about 'the big ask', presumably the big question. Then a short time later another referred to 'the reveal', leaving me to assume he meant the revelation of something. I can't agree that such torturing of our language adds to its quality as a 'living language' as some would have us believe. Or perhaps I should say 'I don't have an agree that our language torture is a quality add'!

GabriellaG Thu 08-Mar-18 13:35:21

Among many others, myself and yourself instead of me and you. angry

edsnana Thu 08-Mar-18 13:28:59

My sister in law always uses prostrate when she means prostate, but her latest error is hilarious. St Pancras station has been renamed St Pancreas!!

JenniferEccles Thu 08-Mar-18 13:19:21

Gosh there are so many aren't there?

My pet hates:-

Pacific for specific
Amachur for amateur
Garige for garage
This is the person 'that' instead of who

And don't get me started on the we was brigade!!

I am really enjoying reading other horrors.
I loved your English teacher's comment Rosina!

Cambia Thu 08-Mar-18 13:03:40

And why are we all guys now?? This drives me mad and I am so close to pointing to my chest and saying look boobies.....not a guy!!

lizzypopbottle Thu 08-Mar-18 12:40:25

'Then', instead of 'than' is becoming commonplace.

Hm999 Thu 08-Mar-18 12:36:19

Island instead of Ireland

Lilyflower Thu 08-Mar-18 12:06:18

Maisie D. Yes, 'different to' is very peeving. But the Americans say 'different than' which is worse!

Taralou Thu 08-Mar-18 11:55:23

My biggest bugbear is 'The Beast' AKA Mark on The Chase EVERY th starts, ends with f.
For people who are supposed to be intelligent he is a real let down and I hate watching when he is on and just winds me up and want to scream at the TV!!!!

nannypiano Thu 08-Mar-18 11:54:01

The word SO is becoming the norm at the start of all sentences, urggh.

Happysexagenarian Thu 08-Mar-18 11:53:15

Oh boy! Don't get me started on this subject. Sloppy speech, sloppy writing, bad spelling (especially in emails and texts). It drives me nuts! I was born a London Eastender and grew up hearing local Cockney slang all the time, but my parents and grandparents were well spoken and they did their best to ensure I was too. Poor English or slang was not tolerated at school and was punishable. Maybe that should still be the case today, for both teachers and pupils.

My pet hate is people who begin sentences with 'So....' I also hate the abbreviated language of texting and lack of punctuation and I refuse to write texts that way. Add to that the way that Americanisms and pronunciation is degrading our beautiful language, eg. pronouncing Aluminium as Aloominum. And has anyone else noticed how people don't pronounce all the consonants in words - skipping 't's and 'd's. It's just so lazy. Grrrrr!

My English is nevertheless far from perfect (apologies for any errors here) but my adult children still phone me to ask how to write letters or to check their spelling so they clearly understand the importance of correct English. So I guess I aint done too bad a job in raising 'em!

oldgaijin Thu 08-Mar-18 11:47:24

...don't get me started on the Haitch. It's aitch, aitch, aitch!

gerry86 Thu 08-Mar-18 11:38:16

Somethink and nothink is my bugbear, I really have to work hard to stop myself correcting people when they say it.

OldMeg Thu 08-Mar-18 11:37:14

Bagatelle I expect every generation thinks like that. I’m quite happy that I can and do speak the ‘Queen’s English’ but I wouldn’t presume to suggest that it’s ‘common’ to misuse language or speak in dialect.

I find such suggestions horribly reminiscent of Hyacinth Bucket.

Rosina Thu 08-Mar-18 11:29:21

'Somethink' is a real teeth clencher for me, and lately it seems that nobody pronounces the 't' . It's jarring to keep hearing 'be'er' etc; my English teacher would call out 'There are two 'Ts' in that word and I'm asking only to hear one!'