Gransnet forums

Pedants' corner

incorrect use of words

(98 Posts)
BradfordLass72 Thu 03-Jan-19 07:28:12

Pedants Corner is just the right place for me because I get so cross when in almost every book I read, some by leading authors, I hear words used incorrectly.

Prodigal does NOT mean 'returning' but profligate, spendthrift, throwing your money about like a man with no arms. (and how does that work btw?) smile

Brackish water is a mixture of salt and fresh, as in an estuary for instance, but is so often used as if it means dirty.

And so many more.
I know language changes and there are many words we use now which have reversed their meaning, 'sophisticated' for instance, but ti still make me wild.
Anyone else got a pet peeve word?

MawBroon Sun 13-Jan-19 15:36:22

Meant to add
nemo me impune lacessit

MawBroon Sun 13-Jan-19 15:35:40

It was an apostrophe /possessive wasn’t it mcem ? grin

mcem Sun 13-Jan-19 15:24:17

It annoys me when posters are so adamant about the mistakes of others when their own posts are littered with mistakes.
Someone pm'd me pointing out quite abruptly that I 'd made a mistake and had used a word incorrectly.
I was able to furnish proof that my usage was correct. Be careful when taking someone to task.
The biter bit ??

MaggieTulliver Sun 13-Jan-19 15:06:08

Oh yes - the use of "get" instead of "have" as in could I get a skinny frigging latte. Grrrr and thrice grrr

MaggieTulliver Sun 13-Jan-19 15:02:06

Another one who hates the use of "so" at the beginning of a sentence.
The use of "around" instead of with regard to as in "the main issues around Brexit"
Pacific instead of specific
I could go on....

Sparklefizz Sun 13-Jan-19 14:39:43

Nonnie The "No problem" thing is even more annoying when I'm on the phone complaining to a company about something, eg. Vodafone, and the customer service person keeps saying "No problem" (it may not be a problem to you but it is to me). The other day I phoned a company and he asked for my name, and I said Mrs Sparkle, and he answered "No worries" . confused

Sparklefizz Sun 13-Jan-19 14:36:29

I get annoyed when I heard nouns made into verbs, as in "medalling" (winning a medal) and a few weeks ago I heard "summitting" in a programme about climbing Everest. What's wrong with proper English as in "winning a medal" and "reaching the summit"? Grrr!

holdingontometeeth Sun 13-Jan-19 13:15:56

Interesting, or should it be interesting?

Blinko Sun 13-Jan-19 12:53:25

Pseudonyms...it's pseudonyms.

FarNorth Fri 04-Jan-19 21:22:48

Or an empty bottle of water.

Scribbles Fri 04-Jan-19 21:02:34

And then there's the fine toothcomb....

sodapop Fri 04-Jan-19 20:16:50

Like son in laws instead of sons in law BBbevan

BBbevan Fri 04-Jan-19 20:03:01

Cupfulls instead of cupsful ( have I written that correctly?)

gulligranny Fri 04-Jan-19 19:43:46

We were watching an old b&w film the other day when someone mentioned "welching" on a debt. Hoorary, we cried, because we hate it when people are accused of "welshing"!

Riverwalk Fri 04-Jan-19 15:45:43

Are we allowed to mention pronounciation?

Oh, dear! grin

Nonnie Fri 04-Jan-19 15:43:19

Wish I hadn't read this thread let alone written on it. You are all reminding me of the irritating things I hear and read!

When you ask someone how they are and they reply "I'm good". Surely that is up to someone else to decide? Also when you thank someone and they respond "No problem", I always want to say that it never occurred to me to think it was!

shandi6570 Fri 04-Jan-19 15:34:14

holdingontometeeth, as you take such an interest in all that is written on Gransnet I am surprised that you haven't realised that Bradford Lass72 does indeed HEAR words and not READ them.
I'm sure she will accept your apology.

sodapop Fri 04-Jan-19 15:22:08

holdingontometeeth ' cant' is defined as hypocritical and sanctimonious talk. I wouldn't take that seriously either.

holdingontometeeth Fri 04-Jan-19 10:53:17

BradfordLass72

Pedants Corner is just the right place for me because I get so cross when in almost every book I read, some by leading authors, I hear words used incorrectly.

When reading I see words being used incorrectly.

I know language changes and there are many words we use now which have reversed their meaning, 'sophisticated' for instance, but ti still make me wild

Pardon me if I cant take your thread too seriously, though obviously I was drawn in enough to post. wink

arosebyanyothername Fri 04-Jan-19 09:42:08

The use of ant instead of ent
as in independant ?
Also the use of so to answer a question. When did that start?

B9exchange Fri 04-Jan-19 09:26:07

Thread, not threat, for goodness sake! smile

B9exchange Fri 04-Jan-19 09:25:31

Loose for lose, even crops up on pedant threads!
Lays down to sleep instead of lies down.

Are we allowed to mention pronounciation - probably a different threat, but either and neither I was taught should be a long 'i' as in eider duck?

Bathsheba Fri 04-Jan-19 09:09:38

"Can you confirm your address please?" No!!! I can tell you my address and you can confirm whether it matches your records. Or, you can read out the address you have for me and I can confirm whether it's correct.
What you mean is, "please tell me your address".

Oh, and on the subject of the word "can": when my children were little they would ask, e.g. "can I go out in the garden?" to which I'd reply "I don't know. Can you? Have you tried it before?" So they'd start again - "May I go out in the garden?". It was all good-natured, and said in fun, but it definitely drummed into them the difference between 'may I' and 'can I' wink

Oldwoman70 Fri 04-Jan-19 08:25:10

I feel petty writing this - but when someone writes "ect" instead of "etc" A small mistake but always annoys me

Holi Fri 04-Jan-19 07:58:35

We are in the UK - we do not have a MOM!!