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Pedants' corner

Prince William’s speech

(109 Posts)
Grandma70s Tue 28-Jan-25 13:22:07

I realise that pedantry is not important compared to the subject of Prince William’s speech yesterday on Holocaust Memorial Day.

However, he said something about it being a “great honour for Catherine and I” - should be “for Catherine and me”. He also pronounced “deteriorate” as “deteriate”. This is a very common mistake, but I would expect better English from the heir to the throne, who represents us on the world stage. So much for an Eton education.

henetha Thu 30-Jan-25 11:15:40

Prince William is not a robot. He makes human errors, just like all of us. The overall message is the important thing.
I fail to understand why some people like to nitpick.

Anniebach Thu 30-Jan-25 11:21:07

They nitpick because they are republicans, more interested in
that than grammar

Barleyfields Thu 30-Jan-25 11:21:26

Well said henetha. He speaks very much as an ordinary person would. I like that.

MaizieD Thu 30-Jan-25 11:22:38

Allira

I know exactly what you meant, Maizie.

Such a disingenuous statement, Allira grin

Ilovecheese Thu 30-Jan-25 11:23:49

The very first sentence of the OP stated quite clearly that the message was more important than the grammar.
Not one single post after the first has disagreed.

Norah Thu 30-Jan-25 11:26:02

Ilovecheese

The very first sentence of the OP stated quite clearly that the message was more important than the grammar.
Not one single post after the first has disagreed.

This.

MaizieD Thu 30-Jan-25 11:27:14

Barleyfields

Well said henetha. He speaks very much as an ordinary person would. I like that.

I'm an 'ordinary person' and I would say 'Mr Maizie and me' in that context.

Oh dear, have I now left the ranks of the 'ordinary'? hmm

Allira Thu 30-Jan-25 11:27:26

MaizieD

Allira

I know exactly what you meant, Maizie.

Such a disingenuous statement, Allira grin

No, what you said was very clear!

MaizieD Thu 30-Jan-25 11:28:10

Anniebach

They nitpick because they are republicans, more interested in
that than grammar

That is complete nonsense, Ab

Grandma70s Thu 30-Jan-25 11:44:21

Anniebach

They nitpick because they are republicans, more interested in
that than grammar

What an odd thing to say. I am the OP, so presumably the nitpicker. I am not a republican.

Anniebach Thu 30-Jan-25 11:48:29

Quote Grandma70s Thu 30-Jan-25 11:44:21
Anniebach
They nitpick because they are republicans, more interested in
that than grammar
What an odd thing to say. I am the OP, so presumably the nitpicker. I am not a republican.

Why speak of ‘heir to the throne’ ?

Grandma70s Thu 30-Jan-25 12:41:08

I mentioned that he is the heir to the throne because that puts him in a conspicuous position, where everything about him, including his speech, is significant. The same things in an ordinary individual would be more likely to pass unnoticed. A certain standard is expected from someone in his position.

Anniebach Thu 30-Jan-25 12:49:01

I disagree, surely most would be more interested in the content
of the speech, certainly the Holocaust

Ilovecheese Thu 30-Jan-25 13:03:15

And the op made that crystal clear.

Barleyfields Thu 30-Jan-25 13:04:58

I doubt the Holocaust survivors listening to the speech considered whether the grammar was absolutely correct. I couldn’t care less if William makes an error. I listen to what he says and the sincerity with which it’s said. I find it hard to believe that this thread was started. Pure point scoring.

Grandma70s Thu 30-Jan-25 13:11:58

Ilovecheese

And the op made that crystal clear.

Thank you. There are people who see what they want to see, which can lead to misinterpretation.

Anniebach Thu 30-Jan-25 13:32:30

Quote Barleyfields Thu 30-Jan-25 13:04:58
I doubt the Holocaust survivors listening to the speech considered whether the grammar was absolutely correct. I couldn’t care less if William makes an error. I listen to what he says and the sincerity with which it’s said. I find it hard to believe that this thread was started. Pure point scoring.

I so agree, he was speaking of the horrors of the Holocaust, meeting survivors and speaking of his g grandmother and her
work during WW2 when she saved lives of a Jewish Family

Glenco Thu 30-Jan-25 13:41:55

I find it very irritating when people say, things like "Tom is coming with Molly and I." The easy way to work it out is miss out the other person in your head. You wouldn't say, " Tom is coming with I," therefore not with, "Molly and I" either. You can do the same with , "Tom and me are going to the pub." You wouldn't say, "Me is going to the pub."

Glenco Thu 30-Jan-25 13:44:51

However, I omitted to say, it really was irrelavant in William's speach.

Anniebach Thu 30-Jan-25 13:46:30

Really, even when speaking of the Holocaust and to survivors of the Holocaust. I very much doubt people experience this
often

Skydancer Thu 30-Jan-25 13:56:51

It’s easy to work out whether it’s “I” or “me”. Just omit the other person- in this case Catherine. Nobody would say “Thank you from I”. So it’s “me”.

Skydancer Thu 30-Jan-25 14:00:45

Oh, I agree about the amount of people who don’t say “deteriorate” but instead say “deteriate”. Another annoying one is the number of gardening programmes where the presenter can’t say “foliage” but instead says “folage”. Monty Don is one of them.

25Avalon Thu 30-Jan-25 14:12:34

Some people pronounce house as hice.

Anniebach Thu 30-Jan-25 14:33:03

Seems for some it is difficult to remain silent , not find fault even when the slaughter of millions is spoken of,

MaizieD Thu 30-Jan-25 16:09:45

I find it hard to believe that this thread was started. Pure point scoring.

I don't think you've understood the purpose of the Pedants Corner forum.

It has nothing to do with point scoring or politics. It's for critques of the way the language is being used or misused.

I think it's quite innocuous in comparison with some threads on other forums.

But if it gives posters pleasure to pop in and berate us for not thinking about the right thing at a particular time or to completely misinterpret our motives or to tell us we're wasting our time then so be it. I doubt if it will change anyone's opinions.