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Pedants' corner

They are NOT "Invites"& quot; !

(65 Posts)
phoenix Mon 14-Oct-19 21:18:48

This has been annoying me for ages! An area manager for a company that I worked for (for a mercifully short time) would email about meetings saying "I will send the invites soon"

NO! You will send invitations, invite is something you do, not something you send!

I nearly had a fit of the vapours a few months back when I heard Elizabeth Pargeter (of all people) on The Archers saying that Lily had been wonderful sending out all the "invites" shock Nigel would be turning in his grave!

MamaCaz Mon 14-Oct-19 21:56:16

It's in the dictionary as 'informal' English, so that's good enough for me.

Gonegirl Mon 14-Oct-19 22:11:14

grin The Archers.

Gonegirl Mon 14-Oct-19 22:11:57

Sorry phoenix. You're as bad as my DH.

Septimia Mon 14-Oct-19 22:12:01

I'm with you, phoenix, and deplore the poor use of the English language.

When I ask DGD how she is, she replies "Good". I didn't ask about her behaviour.....

I suppose, though, that the language has always evolved. I just wish it wouldn't do it while I'm still here to hear it!

Gonegirl Mon 14-Oct-19 22:14:42

When DGS replies "good" I answer with, "I'll be the judge of that".

BlueBelle Mon 14-Oct-19 22:15:48

Gosh I think I d say invites it’s just the shorter form isn’t it like bus and panto and pram they re just acceptable short forms surely

Hetty58 Mon 14-Oct-19 22:21:24

English is constantly evolving and shorter versions become commonplace. Once they're in the dictionary, there's no going back! Personally, I find 'bored of' annoying (to me, it's bored with) but there's no point in being a pedant!

annodomini Mon 14-Oct-19 22:24:28

It also makes me bristle when people refer to 'electric' when what they mean is 'electricity'. They might ask, 'Has your electric gone off?' I might be tempted to answer, 'No, my electricity is still on.'

Purpledaffodil Mon 14-Oct-19 23:13:50

Thank you Hetty58. I have had the “preposition
to use with bored” conversation with DD so many times. In all other ways I am pleased to say she is a grammar nazi. Sadly she insists it is “bored OF”. Perhaps it is a millennial thing??

sodapop Mon 14-Oct-19 23:28:09

Yes I agree Phoenix it's annoying, as is "bored of" . The other one I find annoying is
"different to" I was always taught that you liken to and differ from.

BBbevan Tue 15-Oct-19 07:08:03

Off of annoys me. As does all the others mentioned. I must be a true pedant ?

Pantglas2 Tue 15-Oct-19 08:14:32

And let’s not start on could of, should of, would of......

MamaCaz Tue 15-Oct-19 08:23:00

No, let's not grin

Going back to 'invite' as a noun, it's worth pointing out that this is not new. There are examples of its use from as far as the 1600s!

Morganrae Tue 15-Oct-19 10:29:44

I am all for the use of correct language but surely there are bigger issues to stress about!

polnan Tue 15-Oct-19 10:30:16

grin aren`t we, ie humans a funny lot

does it matter? really?

RobtheFox Tue 15-Oct-19 10:33:24

I get annoyed at the use of the word "expats". Such people who are living in a country other than that of their birth are "expatriates" and not, as some tend to write, "expatriots"!

jenpax Tue 15-Oct-19 10:43:08

I love this thread!? I belong to a Facebook group called Pedants Corner! ??‍♀️

Margs Tue 15-Oct-19 10:46:23

"Apps" instead of "applications.......

winterwhite Tue 15-Oct-19 10:47:39

I'm with you Phoenix, jars on me every time I hear or see it which is not often. Don't think my DDs or even GDC use it so not evolving language?
But no one is 'stressing' about it grin This thread is for people interested in the use of language and no harm in that.

MegrannyW1 Tue 15-Oct-19 10:50:46

Oh how I agree with you when it comes to the annoying use of the words could of, would of instead of the correct words, it's almost a lazy thing and am surprised there is not a better use of grammar in schools

Nanny27 Tue 15-Oct-19 11:09:06

I also dislike 'invites' I don't agree that it is evolving language like 'bus' and 'pram'. These are shortened forms that have become the norm much like phone and car. Invite is a different word altogether and to my ears using it as a noun just sounds wrong.

Nanny27 Tue 15-Oct-19 11:10:08

Actually, not sure about car. ?

Ngaio1 Tue 15-Oct-19 11:13:54

I agree entirely. Very annoying!

Tigertooth Tue 15-Oct-19 11:18:05

Do you dislike all abbreviations?
Celebs
TV
Congrats
Etc