What is this “health” that you speak of? Anyway, I love the sketch of the female with the ponytail and the dude in front of the Stuff Store…Too cool…….You keep that up Wiley, I’m going to have to keep laughing some more….
“decimation” – killing every tenth, not all.“Unbelievable” As in “The actor gave an unbelievable performance”, or “Our party has an unbelievable group of candidates.” When tempted to use, “unbelievable”, see whether “excellent” or “good” would work. If so, “unbelievable” is not what you meant.
Apparently, according to Merriam-Webster, “healthy” has been used as a substitute for “healthful” pretty much since it first appeared in the mid 16th century, and people getting persnickety about it didn’t really become a thing until the late 19th century.
Other references list “healthy” and “healthful” as synonyms.
“In Our Language, Simeon Potter illustrates catachresis by reporting that when King James II saw the new St. Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, he described it as amusing, awful, and artificial. The King meant no offence, and presumably none was taken, because those words then denoted pleasing, awesome (i.e. awe-inspiring), and skilfully achieved, respectively.” —Stan Carey, http://stancarey.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/
“Condemned to the use of words, we can never expect mathematical certainty from our language.” —Thurgood Marshall, US Supreme Court Justice, 1967-1991
What’s infuriating (to me) is how some don’t know the difference between they’re and their, as well as you’re and your. I know that my English might not be the greatest at times, but at least I know the difference.
I gave up a long time ago cringing at the listening to newscasters i.e. news readers. My solution is to turn off the TV and read the paper. The use of English is not perfect but better.
My pet peeve is the loss of the past tense. News reporters discussing an event that happened yesterday as if it is happening right now, for example. I see it everywhere. RIP, past tense.
We had a sign in the area advertising real estate for sale…“5, 10, 15, and 20 Acre TRACKS Available.” It drove me NUTS every time I saw it until it was finally taken down!
When I was a teacher, I used to explain the less vs. fewer thing by saying that you got less mashed potatoes and fewer peas. Less is for a single thing subdivided and fewer is for discreet things bundled together. My big problem is the use of myself or yourself. I tell people just take out the “self” and ask yourself, (properly used here), if you would say “Myself will go to the store.” That’s ridiculous, so “John and myself will go to the store” is also ridiculous.
My mother majored in English and taught grammar school for 20 years so I grew up hearing only correct grammar and it make it very easy for me in school. I used to wonder why so many of my friends were struggling with English class. I now realize the reason for it.
English we use is a cobbled together Frankenstein creation of words mismatched some from Latin, others Greek, Japanese, Sanskrit, et al. And with spelling similarities that are at variance from the particular word’s history aren’t readily apparent.
Wiley set off a grammar nip bomb and he just doesn’t care! Now all the grammarians are irresistibly attracted to this location to roll around in their peeves!
I was annoyed recently when the instructions said to enter the “15 digit code” marked on the item, when 8 of the characters in the code were letters, not digits. Yeah, I get anal at times. I also searched thoroughly to make sure there wasn’t a code hidden somewhere on the item that was just digits.
When a newscaster says “There are additional troops on the ground,” what does “on the ground” mean. Is it to differentiate those troops from the ones who are up on ladders, or are, perhaps, enjoying some hang-gliding?"
Saw a car today gaily painted with big letters “Tutoring Rocks” I know what they meant but dang couldn’t help laugh at how difficult it must be to get rocks prove they learned anything. I also wondered if they were slyly commenting on the intellectual capacity of their clients. Just think it’s not a well thought out name for the company.
strictures over 6 years ago
Thank you Wiley. I really wish all the idiots that use ‘literally’, would start using ‘actually’!
Dtroutma over 6 years ago
And George Carlin tagged our obsession with “stuff”, actually, and it’s unhealthy.
GreasyOldTam over 6 years ago
How about “less” vs “fewer”? As in, answer in 25 words or “less”, should be 25 words or “fewer”.
Charliegirl Premium Member over 6 years ago
We need one of those booths on every corner!
KristineKuhns over 6 years ago
“For John and I.” The correct way, “For John and me,” is dead in the water everywhere but the most formal written communication.
Varnes over 6 years ago
What is this “health” that you speak of? Anyway, I love the sketch of the female with the ponytail and the dude in front of the Stuff Store…Too cool…….You keep that up Wiley, I’m going to have to keep laughing some more….
Varnes over 6 years ago
In the Midwest we say “Me and John went to……”…Yeah, we know it’s wrong, but we don’t care….It’s just the way we say it!
braindead Premium Member over 6 years ago
I’d settle for people using ‘different from’ rather than ‘different than’.
MS72 over 6 years ago
“Where’s the bathroom?”
andylyke over 6 years ago
“decimation” – killing every tenth, not all.“Unbelievable” As in “The actor gave an unbelievable performance”, or “Our party has an unbelievable group of candidates.” When tempted to use, “unbelievable”, see whether “excellent” or “good” would work. If so, “unbelievable” is not what you meant.
scpandich over 6 years ago
Apparently, according to Merriam-Webster, “healthy” has been used as a substitute for “healthful” pretty much since it first appeared in the mid 16th century, and people getting persnickety about it didn’t really become a thing until the late 19th century.
Other references list “healthy” and “healthful” as synonyms.
Egrayjames over 6 years ago
I’d like to add my $.02 Cents worth, but I don’t think it’s worth it.
Joe Cooker Premium Member over 6 years ago
School’s out. Drive careful !
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 6 years ago
“In Our Language, Simeon Potter illustrates catachresis by reporting that when King James II saw the new St. Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, he described it as amusing, awful, and artificial. The King meant no offence, and presumably none was taken, because those words then denoted pleasing, awesome (i.e. awe-inspiring), and skilfully achieved, respectively.” —Stan Carey, http://stancarey.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/
“Condemned to the use of words, we can never expect mathematical certainty from our language.” —Thurgood Marshall, US Supreme Court Justice, 1967-1991
sarah413 Premium Member over 6 years ago
What’s infuriating (to me) is how some don’t know the difference between they’re and their, as well as you’re and your. I know that my English might not be the greatest at times, but at least I know the difference.
Linguist over 6 years ago
I know a certain N.Y. tweeter, who would be well served, by hiring a retired English teacher.
derdave969 over 6 years ago
Is anal retentive hyphenated?
Greyhame over 6 years ago
How do you get down from a horse?
stairsteppublishing over 6 years ago
I gave up a long time ago cringing at the listening to newscasters i.e. news readers. My solution is to turn off the TV and read the paper. The use of English is not perfect but better.
zippy49 over 6 years ago
I dunno about the grammar nazis out there, but I got to the point that if I saw one more sentence diagram I would go postal.
hollisson Premium Member over 6 years ago
My pet peeve is the loss of the past tense. News reporters discussing an event that happened yesterday as if it is happening right now, for example. I see it everywhere. RIP, past tense.
Calvins Brother over 6 years ago
Ah, lighten up folks. In the end we’ll all be six feet under, and it won’t matter a whit.
Masterskrain over 6 years ago
We had a sign in the area advertising real estate for sale…“5, 10, 15, and 20 Acre TRACKS Available.” It drove me NUTS every time I saw it until it was finally taken down!
locoboilerguy over 6 years ago
English teachers I have encountered do not have the depth of education necessary to be in the above booth.
Diat60 over 6 years ago
My pet peeve is the word “ahold”, especially when used by well-known authors. Is it too hard to put a space in?
Rev Phnk Ey over 6 years ago
My favorite is “And/or”. OK, what is it, “and”, or “or”, or both?
chuck_sa over 6 years ago
Just for the fun of it – try convincing people that flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. They know they do until they hear them together.
pcmcdonald over 6 years ago
The teacher can affect young one’s lives which will effect their future.
ahoneyman47 over 6 years ago
When I was a teacher, I used to explain the less vs. fewer thing by saying that you got less mashed potatoes and fewer peas. Less is for a single thing subdivided and fewer is for discreet things bundled together. My big problem is the use of myself or yourself. I tell people just take out the “self” and ask yourself, (properly used here), if you would say “Myself will go to the store.” That’s ridiculous, so “John and myself will go to the store” is also ridiculous.
cmxx over 6 years ago
Discrete things.
kodj kodjin over 6 years ago
My mother majored in English and taught grammar school for 20 years so I grew up hearing only correct grammar and it make it very easy for me in school. I used to wonder why so many of my friends were struggling with English class. I now realize the reason for it.
johnec over 6 years ago
You could make quite an impact with this job!
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
English we use is a cobbled together Frankenstein creation of words mismatched some from Latin, others Greek, Japanese, Sanskrit, et al. And with spelling similarities that are at variance from the particular word’s history aren’t readily apparent.
MyTBaron Premium Member over 6 years ago
Wiley set off a grammar nip bomb and he just doesn’t care! Now all the grammarians are irresistibly attracted to this location to roll around in their peeves!
1JennyJenkins over 6 years ago
Learn the difference between “nauseous” and “nauseating”…
SpacedInvader Premium Member over 6 years ago
How about correct pronunciation as well? As in the word “ask”.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member over 6 years ago
Grammar Police: “To Correct and Serve.”
Bookworm over 6 years ago
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” Mark Twain.
pcolli over 6 years ago
To add to the debate…. “enjoy” originally meant to give joy to rather than to get joy from.
Nuclear Nemesis over 6 years ago
I was annoyed recently when the instructions said to enter the “15 digit code” marked on the item, when 8 of the characters in the code were letters, not digits. Yeah, I get anal at times. I also searched thoroughly to make sure there wasn’t a code hidden somewhere on the item that was just digits.
Satchel,Koko,LDL,Kenny over 6 years ago
What fun this all was.
bsox over 6 years ago
How about proper usage of the work “like”.
Fan o’ Lio. over 6 years ago
I recently saw a sign outside of a new shop which read “Now excepting applications”.
Some people order “Ice tea” rather than “Iced tea”
And then some want “Mash potatoes”.
My personal favorite is "I have an idea which is “Kinda unique.”
Which is like saying Lenin is “Kinda dead”.
rrhhooddaa over 6 years ago
then there’s signage. kill!
RonBerg13 Premium Member over 6 years ago
Ah, excellent. A passel of grammarians.
Can any of you yahoos please tell me what the difference is between “Fat chance” and “Slim chance” ?
billdaviswords over 6 years ago
How about “Learn the difference between bogus made-up grammar rules and how English really works”?
Honorable Mention In The Banjo Toss Premium Member over 6 years ago
When a newscaster says “There are additional troops on the ground,” what does “on the ground” mean. Is it to differentiate those troops from the ones who are up on ladders, or are, perhaps, enjoying some hang-gliding?"
Thehag over 6 years ago
Saw a car today gaily painted with big letters “Tutoring Rocks” I know what they meant but dang couldn’t help laugh at how difficult it must be to get rocks prove they learned anything. I also wondered if they were slyly commenting on the intellectual capacity of their clients. Just think it’s not a well thought out name for the company.
plsmiley.smiley over 6 years ago
I couldn’t believe it when I went to college, and the student building had a huge banner over the door saying, “you got mail!”. Really?