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Pet Peeves
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My native Dutch speaking colleagues often make an error that makes me crazy - substituting when for if.

In Health Sciences class: When you have a limb amputated/become the victim of a terrorist attack/develop cancer. (It's scary!)

When this new piece for your washer doesn't work, you can bring it back.
(Why bother to buy it in the first place??!!)
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tommchone



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 108

PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I left the US to come to China, I was told by the ticket agent in Atlanta that when the plane goes down, I was seated next to the emergency exit
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Insubordination



Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 394
Location: Sydney

PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Haha! That'll instill you with confidence.

I really hate it when teachers say (or spell) proNOUNCiation. I've even heard it on an Interchange CD.

The over-use of 'literally' by the English irks me. I think there's a separate thread on that.

I won't let Australians off the hook. A lot of them, including the Prime Minister, pronounce you've, we've and they've as your've, where've and their've respectively. It drives me nuts.

Other things like carnage and mass exodus annoy me for various reasons.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This new war-speak on international news: 'The news out of (wherever).'

The concept of a war-room has gone too far.
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tommchone



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 108

PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, that one literally drives me up the wall.
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elamericano



Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 65

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

- signifying the possessive using a contraction of "have" without a past participle verb
- "withdrawl"
- apostrophe s for plurals
- "I could care less."
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Dragonlady



Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

deleted

Last edited by Dragonlady on Sun Sep 26, 2010 6:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
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vikeologist



Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 600

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The use of 'got'.

I got to class late because I'd got drunk the night before. I decided to get the attention of the class by using a game that I'd got off the internet, etc.

I'm a writer, and I have a self-imposed rule (in fiction) that I don't (over)use 'got' except in speech, and then mostly by characters that I mean to suggest are uneducated or characterised by poor communication skills.
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johntpartee



Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Growed", "throwed", etc. Who says that? My relatives in the US (deep South, of course). "My, you've growed." "I throwed it away yesterday."
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the USA, today is "National Grammar Day."

"March 4th is National Grammar Day. Though it may not be as popular as Valentine�s Day or St. Patrick�s Day, it�s a time to take stock of how important proper grammar is to people of every profession."

Here are "Eleven Grammar Mistakes to Avoid":

http://theapple.monster.com/benefits/articles/9581-11-grammar-mistakes-to-avoid

Regards,
John
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Chancellor



Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I in the place of me.

Irregardless

Effect in the place of affect (or the other way around).

Towards (I prefer toward)

Insure in the place of ensure.

Chancellor is a simple, 10-letter name: why do people insist on coming up with other names? And who do you (the general "you," not anyone in particular) think you are to presume to shorten it without asking? (That also goes for people shortening other people's names without asking them). I don't know you well enough for such a level of familiarity!

People who are too lazy to pay attention to what they're reading (and it is laziness), e.g. when they read librarian instead of libertarian.

White people speaking ebonics.
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yo Chance,

You be right, bro.

'Gards,

Homie John Very Happy
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jr1965



Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 175

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When people say or write �Just between you and I��
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Chancellor



Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jr1965 wrote:
When people say or write �Just between you and I��
Someone wrote an entire book about that and other errors.

http://www.amazon.com/Between-You-Little-Book-English/dp/1402203314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267728798&sr=8-1
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johntpartee



Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Best book ever about English? The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson.
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