Almost OFF TOPIC -craft show vent for the grammar police

But pop-culture could be blamed for that one. A popular character on a UK soap used call it a muriel for years (Hilda on Corrie). Someone raised during that era could think it's correct.

Tara

That's perfect - I'll have to remember to use that next time!

Of course he's so intelligent he probably won't get it.... He makes me want to put my poster back up in my cube that reads: "I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person"

:P MelissaD

Oh no, it was always such a well known joke - and is still! NO-one could serously think it correct! Not unless they were as thick as two short planks! Mind you, this newsreader, although well spoken, may well have been! I`m only surprised that they didn`t re-record it - I`ve seen it done before with other early morning errors.

Pat P

Pat P

Have you accepted 'prioritize'?

Bet you also love 'loan' and 'lend' usage. I notice one particular qvc host always refers to it as a 'singular' purchase as opposed to the auto-delivery option.

DH and I count the "I mean, ya know"s during tv interviews.

It was a shock to hear a recent interview of a pre-teen who could utter complete sentences without "like". There's hope.

Maybe it's subtle mind-programming to support a secret bring back Hilda campaign?

Tara

Could be ;-)) - I used to like Hilda, but never wanted to emulate her! I love her "Auntie Wainright" character in "Last of the Summer Wine" though.

Pat P

"MelissaD" wrote

Could you moot, er, mute, your manager?? And can I slap the next person who says something like "that begs the question of what the municipality intends to do.....?" Begging the question is not asking for an answer, it is a logical fallacy which happens one of the premises of the argument contains the very thing that the argument says it proves. Dawne

Once he/she GETS to be a teen, most likely every other word will be "like". Just as so many of our white teens now seem to speak with a West Indian accent!

Pat P

"val189" wrote

I am desperate enough to accept either loan or lend instead of "she borrowed me $10 for bingo", which crops up in conversation in this area of the world. Dawne

There are many things that aggravate me, but one of them is the common use of double negatives. "He ain't never going to do something" . I hear that a lot down here; I don't think it is a southern thing, just an appalling misuse of the English language. The late-lamented MIL always put my teeth on edge when she used "don't" instead of does not, or doesn't. "It don't seem right".

Gillian

Ya mean, "He aint' never gonna do NU-thin". Never pass up an op for a triple negative. Although, sometimes, for emphasis, there ain't nuthin like them usages and I am wont to indulge.

How about "W'ant no way" for "There wasn't any way..."

Or "Betcha wisht ya wudda went". A German born friend is struggling with this in his area of employment.

And what's with 'drug' for 'dragged' in certain parts of the USA?

Take note of how often you'll hear on tv "There's three left" instead of "There're...". Easier to wrap the tongue around the first choice, I admit. : ))

Wait, wait - there's hope!! The following article regarding the current revival of grammar was in yesterday's paper!

"You know the language-maven type: the one with a sharp pencil in her bun who gasps in horror at misspelled words and corrects the grammar of strangers."

Must be you, Darla, because I don't have a pencil in my bun. :)

Don't forget "usedta could".

Ok, I can't help it... Few things *irritate* me like the misuse of the word *aggravate.* :-) Irritate = annoy, aggravate = to worsen a condition.

Lisa

Welllll; you are probably correct. However I did find this when I googled.

1. To make worse or more troublesome.
2. To rouse to exasperation or anger; provoke

Maybe the second definition is applicable. Actually, those who know of the saga of the late MIL knew that everything she did annoyed me, so her poor grammar aggravated the condition!!

LOL

Nothing like a Brit having her grammar corrected by a Colonial! ( My brother's term, not mine!)Running, ducking and hiding!

Welcome back, anyway, Lisa!!

Gillian

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary has some interesting comments regarding the use of the word in published prose vs. use in common speech and casual writing at

What is it with the Brits calling us the colonies, anyway? That is SOOOO over! It's not like we call England "Mommy"! :-) Or since it's the "Old World," maybe it would be "Granny?"

Lisa ps: It's good to be back! I need something else with which to fritter away my time - I've got too much spare time....(NOT!! :-))