Annoying spelling, galling grammar, irksome words, frustrating phrases

[M. Robert Gibson]

I mean, it really annoys me that, suddenly, every talk show guest starts every answer to every question, "I mean..."

Or when someone is asked to explain something and begins the explanation with "So..."

 

[Swank]

Or when someone is asked to explain something and begins the explanation with "So..."

And yet "Make it so" brings joy to so many.

 

[Astro Pen]

'Go' in recounted conversations.

So I go, "Fact: You and Sandra was seen in town together."
So he goes, "We just bumped into each other, honest, there's nothing to it."
So I go, "Fact you was seen holding hands, you're a liar."

(and if you want any more you'll have to wait for the book )

 

[tinkerdan]

'Go' in recounted conversations.

So I go, "Fact: You and Sandra was seen in town together."
So he goes, "We just bumped into each other, honest, there's nothing to it."
So I go, "Fact you was seen holding hands, you're a liar."

(and if you want any more you'll have to wait for the book )

Call me crazy but I see more of a problem with 'was seen'.
You and Sandra--the you being second person would read you were seen. Although it works if it is I was seen and Sandra was seen the you and Sandra begs to be You and Sandra were seen.
And in the second one is even more so in need of being You were seen.
But that's just my own crazy grammar book and the 'So I go' would be noticed less or unnoticed in these as I stumble over the rest.
Again that's just me because there seem to be a lot of weirdness when it comes to was in a lot of everyday speech that has become acceptable.

Such as I have seen the "I was sat" --which should be I was sitting unless you did something bad and someone sat you in the corner; however after being there for a while it would become I was sitting.

Or you arrived to a party you were invited to that has specified seating and as you arrived--'I was sat at the table with all the children.' But after that you would say, "I was sitting listening to all the childish prater.'

 

[Astro Pen]

Call me crazy but I see more of a problem with 'was seen'.
You and Sandra--the you being second person would read you were seen. Although it works if it is I was seen and Sandra was seen the you and Sandra begs to be You and Sandra were seen.
And in the second one is even more so in need of being You were seen.
But that's just my own crazy grammar book and the 'So I go' would be noticed less or unnoticed in these as I stumble over the rest.
Again that's just me because there seem to be a lot of weirdness when it comes to was in a lot of everyday speech that has become acceptable.

Such as I have seen the "I was sat" --which should be I was sitting unless you did something bad and someone sat you in the corner; however after being there for a while it would become I was sitting.

Or you arrived to a party you were invited to that has specified seating and as you arrived--'I was sat at the table with all the children.' But after that you would say, "I was sitting listening to all the childish prater.'

Yes, by intent it contained several crimes in one, but is fairly typical of speech on the housing estate (US = project) where I grew up.

 

[farntfar]

But worse than that most often it's a mixture of the two and the story goes

so he goes.......
and I goes.......
and he goes........

It doesn't seem to matter that it's all in the past and it should really be
so he goed .....
and I goed......

 

[Swank]

"So he goes 'Shut up!' with his fist and stuff."

Alternative offered by the learned to youth:

"My antagonist then spoke, and I will capture that moment with the following portrayal of their affect, tone and body language: 'Shut up!'"

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

So here we are, a week later, and no one has brought up the monstrosities:
"there" "their" and "they're"
but maybe there was no need to

A mention should also be made of:
"your" and "you're"
I wonder if we could make it worse and bring in "yore", as in "in days of your" or "yore wrong"

There a few other incorrect uses I see alot a lot
"lead" for "led" and the related "mislead" for "misled"

"loose" for "lose" has already been mentioned

and there's this one that at first I put down to typos, but I'm seeing it more and more
"another thing coming"
which I assume is a corruption of "if he thinks that, then he's got another think coming"

A quick search brings up a few articles on the subject:

Having a Think About 'Another Think/Thing Coming'

'Thing' wins the popularity contest.

www.merriam-webster.com

"another think coming" vs. "another thing coming"

Learn the correct form of these similar-sounding phrases, and how to use it.

www.vocabulary.com

so maybe it's a transatlantic thing

 

[farntfar]

If he thinks he isn't going bald, he's got another thin combing.

 

[Alex The G and T]

I keep this one handy. People laugh while I'm telling them that they're idiots.

 

[Ursa major]

I wonder if we could make it worse and bring in "yore", as in "in days of your" or "yore wrong"

Not to mention yaw, to put an extra twist in their they're there.

 

[JunkMonkey]

The word 'mindful' just makes me want to punch people.

 

[Swank]

The word 'mindful' just makes me want to punch people.

Is that your real lived experience?

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Another one I forgot to mention just now
"then" for "than" and "than" for "then"

There was a meme for that on one of the humour threads recently, but I can't find it now

 

[dask]

I’ve always known it as “another thing coming.” Didn’t make much sense but sounded right. “Another think coming” seems more in tune but sounds funny. In my endless struggle to keep up with modern idioms, must be a think thing.

 

[Wayne Mack]

Another one I forgot to mention just now
"then" for "than" and "than" for "then"

There was a meme for that on one of the humour threads recently, but I can't find it now

As in, "I'd rather have cookies then pie?"

 

[dask]

They’re probably perfectly acceptable but two phrases that have always annoyed me are “back in the day” and “going forward.” I also do not like having “a lot on my plate” or your plate or anyone else’s plate.

 

[Extollager]

Perhaps already mentioned:

X was "based off" Y, e.g. Shakespeare's Hamlet was based off Thomas Kyd's play.

 

[Alex The G and T]

 

[Matteo]

Another vote for going forward.

And I when I hear like or you know I cringe.

Lastly, actually there are probably more, less instead of fewer. I know it has become acceptable but not by me. What's interesting is the majority of my colleagues use English as a second, sometimes third, language and  they get it right...