Annoying spelling, galling grammar, irksome words, frustrating phrases

[KiraAnn]

Merriam-Webster came up with one of their own:
View attachment 118827

This reminds me of the disagreement between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson whether to use "inalienable" or "unalienable" in the Declaration of Independence.

 

[Extollager]

"Un"-constructions seem to be overused, at least in recent times. "Un-" can be ambiguous. It can refer to a change from an earlier state: "unclothed" generally means that someone was, or presumably was, clothed before, but no longer is. But "un-" can also refer to conditions in which there has been no change: "unsalted" doesn't mean that the butter formerly was salted but the salt has been removed, but that it never did have salt.

Orwell disliked "not un-" expressions. Sometimes they do suggest a shade of meaning, though, so we shouldn't ban them entirely. Barkis is willing; if Peggotty says she is not unwilling, that's not necessarily exactly the same thing as saying Peggotty saying she is willing. It's nice to be able to suggest fairly fine shades of meaning.

 

[cyprus7]

For those brave enough to leave their digital life and go outside, it's now called "touching grass." As in, "I touched grass this weekend."

 

[Ursa major]

Orwell disliked "not un-" expressions.

The examples I can think of use the in- prefix (though there may be ones using un-) but putting "not" in front of such words can be used when deploying litotes**, such as in the one I think John Major used: "not inconsiderable".


** - Litotes: A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite, particularly the negation of a negative quality to say something positive.

 

[Astro Pen]

Not sure about that, it is a subtle thing. I think that "Not unlike" puts one closer to the middle ground than "Like".
"Not inconsiderable", is more of a preemptive refutation of the claim that it might be inconsiderable. 'Considerable' is more open to challenge.

 

[Ursa major]

I did say it was an example of litotes, a rhetorical device (i.e. something intended to persuade the listener/reader).

 

[Ray Zdybrow]

Gotta love this thread... so fun!

 

[Ray Zdybrow]

Or, "You know what I mean, right?" as in "You know what I am saying, right?". Or "You agree with me because you know this, right?". Or some such form of agreeance with the speaker.

Answer: "Yes/No, I do/don't, idiot! so just stop talking!" or "Yes/No, I do/don't, but tell me more!". Or a more precise, "Whatever..."
So fickle is the ocean of human emotions.

I can dig that, y'know wha'm sayin?

 

[THX1138]

@Ray Zdybrow Sure enough, I hear what yu'er say'in just fine!

 

[Steve Harrison]

'Agreeance' is a word that sets my teeth on edge, a feeling that is tempered by the reluctant acceptance that it is a much catchier word than 'agreement' and will probably replace it over time.

I have been using it as a joke, but I guess I was an unwitting carrier. I don't have that excuse now I've outed myself.

 

[Ray Zdybrow]

Nu-school idioms really boil my piss

 

[Ursa major]

Agreeance has, apparently, been around since the 16th century... sadly....

 

[Steve Harrison]

Agreeance has, apparently, been around since the 16th century... sadly....

Interesting. That's a long gestation period!

 

[Alex The G and T]

I have no agreivance with agreeance because I have never heard it used. Who says things like that?

 

[THX1138]

One that gets me is 'It's all good', and they are not talking about a restaurant's menu.
We have heard it used by many of the younger generation, including our youngest's fiancé.


"Hay, can you help me lift this furniture?"
"No, I can't."
"Thanks."
"It's all good."

"How's your friends uncle doing?"
"He might not live, but it's all good."
"How's his aunt taking it?"
"She's not. But it's all good."
"So, how's your friend taking it?"
"It's all good."

What does that mean?

 

[paranoid marvin]

Not sure about that, it is a subtle thing. I think that "Not unlike" puts one closer to the middle ground than "Like".
"Not inconsiderable", is more of a preemptive refutation of the claim that it might be inconsiderable. 'Considerable' is more open to challenge.

I do like these phrases. They do rather appeal to my sense of British understatement.

 

[Ursa major]

Interesting.

I blame the malign influence of Tudor Punk....

 

[HareBrain]

This isn't exactly spelling or grammar but I invite/harangue you all to join my so-far-one-man campaign against this horror, of which (it pains me to say) many of my friends are guilty.

The wrong-way-round apostrophe.

This occurs when an apostrophe, meant to denote missing letters, comes at the start of a word, but the word-processor has assumed it's a quote mark and turned it automatically into a "6".

So instead of

up and at ’em

you get

up and at ‘em

It drives me crazy. An apostrophe isn't the same as a quote mark! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!

 

[Astro Pen]

This isn't exactly spelling or grammar but I invite/harangue you all to join my so-far-one-man campaign against this horror, of which (it pains me to say) many of my friends are guilty.

The wrong-way-round apostrophe.

This occurs when an apostrophe, meant to denote missing letters, comes at the start of a word, but the word-processor has assumed it's a quote mark and turned it automatically into a "6".

So instead of

up and at ’em

you get

up and at ‘em

It drives me crazy. An apostrophe isn't the same as a quote mark! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!

I long ago lost the visual acuity to distinguish them at anything below a 16 font.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

The wrong-way-round apostrophe.

I don't believe I have ever seen one of those—but if I did, I agree that it would be annoying.