Do grammatical errors bother you? - Page 4

HarryT · 10-23-2010, 07:53 AM

Although not a grammatical error, one mistake that always annoys me is to see the expression "whet your appetite" (ie, sharpen it) wrongly written "wet your appetite" (ie dampen it). It makes me wonder if people who write such things ever actually stop and consider the meaning of what they are saying.

kcmay · 10-23-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

What I find curious is the increasing interchangeability between verbs and nouns, and the decline of the adverb.

That's because adverbs are evil.

GeoffC · 10-23-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Although not a grammatical error, one mistake that always annoys me is to see the expression "whet your appetite" (ie, sharpen it) wrongly written "wet your appetite" (ie dampen it). It makes me wonder if people who write such things ever actually stop and consider the meaning of what they are saying.

Only if they are writing verbally?

If they write, are they not penning ....

HarryT · 10-23-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Only if they are writing verbally?

If they write, are they not penning ....

One can say something in writing. It is a figure of speech.

TGS · 10-23-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Although not a grammatical error, one mistake that always annoys me is to see the expression "whet your appetite" (ie, sharpen it) wrongly written "wet your appetite" (ie dampen it). It makes me wonder if people who write such things ever actually stop and consider the meaning of what they are saying.

What I find interesting is when a phrase or figure of speech falls over into becoming an idiom. For you the whetting of an appetite still makes sense because you know what whetting is, so the phrase "whet you appetite" derives part of it's meaning from the meanings of the words that make it up. For others the phrase had become idiomatic - the phrase a whole has a meaning but that meaning has become detached from the "literal" meanings of the words - hence there is no way of knowing that it is whetting and not wetting. The classic example of an idiom becoming completely detached from the meanings of the words that make it up is "kick the bucket" - I know of no convincing explanation as to why this phrase might mean "to die", yet most British English speakers would know this meaning without stopping to think about the literal meanings of the words.

Cpl Punishment · 10-23-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcmay

That's because adverbs are evil.

Irregardless, I like to read em....

Lady Fitzgerald · 10-23-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Actually, that's how I learned it at school, if I remember correctly. I mean "try and" was taught as the correct form. For a while I felt slightly guilty using "try to", but I got used to it as everyone seems to use it that way.

We definitely went to different schools.

Lady Fitzgerald · 10-23-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

The odd thing I skip over, but just occasionally something jars....my pet peeve is the use of meter when it should be metre (English UK writing).

and the others I see frequently, "10 items or less"

In the USA, the correct spelling is meter (but then, we haven't used English in years).

GeoffC · 10-23-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

In the USA, the correct spelling is meter (but then, we haven't used English in years).

patrickt · 10-23-2010, 08:54 AM

Yes, language changes over time. So, for some, that means there is nothing in language that is correct usage. It's rather like the dolts who refer to a lie as someone else's reality. No, it's a lie. "Womyn" is not simply an alternative spelling of "women" as some dictionaries state.

I do try to not be pedantic but I recently read a book in which people "whaled" instead of "wailed". Oh, well, language changes, you know, and perhaps that's just his reality. Maybe I don't know where his head is at.

Lady Fitzgerald · 10-23-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The one that irritates me is the use of the word "gift" as a verb. I don't know why it should do so, but it does. What's wrong with "give"?

The verb form of gift is considered archaic by most English speakers today. Still, 'tis a perfectly good word.

Sine Nomine · 10-23-2010, 09:06 AM

My pet hate is would of/should of/could of instead of would have etc. Of is NOT a verb.

Lady Fitzgerald · 10-23-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sine Nomine

My pet hate is would of/should of/could of instead of would have etc. Of is NOT a verb.

I have an interesting preposition for you...

The misuse of "of" comes from "would've/should've/could've." The word of is pronounced pretty much the same as the contracted form of have.

Stitchawl · 10-23-2010, 09:21 AM

When I'm reading a good book, grammatical, spelling, and usage errors don't bother me a bit. As long as I can understand what the author is trying to say, I'm perfectly content. But...
... If I have to read one... more... story... where the author refers to a revolver having a safety catch that needs to be unlocked before firing I'm going to scream! Revolvers don't have safeties. Semi-autos have safeties. Mystery writers who've written dozens of crime novels really should know this!

Stitchawl

Stitchawl · 10-23-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

The misuse of "of" comes from "would've/should've/could've." The word of is pronounced pretty much the same as the contracted form of have.

That's why I usually write 'shoulda, coulda, and woulda!'

Stitchawl

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10-23-2010, 07:53 AM	#46
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Although not a grammatical error, one mistake that always annoys me is to see the expression "whet your appetite" (ie, sharpen it) wrongly written "wet your appetite" (ie dampen it). It makes me wonder if people who write such things ever actually stop and consider the meaning of what they are saying.

10-23-2010, 08:54 AM	#55
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	Yes, language changes over time. So, for some, that means there is nothing in language that is correct usage. It's rather like the dolts who refer to a lie as someone else's reality. No, it's a lie. "Womyn" is not simply an alternative spelling of "women" as some dictionaries state. I do try to not be pedantic but I recently read a book in which people "whaled" instead of "wailed". Oh, well, language changes, you know, and perhaps that's just his reality. Maybe I don't know where his head is at.

10-23-2010, 09:06 AM	#57
Sine Nomine sine nomine Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: York, U.K. Device: Kindle 3; iPod Touch	My pet hate is would of/should of/could of instead of would have etc. Of is NOT a verb.

10-23-2010, 09:21 AM	#59
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	When I'm reading a good book, grammatical, spelling, and usage errors don't bother me a bit. As long as I can understand what the author is trying to say, I'm perfectly content. But... ... If I have to read one... more... story... where the author refers to a revolver having a safety catch that needs to be unlocked before firing I'm going to scream! Revolvers don't have safeties. Semi-autos have safeties. Mystery writers who've written dozens of crime novels really should know this! Stitchawl

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