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Grammar, Irregardless, Misused Words, Pet Peeves, Usage, writers, writing
I have a question . . . what is the difference between the words “warn” and “forewarn?” If you are “warning” someone of impending peril, aren’t you also “forewarning” him or her?
Since we are on this heady subject, what is up with the term “pre-planning?” Let me use it in a sentence – “The conference pre-planning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.” Are we going to be planning for how we are going to be planning the conference?
I heard this one today on talk radio – “In my personal opinion . . . “ It if isn’t your “personal opinion,” whose would it be? A cousin of this one is – “I myself feel . . .” Glad you cleared up who was doing the “feeling” around here.
“Irregardless” appears on just about every misused word list but it is amazing how often you hear it used. These people must not be reading the blogs I have been reading.
Two of my daughter’s pet peeves are pronouncing the word “often” as “off-ten” with a hard “T” rather than “off-in,” and saying the word “across” with a “T” at the end, which clearly it doesn’t have. The chicken didn’t go “acrosst” the road, did she?
Since I am on a roll, how about – “Alls I’m saying is . . . “ Since when does the “all” need to be “alls?”
So alls I’m saying is in my personal opinion I would like to hear from you irregardless of what you want to forewarn me about.
Seriously, what are your pet peeves in this arena? We could make a killer list.
Your welcome – er, your’re welcome.
Robin Coyle 
I always get a chuckle when some grammar snob spells “grammar” as “grammer.” It reminds me of the phrase, “Open mouth, insert foot.”
I had to reread my post to make sure I didn’t spell it grammer!
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Alls I’m saying is that it sounds like you have a beef with the Southern dialect. Not to worry, many people offen do.
Our English teachers in Texas forty years ago tried to get us to say “off-ten,” with the hard T, which is what our dictionaries back then had as the correct pronunciation. Offen was a Southern dialect.
The other day I was watching “Judge Judy” (a TV staple of mine) and she spent half the time correcting the English of the defendant. It was the most I’ve ever seen her do that. The funniest one was when the defendant “borrowed my friend my car.” Of course, he meant he lent his friend his car. JJ is so funny.
Irregardless (which is one of my favorite words because it infuriates the English purists), my pet peeve is when sports announcers say “Wimbleton” instead of “Wimbledon.” Sports announcers should know how to pronounce the names of famous places, famous sports celebrities, etc.
I think much of this comes from the dialect you talk and where you come from…
Are such things said in Norway?
Yes, here there are many different dialects and everyone laughs at each other!
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hahahah. the funny grammar and language of english. totally makes sense. thanks for posting such article!
I’m keeping a piece of paper on my nightstand so I can write down more of my grammar pet peeves as I think of them. Why is it that they always come to me in the middle of the night?
most good ideas come to you at the middle of the night. Based on research. That’s the time when your subconscious helps you think. So its eally a good idea to keep a pen and paper in your nightstand
I intensely dislike the overuse of exclamation points and question marks. I don’t understand why people say “Valentimes Day” or liberry, these both drive me nuts. Oh, there is never an excuse for a double negative.
I agree with you about the overuse of exclamation points but I have to admit, I am guilty when I get excited. Like now! Also, I have a friend who says both liberry and thurselves. She is well-educated so you would think she would know better. I’ve considered “un-friending” her that reason alone. (Note my restraint in not using an explanation point at the end of that sentence.) Great add to the list of pet peeves. (Again, utmost restraint.)
Here are mine: “completely destroyed.” It either is, or is isn’t. No degree needed! Also, knowing when to use “good” and when to use “well.” The worst offenders: teachers!
I believe I have used “completely destroyed” before but I won’t anymore! You are so right…
Od Dear Lord, I did it again, said “there” instead of “the” like an IDOIT! Ha ha, never blog with a toddler on your lap!
Far to many common words begin with “th” in my opinion – the, there,their, then, that, etc. and they (another “th” word) harbor typos like criminals!
My favorite blog post you’ve written so far! Hahaha ALL my pet peeves! ESPECIALLY when people say “acrosst”… I just don’t get it! It’s like people love pronouncing the letter ‘t’ for no reason, just like people do with “off-ten!” Bahumbug it bothers me!
I can’t wait to see what kind of list everyone comes up with. As you think of them, send them my blog’s way! Thanks Paige!
ha ha ha, I have to reply! I thought words like irregardless, and alls, were a Canadian thing, because I never heard of irregardless before I met him. And he uses alls too. In fact as loseristic (yep, I made up there word just for this comment) as it sounds, I actually met my husband online several years ago. I nearly disregarded him simply because he used “ur” all the time when we wrote to each other. I hated it! I am dyslexic, and can still hardly spell or use proper grammar, but it can hardly stand it. A few days ago, some girl went off on a blog about poor spelling, but she start her post with a paragraph that went like “…wouldn’t never…”
Yikes! Nice post, perhaps I will learn a thing or two, if nothing else, I’ll find I’m not alone in getting upset with the little things!
Love the word “loseristic!” May I use it when describing people who say “alls” as well? Great comment!
Thanks for your grace with me; lately my toddler has been such a “helper.” My husband likes to say this phrase as well, “do you mind borrowing me some…” instead of “can I borrow….” or “can you LEND me…” Drives me mad! ha ha
That would drive me mad too! I don’t believe I’ve heard that one. Toddlers make perfectly horrid “helpers” but who can’t pass up having a toddler in ones’s lap! I miss those days.
And feel free to use loseristic, anytime!
I was thinking about your husband’s use of “borrowing me” and remembered my daughter would say when she was little, “will you remember me to bring my homework to school,” rather than “remind me.” Funny.
I love it. I love the crazy words he uses and feel bad for the times I slip up to correct him, because it changes him, and I like him just the way he is, and all his funny quirks…
That is sweet. He is a lucky guy.
as am I a lucky girl 😉 Cheers Sweetheart!
“At this point in time” is a personal pet peeve phrase of mine.
Ooohhh…mine too!
Though I will openly admit to being guilty of saying the T in Often. Of course, I often slip up and say the L in Salmon too, so it seems to be a trend. 😀