Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe (Read 856875 times)

T42 · « **Reply #3175 on:** 28 May, 2014, 09:21:01 pm »

^^^should of wrote, surely?

Bledlow · « **Reply #3176 on:** 05 June, 2014, 06:26:16 pm »

A beard described as "grizzled with grey"

In a book I plucked from a library shelf & took out after a too cursory glance. I only managed to read a few pages.

Fiction, publication of which was aided by some fund for the promotion of Welsh (as in from Wales, not in Welsh) writing. Always a bad sign, & I wish I'd spotted it before I got the book home.

clarion · « **Reply #3177 on:** 09 June, 2014, 08:56:14 pm »

From this evening's (low) Standard:

Quote

The MPs include former children's minister Tim Loughton, Labour MP SAimon Danczuk, who wrote a book about the abuse perpetrated by late MP Cyril Smith, Green leader Caroline Lucas and Labour MP Tom Watson

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3178 on:** 11 June, 2014, 06:53:20 pm »

"Banks can now borrow at low rates and on-lend that money."

On-lend?

citoyen · « **Reply #3179 on:** 16 June, 2014, 05:22:54 pm »

Use of the ersatz singular "bicep" irritates me far more than it ought to. But it is wrong none the less, akin to "a pair of trouser".

Clare · « **Reply #3180 on:** 17 June, 2014, 09:14:42 am »

Help me out here...

'You would need the Extended Diploma to achieve the 120 credits required for entry onto the Masters' course'

Master's
Masters'
Masters

or any of the above without the capital. This is relating to an MSc.

fields5069 · « **Reply #3181 on:** 17 June, 2014, 09:37:21 am »

A waiter in a posh pub kept on referring to me as "yourself", I suppose believing that this was more formal and polite, when in fact it was just THICK.

Pickled Onion · « **Reply #3182 on:** 17 June, 2014, 10:43:35 am »

Quote from: Clare on 17 June, 2014, 09:14:42 am

Help me out here...

'You would need the Extended Diploma to achieve the 120 credits required for entry onto the Masters' course'

Master's
Masters'
Masters

or any of the above without the capital. This is relating to an MSc.

Interesting! It's not a course in the subject of mastery, or about Masters or even by a Master - it's a shortening of "master's degree course". So it should be master's course - it's not pluralised even in master's degrees or master's courses. It would be capitalised for a specific degree, e.g., Master of Science, but not in the general case.

A pedant might also not like "onto" (unless it's a maths master's).

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3183 on:** 23 June, 2014, 11:26:50 am »

From Road.cc:
You can use them [Dura-Ace shifters] to shift up through multiple gears, so panicky monster-hill-round-a-blind-bend downshifts are easily accommodated.

I'm sure when I started cycling, shifting up meant to a smaller cog, which was called a higher gear. Nowadays, some people call that shifting down, which is logical because the chain physically moves down to a smaller cog, and you can also mathematically justify calling that a lower ratio. But it's confusing when you don't know which way someone means by "shifting down (or up)". Using both in one sentence is just silly!

clarion · « **Reply #3184 on:** 23 June, 2014, 11:33:45 am »

Grrr! Pet hate is perfectly good and specific technical language being muddied by idiots.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3185 on:** 23 June, 2014, 12:12:33 pm »

See also the "clutch in/out" conundrum...

Ian H · « **Reply #3186 on:** 23 June, 2014, 12:38:08 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 23 June, 2014, 11:26:50 am

From Road.cc:
You can use them [Dura-Ace shifters] to shift up through multiple gears, so panicky monster-hill-round-a-blind-bend downshifts are easily accommodated.

I'm sure when I started cycling, shifting up meant to a smaller cog, which was called a higher gear. Nowadays, some people call that shifting down, which is logical because the chain physically moves down to a smaller cog, and you can also mathematically justify calling that a lower ratio. But it's confusing when you don't know which way someone means by "shifting down (or up)". Using both in one sentence is just silly!

Old cyclists often use up to mean to a larger cog. They'd never use the word 'shift', though.

orienteer · « **Reply #3187 on:** 23 June, 2014, 02:52:25 pm »

Empty units in our local mall have signs in them: "Are you interested in letting this unit?".

Shades of lending and borrowing confusion.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3188 on:** 23 June, 2014, 08:39:03 pm »

There's very little in this thread that actually makes me cringe. More of it makes me laugh, but I really did cringe when I read this letter to a local paper:
I recently went to a Clifton restaurant and the lady manager there told me ...

I'm not sure whether it's the tautology or the attitude it hints that is making me wince. Probably both.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3189 on:** 23 June, 2014, 11:15:23 pm »

Apparently in the Croatia - Mexico foopball match, a Croatian player was "red-carded". The colemantator responsible for this revolting construct wants badly to be pelted with rotting vegetables and then sat upon by Mexico's manager.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3190 on:** 23 June, 2014, 11:46:42 pm »

And if you have witnessed a BRITISH defending men's singles champion playing at Wmbldn, you must be "at least over 80".

I really must stop watching ITV

clarion · « **Reply #3191 on:** 25 June, 2014, 01:52:59 pm »

Not grammar per se, but I've just heard an appalling misuse of the word 'curate'. 'Select' or 'choose' would have been much better.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3192 on:** 28 June, 2014, 02:14:25 pm »

OOh look! A visible solar 'farm'!

Quote

Residents in a Leicestershire village have called for proposed solar farms in the area to be sighted elsewhere.

from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-28062884

Ian H · « **Reply #3193 on:** 28 June, 2014, 05:02:30 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 25 June, 2014, 01:52:59 pm

Not grammar per se, but I've just heard an appalling misuse of the word 'curate'. 'Select' or 'choose' would have been much better.

As in selected, or chosen, egg?

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3194 on:** 30 June, 2014, 06:17:56 pm »

Fifteen minutes into tonight's ITV London news bulletin and we have already learned that the police raid which sparked off the Brixton Riots took place at "7 am in the morning". And that a new bridge across the Thames in east Londonton, while it is "far" overdue, may well "exasperate" existing problems caused by traffic.

Gah!

orienteer · « **Reply #3195 on:** 01 July, 2014, 10:20:47 am »

"Bus passengers will have to walk on foot during Putney Bridge repair works"

Evening Standard website.

What, they are not being forced to walk on their hands?

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3196 on:** 01 July, 2014, 03:33:04 pm »

In similar vein, ITV4's coverage of the BTCC on Sunday:

"[Collard] has his front headlights on"

As opposed to the ones set vertically into the roof, Paul O'Neill, you rank buffoon?

hellymedic · « **Reply #3197 on:** 08 July, 2014, 10:44:39 am »

One of the exhibits at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition has the less/fewer business wrong...

Wowbagger · « **Reply #3198 on:** 08 July, 2014, 11:38:28 am »

Quote from: hellymedic on 08 July, 2014, 10:44:39 am

One of the exhibits at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition has the less/fewer business wrong...

When I was in a school library yesterday I noticed a book by the Pointless Pair. I opened to a random page on which Alexander Armstrong was waffling about the number of complaints he received over the less/fewer debate and that he didn't think it mattered.

I was just reading a Graun piece on the TdF and the commentator, one John Ashdown, used the wrong sort of peddle. He also named a town "Saffron Waldren". Surely these useless twats must do some homework?

hellymedic · « **Reply #3199 on:** 08 July, 2014, 02:46:07 pm »

RA visitor who agreed with my rantette yesterday suggested journalists don't learn Proper English any more. Said artwork was quote from The Media.