Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe (Read 856910 times)

hellymedic · « **Reply #3350 on:** 29 November, 2014, 12:15:35 pm »

The use of hanging and hanged could be improved.

I didn't know whether the unfortunate was dangling from his fingertips or had made a noose.

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/11633987.Man_found_hanging_from_balcony/?ref=eb

Wobbly John · « **Reply #3351 on:** 02 December, 2014, 10:07:35 pm »

An exam board leaflet on the staff-room noticeboard, at work (a school), contained grammar that made someone cringe:

Steph · « **Reply #3352 on:** 05 December, 2014, 08:03:34 pm »

Today's Grauniad has Putin's speech receiving a mooted reception.

T42 · « **Reply #3353 on:** 05 December, 2014, 09:08:07 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 18 November, 2014, 11:38:57 pm

From the dining hall, Blenheim School, Southend.

Our dogs were castrated on Wednesday. Though not in a dining hall.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #3354 on:** 06 December, 2014, 09:17:44 am »

"I could care less"

It's cropped up in two books I have been reading recently and for some reason it particularly annoys me. It just doesn't make sense. I have no idea why our American cousins insist on using it.

andyoxon · « **Reply #3355 on:** 06 December, 2014, 10:07:03 am »

Is 'It tastes wonderful' grammatically correct? It seems to irritate a tad, as I prefer 'it has a wonderful taste'.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #3356 on:** 06 December, 2014, 10:12:16 am »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 06 December, 2014, 09:17:44 am

"I could care less"

It's cropped up in two books I have been reading recently and for some reason it particularly annoys me. It just doesn't make sense. I have no idea why our American cousins insist on using it.

Because logical links between speech and intent are not relevant to them? Refer Presidential promises.

mattc · « **Reply #3357 on:** 06 December, 2014, 10:20:43 am »

Quote from: andyoxon on 06 December, 2014, 10:07:03 am

Is 'It tastes wonderful' grammatically correct? It seems to irritate a tad, as I prefer 'it has a wonderful taste'.

I think this is a lost battle, because there are too many acceptable grey areas.
I saw a nice T-shirt slogan yesterday, something like:

It's nice to do well in life,

but it's even better to do good.

Steph · « **Reply #3358 on:** 07 December, 2014, 11:19:58 am »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 06 December, 2014, 09:17:44 am

"I could care less"

It's cropped up in two books I have been reading recently and for some reason it particularly annoys me. It just doesn't make sense. I have no idea why our American cousins insist on using it.

I have had this discussion online with a number of USAnians. The most common response is a suggestion that I learn to spell properly/find dog/etc, but the usual sensible explanation is that it originated in its use as a sarcastic question: "I could care less?", with the unspoken rider "I don't think I could".

Unfortunately, it has lost that edge and is now just utter nonsense in its normal use.

JonJo · « **Reply #3359 on:** 07 December, 2014, 05:00:53 pm »

Sign on the Christmas biscuits in Tesco, 'Ideal for gifting'. Grrrrrrrrr.

T42 · « **Reply #3360 on:** 07 December, 2014, 05:12:58 pm »

Quote from: andyoxon on 06 December, 2014, 10:07:03 am

Is 'It tastes wonderful' grammatically correct? It seems to irritate a tad, as I prefer 'it has a wonderful taste'.

Nothing wrong with in. "It tastes of soap" is legitimate, so why not wonderful?

"Smell" works the same way, so do "sound", "look" and "feel".

Kim · « **Reply #3361 on:** 07 December, 2014, 08:08:33 pm »

Quote from: Steph on 07 December, 2014, 11:19:58 am

Quote from: pcolbeck on 06 December, 2014, 09:17:44 am
"I could care less"

It's cropped up in two books I have been reading recently and for some reason it particularly annoys me. It just doesn't make sense. I have no idea why our American cousins insist on using it.

I have had this discussion online with a number of USAnians. The most common response is a suggestion that I learn to spell properly/find dog/etc, but the usual sensible explanation is that it originated in its use as a sarcastic question: "I could care less?", with the unspoken rider "I don't think I could".

Unfortunately, it has lost that edge and is now just utter nonsense in its normal use.

That makes sense up to the point where Americans are using sarcasm...

Bledlow · « **Reply #3362 on:** 07 December, 2014, 08:49:24 pm »

Quote from: Steph on 07 December, 2014, 11:19:58 am

Quote from: pcolbeck on 06 December, 2014, 09:17:44 am
"I could care less"

It's cropped up in two books I have been reading recently and for some reason it particularly annoys me. It just doesn't make sense. I have no idea why our American cousins insist on using it.

I have had this discussion online with a number of USAnians. The most common response is a suggestion that I learn to spell properly/find dog/etc, but the usual sensible explanation is that it originated in its use as a sarcastic question: "I could care less?", with the unspoken rider "I don't think I could".

Unfortunately, it has lost that edge and is now just utter nonsense in its normal use.

Dammit! I hate it when someone beats me to an answer!

Exactly my understanding. I have a mental image of some USian (probably a Jewish New Yorker) in an old film saying it in the manner you describe, with some stress on the "I". The intonation fits the pattern of Yiddish-derived sarcastic & self-deprecatory phrases in US (& especially NY Jewish) speech, though apparently there's no suggestion by anyone who's researched it that it's of Yiddish origin.

Torslanda · « **Reply #3363 on:** 07 December, 2014, 11:38:21 pm »

Have we covered 'spin', 'spun' & 'span'?

A top can be made to spin, it may be said to have spun but the one that makes me heave is news readers and commentators saying 'the car span out of control' or 'the ball span off the goalpost' . . .

Span is the distance between the tip of your thumb and little finger when spread or the part of a bridge between its supports.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bledlow · « **Reply #3364 on:** 08 December, 2014, 12:10:06 pm »

Absolutely nothing wrong with span as the past tense of spin. It's a survival of an older form, that has mostly but not completely been replaced by spun, & as is the way with such survivals, is mostly used in a few conventional phrases. It's in my 1978 Concise Oxford.

Personally, I don't hold with this new-fangled 'spun'.

Quote

When Adam dalve, and Eve span, Who was than a gentle~man?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #3365 on:** 08 December, 2014, 12:31:09 pm »

"Span" is perfectly acceptable as the past tense, as Bledlow says.

I was reminded of the annoying Northern (or is it especially Lancashire?) habit of using the word "chill" as an adjective. There's an acquaintance of ours, originally from Oldham, who walks his dog in the park and remarked that it was "a bit on the chill side" this morning.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3366 on:** 08 December, 2014, 01:44:17 pm »

Run - ran - run
Ring - rang - rung
Sing -sang - sung
Spin - ? - spun

'Strong' verbs innit?

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3367 on:** 08 December, 2014, 01:46:08 pm »

NSFW verbs:
rim - ram - rum
quim - quam - cum

T42 · « **Reply #3368 on:** 08 December, 2014, 03:36:54 pm »

Wreak wrought wrought.

I wish the media would get that one wright.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3369 on:** 08 December, 2014, 04:43:46 pm »

wreckless = without broken ship etc
reckless = criminally careless

clarion · « **Reply #3370 on:** 08 December, 2014, 04:47:27 pm »

Glide.

If it's like slide, then it's slid.

If it's like ride, then it's glode.

If it's like bide, it's glided.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3371 on:** 08 December, 2014, 06:44:35 pm »

Quote from: T42 on 08 December, 2014, 03:36:54 pm

Wreak wrought wrought.

I wish the media would get that one wright.

This ^^^^.

Wobbly John · « **Reply #3372 on:** 08 December, 2014, 07:04:40 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 08 December, 2014, 04:47:27 pm

Glide.

If it's like slide, then it's slid.

If it's like ride, then it's glode.

If it's like bide, it's glided.

What if it's like flied?

Blazer · « **Reply #3373 on:** 08 December, 2014, 09:09:28 pm »

I wish I knew what you were all going on about. Any decent books you would recommend to help me out?

Serious question.

Cheers

T42 · « **Reply #3374 on:** 08 December, 2014, 10:02:05 pm »

Good old Mr. Fowler.