Grammar that makes you cringe

[Cudzoziemiec]

This one isn't strictly grammar either, but it's something that comes up from time to time in various threads: masculine and feminine equivalents of nouns. Perhaps we need a Vocabulary That Makes You Cringe thread? Except, of course, it doesn't really make me cringe, it's just post-worthy (YMMV*). Then again, as it involves gender of nouns and diacritics, I guess it is grammar. What's the female equivalent of compere? Errmm...  Ok, what's the female equivalent of compère? Oh! Would anyone use it now? Not that 'now' matters, as this author was reporting a conversation from 1946. Curiously, the OED marks them both as "British". But then, it is quite British to give things French names! The same author goes on to use couturière, directrice – but those two are referring to people in France (the commère was in Sheffield) – and sangues melées, extrême-orient and even esquimaux, so I guess he just likes French spellings! Oh, and editress.

*Edit: not only might but should!

[hellymedic]

It was noticeable that we had 'clerkess' when I worked in Glasgow.
The term 'actress' is used in England but AIUI many women who act describe themselves as actors...

[tiermat]

One that is really really starting to get on my thrupenny bits.

You receive an email.

It starts with:

Hope you are well?

Since when did just sticking a question mark on the end of statement make it a question?

[clarion]

One that is really really starting to get on my thrupenny bits.

You receive an email.

It starts with:

Hope you are well?

Since when did just sticking a question mark on the end of statement make it a question?

I wonder when that happened?

[red marley]

When valley girl uptalk was first committed to paper? If that makes sense?

[T42]

When the US discovered Oz?

[meddyg]

I was just going to whine about 'curated' everybody's 'curating' radio shows these days, however forumites seem to have espoused this monstrosity...

So I'll just rant about the verbal noun (again!*)

Whatsisname, Gary Imlach just naughtily said that 'three Frenchmen podiumed last week.
I wept.  Y'know back in Olympic year with athletes who medalled and spoilt my summer

I was alone at home with no one to console me; I'm feeling better as time passes, but I can't watch the repeat at 7pm.


* https://drastrov.wordpress.com

[Mr Larrington]

I think this whole curating nonse started with Famous Types being brought in to decide the line-up of All Tomorrow's Parties, and should have been left there.

[meddyg]

I'm glad my fellow format fossils and grammar luddites hate 'gifted' (it's already the sodding past participle !)

My in laws were working in Texas; at the end of their stay a newspaper clipping the were sent related that
'they were farewelled at the airport and gifted a rose bowl.'       

I suggested the Yankee Grammarians should get with the beat and  just 'rosebowl' folk.
'They were airported and rosebowled.'
- Why, in the UK we could 'goldclock' our (ahem!) retirees.

[citoyen]

- Why, in the UK we could 'goldclock' our (ahem!) retirees.

Doubleplusgood

Talking of 'since when', when did we start forming agent nouns by sticking 'ee' on the end? Attendee seems to have gained a foothold, and I've seen retiree a few times but they still grate.

[Ian H]

- Why, in the UK we could 'goldclock' our (ahem!) retirees.

Doubleplusgood

Talking of 'since when', when did we start forming agent nouns by sticking 'ee' on the end? Attendee seems to have gained a foothold, and I've seen retiree a few times but they still grate.

In the Southwest, 'er' and 'ee' have entirely different meanings.

[Wowbagger]

- Why, in the UK we could 'goldclock' our (ahem!) retirees.

Doubleplusgood

Talking of 'since when', when did we start forming agent nouns by sticking 'ee' on the end? Attendee seems to have gained a foothold, and I've seen retiree a few times but they still grate.

Shouldn't that be "they're still grate"?

Grate, as part of the verb "to dun-grate".

I dun grate
You dun grate
The boy Lineker¹ dun grate

etc.

1. I feel that this rather dates the use of the verb to dun-grate.

[Cudzoziemiec]

- Why, in the UK we could 'goldclock' our (ahem!) retirees.

Doubleplusgood

Talking of 'since when', when did we start forming agent nouns by sticking 'ee' on the end? Attendee seems to have gained a foothold, and I've seen retiree a few times but they still grate.

In the Southwest, 'er' and 'ee' have entirely different meanings.

As in "Er's a boy, ee be." 

[Cudzoziemiec]

- Why, in the UK we could 'goldclock' our (ahem!) retirees.

Doubleplusgood

Talking of 'since when', when did we start forming agent nouns by sticking 'ee' on the end? Attendee seems to have gained a foothold, and I've seen retiree a few times but they still grate.

Perhaps it comes from certain cases which could be seen as both agent and object. For instance, back when I was working in the outer reaches of Hollywood, a company big wig came to waste our time by telling us how well other parts of the business were doing. He was particularly keen on a new venture making 'standees'. These are the cardboard cut outs used in cinema lobbies to advertise new films. Clearly, they stand but they are also made to stand. Similarly, a retiree has retired but has also been retired. Perhaps a 'retirer' could be someone in charge of retirement policy!

[T42]

Pickpocketing.

[Nuncio]

The boy Lineker¹ dun grate

etc.

1. I feel that this rather dates the use of the verb to dun-grate.

I can't read that without doing a Mick Channon impression. Was he particularly associated with that usage or is it just me?

[Guy]

"Tennis 2Day"

GAAAAH!

[citoyen]

I can't read that without doing a Mick Channon impression. Was he particularly associated with that usage or is it just me?

It's not just you.

I suspect he coined both the verb to dun-grate and the sobriquet 'the boy Lineker'.

[Wowbagger]

I always associated the verb to dun-grate and the expression "the boy Lineker" with the thoroughly objectionable Ron Atkinson. I suspect that there are more culprits than just the one.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Already, there are warning signs of a slowdown, similar to those that front-ran the 1929 crash – depressed commodity prices and a virtual hiatus in global trade growth.

Preceded? Were harbingers of? Foretold? Foreran, even? But actually, front-ran does create a nice picture of running at the front of a great wave while unaware of its existence.

[T42]

Presaged? Foreshadowed?

[hellymedic]

 This is an automated message by PayPal Security Department

Starting from July, 2015. PayPal introduce 3D Secure verification to prevent our account holders from fraud by unauthorised user.
Please note that accounts that are not restore for this new security method will be permanently remove.

To avoid service interruption you are advised to login into your account by the activation link below and complete all the require field to restore your account.
Account activation
Yours sincerely,
PayPal

[T42]

Yup.  Anyone who spells login as one word must be a crook.

[Pickled Onion]

Yup.  Anyone who spells login as one word must be a crook.

Marginally better than logon, which always looks to me like it should be pronounced like Logan, as in Logan's Run.

[red marley]

Actually, Helly, with emails like that I appreciate the lousy grammar as it makes spam even easier to spot. That one makes me laugh more than cringe.

I can't remember whether it was here or elsewhere, but I've read that the poor grammar in some phishing spam is deliberate as it filters out those who might be more sceptical about the content.