Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe (Read 840421 times)

citoyen · « **Reply #1225 on:** 21 December, 2010, 05:20:39 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 21 December, 2010, 05:01:20 pm

There, there...

Where, where?

d.

Andrij · « **Reply #1226 on:** 21 December, 2010, 07:27:14 pm »

Inga: Werewolf!
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Werewolf?
Igor: There.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What?
Igor: There, wolf. There, castle.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Why are you talking that way?
Igor: I thought you wanted to.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, I don't want to.
Igor: [shrugs] Suit yourself. I'm easy.

hellymedic · « **Reply #1227 on:** 05 January, 2011, 02:58:59 pm »

The CTC Style Guide, received today by electronic mail.
That is all.

(To be fair, parts are fine but capitalisation and punctuation in some places leave something to be desired.)

Nightfly · « **Reply #1228 on:** 05 January, 2011, 04:28:34 pm »

innit.

Tourist Tony · « **Reply #1229 on:** 05 January, 2011, 04:30:54 pm »

nicknack · « **Reply #1230 on:** 05 January, 2011, 05:11:19 pm »

An ad on the tele just a minute ago:

"When you've got nasal congestion and a blocked nose..."

Wobbly John · « **Reply #1231 on:** 05 January, 2011, 07:24:53 pm »

Why the hell are people starting to use the phrase to "go on fire" or "went on fire"?

Things can: be on fire; be set on fire; catch light, but it can only go on fire if it travels while already in flames.

Zipperhead · « **Reply #1232 on:** 05 January, 2011, 08:37:21 pm »

I'm only pointing out that it's spelt tautology, because if I don't one of the 'kin yacf pedants will be along to do so.

Andrij · « **Reply #1233 on:** 05 January, 2011, 08:39:33 pm »

Tortology, as one should know, is the study of tortes!

Canardly · « **Reply #1234 on:** 05 January, 2011, 09:57:08 pm »

Mange tout mange tout Rodney.....

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #1235 on:** 05 January, 2011, 10:12:08 pm »

Quote from: Wobbly John on 05 January, 2011, 07:24:53 pm

Why the hell are people starting to use the phrase to "go on fire" or "went on fire"?

Things can: be on fire; be set on fire; catch light, but it can only go on fire if it travels while already in flames.

Lots of things have went on fire in Glasgow. It's an expression which is commonly understood to mean you can't prove we did it so we'll just kid on it happened spontaneously.

Bledlow · « **Reply #1236 on:** 05 January, 2011, 10:16:51 pm »

Quote from: hellymedic on 05 January, 2011, 02:58:59 pm

The CTC Style Guide, received today by electronic mail.
That is all.

(To be fair, parts are fine but capitalisation and punctuation in some places leave something to be desired.)

Oh dear. Perhaps the CTC needs a proofreader. Should I offer my services?

eck · « **Reply #1237 on:** 05 January, 2011, 10:25:41 pm »

Quote from: Bledlow on 05 January, 2011, 10:16:51 pm

Quote from: hellymedic on 05 January, 2011, 02:58:59 pm
The CTC Style Guide, received today by electronic mail.
That is all.

(To be fair, parts are fine but capitalisation and punctuation in some places leave something to be desired.)
Oh dear. Perhaps the CTC needs a proofreader. Should I offer my services?

Many years ago, proofreading was part of a job I had. When you've proofread manuals on how to lay linoleum, in Norwegian, then you've proofread, laddie.
(Is proofread one word or two? Maybe I should get an enquiry underway.

)

Bledlow · « **Reply #1238 on:** 05 January, 2011, 10:32:09 pm »

I've not done that, but some of the IT manuals I've proofread* might as well have been in Norwegian, their comprehensibility was so poor.

*Seems to be the accepted term within the trade.

Ian H · « **Reply #1239 on:** 05 January, 2011, 11:15:29 pm »

It's two words, obviously: proo fread.

hellymedic · « **Reply #1240 on:** 05 January, 2011, 11:19:32 pm »

Quote from: Bledlow on 05 January, 2011, 10:16:51 pm

Quote from: hellymedic on 05 January, 2011, 02:58:59 pm
The CTC Style Guide, received today by electronic mail.
That is all.

(To be fair, parts are fine but capitalisation and punctuation in some places leave something to be desired.)
Oh dear. Perhaps the CTC needs a proofreader. Should I offer my services?

Victoria Hazael, their Publicity Officer is on Maternity Leave so they might need help (if they have the dosh)...

Bledlow · « **Reply #1241 on:** 05 January, 2011, 11:37:44 pm »

Oooh! I'll have to get in touch. I think I know who I'll talk to. I'll offer to do it dirt cheap.

Kim · « **Reply #1242 on:** 06 January, 2011, 12:12:48 am »

Are we allowed to have the use of "wiki" to mean "Wikipedia"? It's a completely different word, dammit, and in some contexts (chiefly those with an associated wiki) can result in confusion or at least a mental backflip while you re-parse.

Also, the similar abuse of "USB" to mean a USB flash drive (or in extreme cases any kind of USB dongle), and "MP3" to mean an MP3 playing device. *twitches*

mattc · « **Reply #1243 on:** 06 January, 2011, 11:37:12 am »

Quote from: Zipperhead on 05 January, 2011, 08:37:21 pm

I'm only pointing out that it's spelt tautology, because if I don't one of the 'kin yacf pedants will be along to do so.

I sense some tension in this post.

Chris L · « **Reply #1244 on:** 06 January, 2011, 01:03:59 pm »

From http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=42446.0, this: "Firstly may I say how sorry I am to hear of the recent incident and that the person involved is now making a full and speedy recovery from their injuries."

Why's that? Because they might feel well enough to sue the living arse off you? Thought so.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1245 on:** 06 January, 2011, 03:17:52 pm »

Quote from: Bledlow on 05 January, 2011, 10:32:09 pm

I've not done that, but some of the IT manuals I've proofread* might as well have been in Norwegian, their comprehensibility was so poor.

*Seems to be the accepted term within the trade.

I often came across this problem when I was translating and proofreading/editing other people's translations. Sometimes the original document was so poorly written that it was impossible to create a decent translation.

mattc · « **Reply #1246 on:** 06 January, 2011, 05:11:59 pm »

Quote from: Chris L on 06 January, 2011, 01:03:59 pm

From http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=42446.0, this: "Firstly may I say how sorry I am to hear of the recent incident and that the person involved is now making a full and speedy recovery from their injuries."

Why's that? Because they might feel well enough to sue the living arse off you? Thought so.

Good spot. How about this one:

Quote from: Wendy on 06 January, 2011, 04:52:14 pm

Retroflectives (aka scotchlite) are also not visible at any distance and any angle.

i wonder if he meant " ... nor any angle." ?

toontra · « **Reply #1247 on:** 10 January, 2011, 09:09:51 am »

Just been reminded of one of my current pet hates on R4 this morning. Scientists, mathematicians and IT people, often campus based, who start sentences, and often whole conversations, with the word "so".

It's as if they are picking up mid-conversation discussing proofs with a colleague, whilst also trying to convince you, in a patronising kind of way, that you have embarked on a level of dialogue of which they are master.

It's just plain irritating when such grammatical absurdities gain widespread use and are thought by the user to signify smartness. Quite the opposite IMO.

Nuncio · « **Reply #1248 on:** 10 January, 2011, 09:27:51 am »

Agreed. I was discussing the 'So' phenomenon only last week. The first time I heard it a couple of years ago it sounded plain weird.

Also, British politicians and Australian cricketers who answer interview questions with 'Look.' It makes them sound impatient, though I guess Australian cricketers may have good reason for being a little tetchy at the moment.

toontra · « **Reply #1249 on:** 10 January, 2011, 09:36:30 am »

Hah, we are on a the same wave length! I hate the "look" prefix almost as much as "so". Blair used it a lot, in a very patronising way. The aussie sportsmen do it in a slightly different way - more of a finger-poking assertive/aggressiveness. Still, when it comes to sport you have to admit they do know what they're talking about

Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe (Read 840421 times)

Nightfly