Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe (Read 856720 times)

Wowbagger · « **Reply #3925 on:** 27 November, 2015, 03:33:12 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 27 November, 2015, 01:21:18 pm

So we're no longer making nice distinctions in our choice of adjectives.

Kids at school are now taught not to use nice, cos it's overused. They're also told to use 'wow words'. Both would seem likely to increase the popularity of legendary etc.

When I was at primary school over 50 years ago we were taught not to use "nice". When I was in primary teaching, the dep. head. and I used to have a standing joke when we approved of something (eg a weekend away or a big piss-up). "I liked it. It was good."

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3926 on:** 27 November, 2015, 05:01:00 pm »

Nice and Accurate.

Ian H · « **Reply #3927 on:** 27 November, 2015, 05:03:38 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 27 November, 2015, 05:01:00 pm

Nice and Accurate.

Nice redundancy.

Bledlow · « **Reply #3928 on:** 27 November, 2015, 11:41:09 pm »

Thank Agnes.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3929 on:** 30 November, 2015, 11:04:45 am »

I've just seen a headline 'Food waste stunts target retailers'. It's not unclear really but I'm afraid my blossom did initially crash.

Guy · « **Reply #3930 on:** 30 November, 2015, 12:43:03 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 27 November, 2015, 05:01:00 pm

Nice and Accurate.

You've been reading 'Good Omens' haven't you.

Guy · « **Reply #3931 on:** 30 November, 2015, 02:54:20 pm »

Thread title over on the CTC forum

Quote

sealskinz waterproof socks: does anyone tried it?

See also numerous references to "peddle" and "curb" wrt pedals and kerbs

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3932 on:** 30 November, 2015, 04:52:48 pm »

Quote from: Guy on 30 November, 2015, 12:43:03 pm

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 27 November, 2015, 05:01:00 pm
Nice and Accurate.

You've been reading 'Good Omens' haven't you.

Listened to the wireless adaption again while on me holibobs...

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3933 on:** 03 December, 2015, 08:30:22 am »

People who use the word "horrorshow" to denote a Bad Thing. Yes you, Lord Coe! Didn't read A Clockwork Orange at your grubby little secondary modern, I suppose.

Tim Hall · « **Reply #3934 on:** 03 December, 2015, 09:20:00 am »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 03 December, 2015, 08:30:22 am

People who use the word "horrorshow" to denote a Bad Thing. Yes you, Lord Coe! Didn't read A Clockwork Orange at your grubby little secondary modern, I suppose.

Perhaps you could tolchock him around the gulliver, pour encourager les autres.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3935 on:** 03 December, 2015, 10:00:04 am »

O yes, my droogies, and viddy the red red krovvy flow.

Bledlow · « **Reply #3936 on:** 03 December, 2015, 12:01:25 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 03 December, 2015, 08:30:22 am

People who use the word "horrorshow" to denote a Bad Thing. Yes you, Lord Coe! Didn't read A Clockwork Orange at your grubby little secondary modern, I suppose.

Xорошо!

Stupid thing is that he's the right age to have seen the film when it came out.

tiermat · « **Reply #3937 on:** 03 December, 2015, 12:27:18 pm »

Reviewing CVs, today, I came across this:

Quote

I am task and goal oriented even with sports and hobbies as it make me try harder. I find my enthusiasm to be infectious as everyone tries harder as well.

T42 · « **Reply #3938 on:** 03 December, 2015, 02:00:53 pm »

^^^ Once had one that went

Languages:
-read: French, German, English
-spoken: French, German, German.

Guy · « **Reply #3939 on:** 03 December, 2015, 02:31:49 pm »

An email we received a while back

Quote

I am interested in joining the intelligence corps but would like to know more before i go any further is there any oppurtunties to meet someone who is in the int corp's to find out more about the role and future prospects i.e job's after the army is there any upcoming career exhibitions or open days

Ham · « **Reply #3940 on:** 03 December, 2015, 02:35:05 pm »

Quote from: T42 on 03 December, 2015, 02:00:53 pm

^^^ Once had one that went

Languages:
-read: French, German, English
-spoken: French, German, German.

That's double deutch

Bledlow · « **Reply #3941 on:** 06 December, 2015, 12:10:12 am »

"Free reign" for "free rein". Doesn't anyone know the difference any more between a horse being given its head, & some unexplained notion relating to a monarch?

OK, could be spelling - but it still annoys me.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3942 on:** 06 December, 2015, 06:51:06 am »

Free rain is what they're having in Cumbria at the moment.

DDCyclist · « **Reply #3943 on:** 06 December, 2015, 09:00:13 am »

While in Indonesia I noticed that Chinese people, when describing things in English, often said things like "it's the colour green" or "it's red in colour."

I don't need to be told red, green or whatever is a colour. I never noticed you saying something was "square/round/triangular in shape." Why do you feel the need to tell me you're talking about a colour when you have given me the name of a colour and that name can't be confused with anything other than a colour? If you don't tell me you're talking about a colour I'm not likely to think you mean "it's purple in taste" am I?

Possibly it's something that comes from Chinese words or language. I don't know. If that's the case I have to live with it. I do know that, for me, it's cringe-worthy.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3944 on:** 06 December, 2015, 09:17:17 am »

Wouldn't it be "it's chickeny in taste"?

Taxi!

eck · « **Reply #3945 on:** 06 December, 2015, 09:24:36 am »

Similarly, why do some warehouses etc, have big notices proclaiming, for instance "Door No 2".
It's a door. 2 is a number,

DDCyclist · « **Reply #3946 on:** 06 December, 2015, 09:31:01 am »

Warehouse staff like very clear labelling and no chance they might get confused when they're in a hurry.

Marco Stefano · « **Reply #3947 on:** 06 December, 2015, 04:49:40 pm »

Following an audit at work, apparently there are 'some documents out of sink...'.

At least they will be dry.

mattc · « **Reply #3948 on:** 06 December, 2015, 06:14:22 pm »

Quote from: DDCyclist on 06 December, 2015, 09:00:13 am

While in Indonesia I noticed that Chinese people, when describing things in English, often said things like "it's the colour green" or "it's red in colour."

I don't need to be told red, green or whatever is a colour. I never noticed you saying something was "square/round/triangular in shape." Why do you feel the need to tell me you're talking about a colour when you have given me the name of a colour and that name can't be confused with anything other than a colour? If you don't tell me you're talking about a colour I'm not likely to think you mean "it's purple in taste" am I?

Possibly it's something that comes from Chinese words or language. I don't know. If that's the case I have to live with it. I do know that, for me, it's cringe-worthy.

Thats a long-standing english usage. possibly fallen out of fashion in casual usage recently (due to nd 4 brvty?), but still around
e.g. in R4/BBC4 doccos.

You cant blame the Chinese for that one!

DDCyclist · « **Reply #3949 on:** 06 December, 2015, 07:11:40 pm »

I'd never heard it until I came across it in Indonesia in the Chinese community. Perhaps they'd been listening to the BBC World Service. Nevertheless I do blame them. Who they blame is their problem.