Grammar that makes you cringe

[Deano]

Agreed.  I still struggle with overcast as a noun, from weather forecasters.  I dare say it's been going for years but I still struggle!

I've never heard that. It could be quite a nice description, "they rode into the overcast" or suchlike, but it doesn't sound right.

[jsabine]

Some USAnian SCIENTIST used the word "automatize", which I think means "automate", on a recent episode of "The Infinite Monkey Cage".  I trust he will never be invited to appear on the Home Service again.

That's just a similar (mis-)construction to "burglarize".

I quite like the idea of the verb being "to burglarate."

[T42]

Some USAnian SCIENTIST used the word "automatize", which I think means "automate", on a recent episode of "The Infinite Monkey Cage".  I trust he will never be invited to appear on the Home Service again.

That's just a similar (mis-)construction to "burglarize".

I quite like the idea of the verb being "to burglarate."

And a burglar being a burglarator.

Funny thing is, "burgle" is a back-formation from "burglar", so that "burglarize" is closer to strict English usage.

[billplumtree]

I quite like the idea of the verb being "to burglarate."

Which, for me, conjures up a "Rate my burgling" website, where victims can judge how well-conducted their burglary was.  Did they leave a mess?  Did they miss anything of value?  Leave any fingerprints?  How likely are you to recommend this burglar to friends or family?

[drossall]

And a burglar being a burglarator.

But surely a burglarator would burglaratorize?

[jsabine]

And a burglar being a burglarator.

But surely a burglarator would burglaratorize?

No, I think burglaratorising would be done by a burglaratorisator.

[drossall]

That's burglaratorizing. It's never spelt with an s because it's never spelt at all on this side of the Pond

[T42]

But them'uns over there do spell spelt spelled, wrought wreaked and sought seeked, and make other depressing regularizatications for the benefit of the thick.

[nicknack]

Well nearly.

[Mr Larrington]

Holding up the Captain as a role model for, well, anything sets a dangerous precedent.

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

Radio 2 newsperson just said this afternoon's match at Twickenham "could be a potential decider." He can bugger off. It could be a decider, or it's a potential decider. "Could be a potential decider" is a very irritating level of redundancy.

[L CC]

The stock management software at my new job uses 'less' instead of 'fewer'. The less/fewer never used to bother me, but it is one of Mr Smith's wee foibles that he is finely attuned to the many misuses and now I have to see it in my notifications every working day.
Perhaps I should take this mug to work, instead of the predecessor.

[Kim]

The stock management software at my new job uses 'less' instead of 'fewer'.

Never trust software that wasn't written by pedants.

[Peter]

Agreed.  I still struggle with overcast as a noun, from weather forecasters.  I dare say it's been going for years but I still struggle!

I've never heard that. It could be quite a nice description, "they rode into the overcast" or suchlike, but it doesn't sound right.

Maybe it's a Carol Kirkland special; she uses it all the time, except when it's sunny.

I don't like "evening time" either - cuddly rubbish!

[Pickled Onion]

Weather forecasters seem to be developing their own weather-forecaster-language, it's not as irritating as police-officer-language but it does grate a bit. "Spits and spots" is OK once, but every day, repeatedly, for a week? Dawning is quite a poetic word but "East Anglia will be dawning foggy" - what next, "Scotland will be dusking drizzly"?

[Peter]

I think Scotland is more likely to be misting murkily - which will only matter if you are "out and about" (and in Scotland).

[red marley]

Wasn't sure where to post this - Grammar to make you cringe, fonts to make you cringe, politics to make you cringe, or kerning to make Ian cringe.

[hellymedic]

From my Twitter feed.

[Paul]

Is it that it should say 'In memoriam'? Or just 'Memorial'?

Or is it something else?*

I'm saddened but slightly amused by the idea of a tree being felled by a desk.

Was it in a car park?

(*I thought I was pretty good at grammar (I have been known in several work places as 'Dictionary corner'), but I'm a dilettante by some of the standards here, and I often wonder if I've spotted the real transgression, and not just the obvious one.

Mine field.

(Or is that mined field? Or minefield?))

[hellymedic]

Yes IMO, either a Memorial or In Memoriam.

[Ian H]

Or a simple "In Memory of".

[T42]

Reminds me of Alan Coren's favourite misprint in a funeral notice, something like "...passed away Tues. 14th, mourned by wife Sally and children Arthur, William and Eldine.  A much-loved man by all who knew him. Sadly pissed".

[Jurek]

Shirley 'dressage' is not what the BBC meant to say 

[hellymedic]

Rather apt reuse of a word I thought was an equestrian discipline.

[Ruthie]

It's when horses attempt to make an ad-hoc statement through the medium of interpretive dance.