Craigslist Crimes Against English

[Safari Queen]

Maybe it's because I live in Massachusetts, but I'm in awe of the spelling and grammar errors on Craigslist, not to mention thinking anything not new is "vintage" or "antique". "Draws" instead of "drawers", a "koopla" (cupola), and a "fee weeled" office chair. I'm not even counting there/their, two/to/two, etc. Am I alone here?

 

[DrGaellon]

I do editing for fanfiction authors. You'd be amazed at the nightmares some of these people inflict on unsuspecting readers.

My personal pet peeve is peek/peak/pique. Not to mention discreet/discrete.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

My pet peeve is the constant misuse of "I" as a pronoun when someone else is involved.

She gave the report to Mary and I.

It makes I go out of my mind.

 

[SpectroMan71]

The ones I can't stand the most:

Supposably

Could of
Would of
Should of

!!!! ARGH !!!!!

 

[furb & dez]

These are a major pet peeve for me... I have friends who are teachers and their spelling and grammar are atrocious; I can only imagine what they are inflicting on our next generation.

When confronted about it, they usually say "everyone has problems with this," but usually back off once I point out that homonyms (too/to/two, their/there/they're) are first or second grade topics. Meaning, if you're making these types of mistakes, there are 6 or 7 year old children who have better English skills than you. That's pathetic and sad.

 

[dreweyj]

I can't stand when people use the term, "irregardless." Where did that even come from? At work, I hear it on many occasions!

 

[jjjmranch]

My pet peeve is "brung." I "brung" a salad instead of brought. Ugh!

 

[jiminy.cricket]

I concur with all of the above and there are probably plenty of other pet peeves I could dig up. The one that comes to mind right now is of sentences that are incomplete. I am annoyed when people do not complete sentences or thoughts. A lot of times people will type or say, "If you could...[do something]," or "If I can't get this through,"...

I'm left hanging: Yes? Yes? You did not complete your sentence. "If you could pass me the stapler" is not a sentence. If I could pass you the stapler, then what? Why don't you just ask me to pass you the stapler??

 

[furb & dez]

I concur with all of the above and there are probably plenty of other pet peeves I could dig up. The one that comes to mind right now is of sentences that are incomplete. I am annoyed when people do not complete sentences or thoughts. A lot of times people will type or say, "If you could...[do something]," or "If I can't get this through,"...

I'm left hanging: Yes? Yes? You did not complete your sentence. "If you could pass me the stapler" is not a sentence. If I could pass you the stapler, then what? Why don't you just ask me to pass you the stapler??

This also brings up the people who don't know how to form complete sentences, so their posts are just strings of words with ellipses every six or eight words.

Those are the people I want to (punch in the throat)bless their hearts.

 

[JoShan1719]

I can't stand when people use the term, "irregardless." Where did that even come from? At work, I hear it on many occasions!

Ugh my ex uses that one almost daily. It made me cringe every single time. I know it's in the dictionary, but even that basically says not to use it because it's not a word.

Oy, I could go on about the spelling/grammar mistakes, but I'll just stop here.

 

[wallyb]

Well, aren't you all just - Practically perfect in every way!

 

[furb & dez]

Well, aren't you all just - Practically perfect in every way!

No, but we are smarter and more literate in our native language than schoolchildren. Too bad we don't have much company!

 

[wallyb]

No, but we are smarter and more literate in our native language than schoolchildren. Too bad we don't have much company!

Great - you're smarter than a 8 year old - brava!
I think life's a bit too short to get ones panties in a knot over such trivial matters.
And I like the fact that all can join in the "virtual" conversation without being "judged".
But whatever gives you that superiority high ... enjoy.

 

[RAPstar]

I can't stand when people use the term, "irregardless." Where did that even come from? At work, I hear it on many occasions!

My mother has a fit when people say this......so of course its rubbed of on me. Along with the use of axe instead of ask.

 

[dreweyj]

At my previous employer we had a call center employee ask a customer who was talking to someone in the background of the phone call, "Who are you conversatin with?" Talk about unprofessional! That one made me cringe. I still shudder thinking about it.

 

[wallyb]

Not discounting some of these
horrible horrible intolerable travesties!

But, you do realize that language is a living, evolving thing?

I mean - we don't speak shakespearean english
any more - doth we?

 

[wcpamotm]

For the most part I agree with Wally. I see examples of shaky grammar and spelling every day around these boards but would never call anybody out about it, because that's not why we're here, is it?

But I do think that those who write for a living really need to use correct grammar and language as currently accepted, along with certain others. My favorite example was this sign on a room at a local school: "Teacher's Lounge". I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "I wonder which teacher it belongs to?". To which a passing faculty member replied, "Certainly not an English teacher".

 

[ancestry]

Sorry I had to jump in here.

My number one pet peeve is when people use "me" as the subject of the sentence. For example, "Me and DH are going to Disney in December." UGH!

 

[Safari Queen]

Wally, I agree it's not as important as nuclear accidents, child abuse or people who stop short in front of you to consult a WDW map, but it makes me very sad. I'm an elementary school teacher.

 

[furb & dez]

Wally, I agree it's not as important as nuclear accidents, child abuse or people who stop short in front of you to consult a WDW map, but it makes me very sad. I'm an elementary school teacher.

Several of my friends are elementary school teachers, and they can't spell or write correctly either.

I fear for the next generation.