Phrases that you are using incorrectly...

[goofyintoronto]

I also hate "Where are you at?" SO WRONG. There is absolutely no reason to add the "at" at the end of that sentence. "Where are you?" is correct, and also uses fewer words!

Speaking of fewer/less, that one really bugs me too.

Actually its "where you at?". Not "where are you at". Lol.

 

[JessicaR]

Actually its "where you at?". Not "where are you at". Lol.

Zackly.

 

[ashley0139]

Actually its "where you at?". Not "where are you at". Lol.

Well either way it's wrong.

 

[hlg22]

My biggest peeve re correct usage is that there seems to be an epidemic lately of people who don't know the difference between the plural and the possessive, and so add an apostrophe to any word that ends in "s." I constantly have Facebook friends posting about their "kid's," and, for example, Jane Johnson will post something like "The Johnson's are going to Disney World!!" One friend even proudly posted a shot of the large new, custom sign she had made to go in front of her family's front door with their name painted on it, i.e., "The Smith's"

I actually received a solicitation email from a well-known firm of financial advisors informing me that "you're invited to a special event for professional's." I'm sorry, but if you can't distinguish between the plural and the possessive, there's no way in hell you're getting my money.

 

[crashbb]

One friend even proudly posted a shot of the large new, custom sign she had made to go in front of her family's front door with their name painted on it, i.e., "The Smith's"

Maybe she was declaring ownwership of the door?

I dislike signs that use quotes as emphasis - when you say you have "real" whatever, you are saying that it isn't really real.

 

[Arielle22]

My pet peeve is aks or axs instead of ask. This drive me crazy when I hear it and it changes my view of the speaker.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Another one --- I'm on a roll! There's a difference between eager and anxious. If you're eager for something to happen, you're looking forward to it happening. If you're anxious about something happening, that conveys a sense of dread or apprehension. I know this because I was marked down a full letter grade on a college English paper for using anxious when the context of the paper called for eager. My professor thought that I should have learned the difference by the time I got to college. And she was right.

Queen Colleen

 

[ashley0139]

Another one --- I'm on a roll! There's a difference between eager and anxious. If you're eager for something to happen, you're looking forward to it happening. If you're anxious about something happening, that conveys a sense of dread or apprehension. I know this because I was marked down a full letter grade on a college English paper for using anxious when the context of the paper called for eager. My professor thought that I should have learned the difference by the time I got to college. And she was right.

Queen Colleen

That one bugs me too. Also, there is a difference between irony and coincidence. Most times when people say "irony" they really mean "coincidence."

 

[Dani784]

Top of the list for me is jealous vs. envious:

Jealous means that you do not want to share what you have. (see "jealous husband" for the correct use of the term)

Envious means that you wish that you had what someone else has.

Another one that drives me crazy is utilize. Where did this come from, and what does it have that "use" does not?

Two more syllables and the ability to sound a tad more intelligent? LOL!

I'm a grammar snob as well and people hate it!

Do you want to ask me or axe me? Because one is murder and I will call the police!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[NHdisneylover]

That one bugs me too. Also, there is a difference between irony and coincidence. Most times when people say "irony" they really mean "coincidence."

It was already bad, then Alanis Morissette had to make a big hit misusing the word more often than not. Sigh.

 

[JessicaR]

It was already bad, then Alanis Morissette had to make a big hit misusing the word more often than not. Sigh.

And isn't it ironic, don't ya think? I was thinking the same...

 

[NHdisneylover]

And isn't it ironic, don't ya think? I was thinking the same...

She had another think coming

 

[Narnia_girl]

This is my kind of thread. As a journalist I've had the AP Style Manual driven into my brain.

I also hate "Where are you at?" SO WRONG. There is absolutely no reason to add the "at" at the end of that sentence. "Where are you?" is correct, and also uses fewer words!

My mother drove that term out of usage in our home. Every time we asked where something was 'at' she'd say "before the at!" Now I say the same to my kids.

 

[DarthMama]

My pet peeve is aks or axs instead of ask. This drive me crazy when I hear it and it changes my view of the speaker.

I have been working quite a bit with my 8 year old, who has developed a tendency to say "aks" instead of ask. I keep telling him that others will view him as not very smart if he keeps saying "aks," but I'm afraid he's not listening to his mom about that.

I think he picked up "aks" at his school after-care, where he hangs out with kids that are a couple of years older than he is. It's like hearing fingers on a chalkboard, hearing "aks" come from my own child!

 

[Cinderella94]

I read the article, but not the whole thread, so I'm not sure if someone else mentioned this.

You can't hear it when people are speaking, but it drives me CRAZY when people type things like "he should of done this...." or "he could of done this...." instead of "should've" and "could've". What do people think they're saying?! "Of" makes no sense.

 

[MomofKatie]

My pet peeves:

not "I should of gone to WDW"- I should have gone to WDW!!

imply vs infer.

Not "I seen the beach"- I saw the beach!!

Dinning plan- aarrgh. It's DINING, people!!!!

I do say "moo point" even though I know the correct phrase is "moot point" because of Joey on Friends... it's a cow's opinion- moo!!

 

[BlueStarryHat]

"Where you at? I just seen Donald Duck!"

I've been known.

 

[Robinrs]

Number 4 is the only one I have ever said incorrectly.

Me, too and I think THEY'RE wrong!!

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

When someone calls your home phone and asks for you by name - how do you answer?

Caller: May I speak to Mary?

Mary: This is she.

YES - this is correct. Not "This is her" - the she vs. her thing (and he and him).

I am more of a Disney freak than she. Yes, she! If you can follow it with "is" than you know you are correct. I am more of a Disney freak than she is.

This was a biggie for my Mom!

 

[ashley0139]

When someone calls your home phone and asks for you by name - how do you answer?

Caller: May I speak to Mary?

Mary: This is she.

YES - this is correct. Not "This is her" - the she vs. her thing (and he and him).

I am more of a Disney freak than she. Yes, she! If you can follow it with "is" than you know you are correct. I am more of a Disney freak than she is.

This was a biggie for my Mom!

Also goes along with what I said a couple pages back - not "her and her mom went to the store," "SHE and her mom went to the store." I see this ALL THE TIME.