The point is moot!

[EMom]

DD8 and I were playing in the pool yesterday and I did not follow her directions to suit her. (She was giving the instructions in this made up game.) She laughed and in an overly dramatic voice announced, "YOU are dis-included!"

After I finished laughing, I had to tell her that there was already a word for that and that word was "EXcluded." But I had to admire her use of prefixes.

When I was born, the Vietnam War was already going on. It was on the news constantly during my childhood and my family watched every news show that came on. When I was no more than 4 or so, I remember listening to a report about a battle and saying to my mother, "Wow....Those gorillas must be really smart. I didn't know gorillas could fight like that." Yep.....the report had been about guerilla warfare. Now, in my defense, I was a very small child. Sadly, I still see adults write about "gorilla warfare" today.

 

[Macca1111]

Ok I'm more than a half century old and I just found out that it is not a wheelbarrel. What the heck is a barrow anyway?

Apparently it comes from the Old English beran: "to carry". Learn something new every day...

 

[NMAmy]

I noticed you live in Michigan, but you used to live in New Mexico. Was your daughter born or mainly raised in Michigan? If so, it's probably just a regional thing. Unless they buy eggs every single time they go to the store!

DD was born in Colorado and mainly raised in New Mexico--I think she continues saying it because her friends in NM all do and so does her stepmother and stepsisters. I cringe every time she says it.

 

[ericamanda01]

Well I have read most of this thread and all I have to say is I am so happy that these things don't bother me. What a strange thing to worry about. I truly find it interesting, but I am so happy that I don't pick up on others speech shortcomings. I think if I did it would drive me crazy! Good luck to you all!

Edit to add: I heard this speech the other day, I just remembered it and thought some of you would appreciate it. I can't find the video but here is an article with the highlights. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/19/david-mccullough-urgers-b_n_102514.html

 

[PanamaMike]

People who say "axe" instead of "ask".

 

[legalsea]

An enjoyable question I was once asked:

If the plural of "Goose" is "Geese",
Then shouldn't the plural of "Moose" be......... (fill in blank yourself)

 

[Duchie]

I'm not sure if this fits in here or not, but I just got an email from a friend of mine. I asked her where she found a particular item. She told me, "It's in the baby isle, not the toy isle." I wanted to write back and ask if I needed a plane ticket to get to this "isle" .

 

[Quest4fun]

Glass Houses? Believe it or not, this is an internet discussion board, people make typo's and some of us, including me can't spell worth a damn and there isn't a spell check either.

But to the point, one of the gramatical errors that drive me nuts is the usage of me, I, and myself.

This is not a discussion on typos. Go back and read the thread again.

We're discussing common words that people mispronounce habitually because they don't know what the actual words are.

Don't worry. We still like you.

 

[Quest4fun]

I really love "might could" and think it should become part of proper English!

Another popular version of this is "want could." I used to work with a lady in Texas who said this all the time. "Fixin' to" was another favorite of mine.

 

[Quest4fun]

Perhaps someone from down south can help me with this one. My Dad is from KY and his nickname for YEARS has been John Henry and we always thought it started when someone asked him to put his "John Henry" on a document? His real name is John Thomas?

I have one... this DROVE me nuts for years when I was first divorced and looking at personal ads: "I am looking for a nice WOMEN." Buddy... if you are looking for more than one WOMAN, I'm not the WOMAN for you!"

John Thomas means something else entirely.

 

[dkdaisy]

I hate it when the English language (or just someone talking) adds extra syllables that are not necessary.

My dad is a lawyer and his biggest pet peeve is "practicable". Lawyers use it ALL the time and its not even a word. The word is "practical" but lawyers think that practicable sounds better in legalese.

I also hate the word commentator. Its a real word, I know, but a commentator is one who comments. Why shouldn't it be commentor? I hate English. There are way too many rules and way too many exceptions to all those rules!

 

[sorcerormickey]

When did 'oriented' become 'orientated'?

And isn't it a 'historic' home, not a 'historical' home?

 

[Todd&Copper]

I hate it when the English language (or just someone talking) adds extra syllables that are not necessary.

My dad is a lawyer and his biggest pet peeve is "practicable". Lawyers use it ALL the time and its not even a word. The word is "practical" but lawyers think that practicable sounds better in legalese.

I also hate the word commentator. Its a real word, I know, but a commentator is one who comments. Why shouldn't it be commentor? I hate English. There are way too many rules and way too many exceptions to all those rules!

Just looked up "practicable" on dictionary.com and wallah * , it is a word:
prac·ti·ca·ble
–adjective 1. capable of being done, effected, or put into practice, with the available means; feasible: a practicable solution.
2. capable of being used: a practicable gift.
3. Theater. (of a stage property or part of a set) designed or constructed for actual use; a practicable window; practicable water faucets.
[Origin: 1660–70; < ML practic(āre) to practice + -able]

and here is the def. for "practical":
prac·ti·cal
–adjective 1. of or pertaining to practice or action: practical mathematics.
2. consisting of, involving, or resulting from practice or action: a practical application of a rule.
3. of, pertaining to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work: practical affairs.
4. adapted or designed for actual use; useful: practical instructions.
5. engaged or experienced in actual practice or work: a practical politician.
6. inclined toward or fitted for actual work or useful activities: a practical person.
7. mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure.
8. matter-of-fact; prosaic.
9. being such in practice or effect; virtual: a practical certainty.
10. Theater. practicable (def. 3).
[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME. See practic, -al1]


* Oops, as Archie & Jughead have taught me, that should be voila. SORRY!

 

[Youarehere]

I hate when people say "skinneded". What the heck does "skinneded" mean?

 

[turtlegirl1]

My DH CONSTANTLY makes mistakes with your & you're - every email I get from him drives me crazy! I found this website & use it often to correct him.... purely out of love, of course!

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors

 

[Momvic5]

In Texas, we have a hamburger fast food chain called Whataburger. It is amazing how many people refer to it as "water" burger!

 

[Quest4fun]

I also hate the word commentator. Its a real word, I know, but a commentator is one who comments. Why shouldn't it be commentor? I hate English. There are way too many rules and way too many exceptions to all those rules!

A commentator is not one who comments. It's one who delivers commentary. It's the same as a dictator when the term is used to descibe one who dictates. Same as an orator.

Take a course on Latin. You'll be amazed at how much better you will speak when you learn where many of our words come from. You'll also find it easier to learn other languages as all of the romance languages are derived from Latin. Cool stuff.

 

[disykat]

I have a friend who gets "flustrated."

 

[noodleknitter]

Empathic, not empathetic.

 

[Cindy B]

nekkid -- i.e neck-id

istead of naked.