What is your pet peeve about grammar?

[havaneselover]

Using an adjective when you need an adverb is another one for me. I had an ex who used to do this and it took a lot of willpower not to correct him.

I grew up with a dad who basically made fun of us if we didn’t speak properly. It was effective.

 

[havaneselover]

When someone adds an “s” to a word that doesn’t have an s. “Targets”. “Walmart’s”.

Oh, gosh—my grandparents used to call Kmart “Kmarts.”

 

[lorimay]

EXspecially, when I hear people say that word my skin crawls.

 

[barb969]

You cannot drive safe. Should be an adverb safely. I have even heard this on the local news. You would think they could get it right.

 

[jdb in AZ]

DH's grandmother was a grammar Nazi, and some of her posterity are the same way. When Barbara Bush was in town for a book signing (years ago) the grandma's grammar son sent Mrs. Bush a message that Bush #43 was mispronouncing nuclear. The next time the uncle heard Pres Bush speak, he said it correctly.

 

[kimblebee]

I want to rip my ears off when I hear someone say something is so fun..or even worse, the funnest.

OMG people..

 

[kimblebee]

 

[Frozen Canuck]

 

[Colleen27]

Misplaced apostrophes. I spent most of last summer grumbling that I was going to start carrying a Sharpie with me to fix the displays for the town festival queen voting... because they spelled "days" DAY'S on ALL of the voting boxes.

I have so many to choose from, but...

I'm a fan of the Oxford comma. I know it is acceptable to not use it, but it drives me nuts when I don't see it.

The Oxford comma is the bane of my existence. It is a huge no-no in AP style but I can't seem to let it go! My college GPA was probably a tenth of a point lower than it should have been because of my attachment to the Oxford comma, and I still have to go back and check my work to make sure I'm not throwing it in here, there, and everywhere.

 

[Wubar]

"... I still have to go back and check my work to make sure I'm not throwing it in here, there, and everywhere."

 

[manning]

HEY has taken over from "you know"

Just about every show is using that word as a crutch. How about hi, hello or persons name.

Talk about name. Do you get that phone call starting with " it's me"

Took awhile I broke a friend's of that. Every time said it's me I would say "sorry I'd don't know anyone by that name" and hang up

 

[Wishing on a star]

These are probably open to debate with today's usage.
But, they really get me!!!!

Using 'about' instead of around. (The passengers were free to move about the cabin)
And, 'may' instead of might. He 'may' go to the concert, IMHO, means he has permission to go to the concert. He 'might' go to the concert means that he could go, or not go. Remember the childhood game Mother May I???

 

[GreatLakes]

The use of double negatives. I don't care if you use it in a sentence describing how you cured cancer, you'll sound like an idiot.

The use of literally when you actually mean figuratively. If you are "literally on fire" I better see some burn marks. It is even worse since some dictionaries have decided to change the definition. Don't let idiots change the world.

 

[Jennasis]

Could of, would of, should of.

 

[Blessings2018]

Spelling the word lose incorrectly- e.g. “Did you loose your magic band?” I see it all the time and it drives my crazy.

 

[tvguy]

My pet peeve? English is a living language and repeated incorrect use makes it correct.

 

[georgina]

I seen. You seen. We seen. He seen. She seen. It seen. They seen.

This was the first thing I thought of when I SAW this thread! So many people around here use seen instead of saw. I see it on TV news interviews, where the witness will invariably say "I seen him go" or "I seen the car". It's no more syllables to say the proper word!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Adding “at” to the end of a question regarding where something is.

“Where is it at?”

Well, it is right before the “at”.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Pet peeves? I ain't got none, ya'll.

 

[manning]

Spelling the word lose incorrectly- e.g. “Did you loose your magic band?” I see it all the time and it drives my crazy.

Was it lose?