This morning, I left my freshly-cleaned apartment for my first day at a brand new job. Excitement! And this evening, I am going leave here and head uptown for even more of that good, clean-slate feeling. Microdermabrasion!
Tonight I’ll be all pink-faced and full of stories. But for now, I’m busy as all get-out. So in the meantime, why don’t you go ahead and list all the things you hate about your friends’ grammar mistakes?
What? Oh, you already did? Well, I’m sure you can come up with a few more.
Viva la picky!
***UPDATE***
Whoa! Okay, guys. I was being a little sarcastic there. Fine. More than a little. I didn’t mean to encourage any more griping. Let’s turn this around, shall we? Today is about starting new things. Go with it.
Saying “utilize” instead of “use.” They do not mean the same thing, and “utilize” is NOT a fancy way of saying “use” Utilize means to use something in a way not normally intended, like utilizing a dime to screw in a loose screw. Otherwise, just use USE!!!! It’s perfectly educated to do so.
I started something new today too, grad school. I think a new job is more fun and lots less work!
Grammar thing I hate about my friends:
And now that I’m about the type this it’s in regards to AIM grammar: I hate it in general.
The whole “u” instead of “you” take the two extra seconds to hit those keys please…however, I’m okay with the “lol”
However, @ has to go! Like, “I’m @ Target”. It takes you two keys to produce the “@” symbol as it does to type “at”. Just type the damn word!
That is all
I also hate when people over use a word, for example, in my previous post I used the word “however” twice with only five words seperating the two. This is due to my lack of consistent proof-reading skills.
I hate it when people say “take and put.” For example, “Take and put that box of Cheerios on the counter.”
I used to work with a woman years ago to took and put just about everything.
i think that americans use the word ‘actually’ too much. and whenever i hear someone end a sentence with ‘at’, i wanna swerve my truck into a tree at high speeds.
Susan,
I completely agree. “Utilize” was a pet peeve with all of my friends in University. Since then, I have added the incorrect use of “usage”. What an ugly word!
I also detest “commentate” and “commentator”. Can’t you simply “comment”, “make a comment”, or better yet, discuss? I have yet to come up with a really good alternative for commentator, but I’m working on it. Any suggestions?
Susan, I’d like to use youse for a use not intended.
‘Your’ and ‘you’re’ being mixed up. I once stopped dating a guy because he couldn’t get that straight.
Me, petty? Naaaaaaaaah.
One of my co-workers will pronounce things incorrectly as well as randomly throw the word “to” into sentences.
For example: Massachusetts is pronounced Massatusets. The silent “s” in Illinois isn’t silent. I’ll have you to complete that paperwork.
She will also use large words incorrectly and doesn’t punctuate her sentences correctly – especially when using question marks.
It’s when people put an ‘s’ at the end of a store or company name that I go nuts. “I’m going to Best Buys after work.”
“I have to stop by Targets to pick up dog food.”
“I went to Krogers and got a few steaks for tonight’s dinner.”
I guess these people are trying to make the store names possessive (e.g., “I have to stop by Erin’s to pick up dog food.”). But since I’m not going to “Target’s Broad Street location” or “Kroger’s meat case”, it just seems lazy.
Ok, I donât know if itâs a Baltimore thing, but people here add “ed”s when completely unnecessary.
We went acrossED the street- what IS that????
I think every single person I have ever dated has done that. To the point where I think maybe I’m wrong. Across-ed! WTF?!
I hate when people say “The Wal-mart”.
or
“eem” ex. “I talked to eem” rather than “I talked to him”.
I do not write well my use of puntuation is terrible but I try to spell correctly and speak correctly so that is what bugs me.
Oh I love bad grammar, thanks for this!
I can’t stand it when people say “I” instead of “me” because they think it sounds proper.
Example: The toaster was given to my husband and I as a gift. AH! I hear this too often. (along with misuses of ‘she’ and ‘her’ etc.)
And I agree with the person above about how people put an ‘s’ at the end of a store name, it truly makes me cringe. Ok thats all!
“Orientate.” No. It’s either “orient” or “disorient”, but never “orientate.”
“Flustrated.” It’s either “frustrated” or “flustered.” Yes, you may feel both emotions, but use the appropriate word for the appropriate emotion.
“Irregardless.” You’d be surprised how many people really say this.
I agree with those who cringe at “…at.” If I hear one more person say “where you at”, I might throw something.
I don’t hear this often, but when I hear it, I ask the person specifically “with what?”: “Can I come with?”
Confusing “effect” with “affect”, “then” with “than”, and “lead” with “led.” If you don’t know the difference, look it up.
I agree there is a difference between standard written English and spoken English of whatever dialect. I also agree that talented writers can (and do) break the rules of standard written English to great effect. Most people who do this, though, fancy themselves more talented than they are.
My favorite grammar error of all time was at the end of a co-worker’s lentghy email when she wrote:
“Another words. . . .”
I’m sure what she meant was “in other words. . . “, but that has been the winner of my personal picky grammar awards ever since!
Why do you encourage this, Fish? Too much complaining!
Haha I agree with M…these people need to relax a little
Proof positive that sarcasm doesn’t translate! I was mostly kidding, folks. I mean, I knew that people would have endless complaints… I just didn’t think they’d REALLY keep going!
When someone types “your” instead of “you’re”. It’s annoying as hell.
Good luck with your first day on the job!
Ugh… you’re and your are the worst. Gah!
I thought that the glycolic peel post generated a lot of comments! Your Grammar Gaffe post riled up more readers than any other since the plagiarism post! Too funny!
I wish you cooling remedies if your face is raw. Let’s list the things worst than a raw face.
1. Combine accident
Thank you.
2. The SATs.
Hopefully I will be starting a new job by 2007. It was my New Years resolution last year. Good luck on your first day!
I blow at grammer so, I got not a thing to say about that.
You know what really drives me up the wall? People correcting my grammar. Sometimes, if I happen to end my sentence incorrectly…for example: “Where’s the party at?”, someone will tell me is incorrect to end a sentence in a preposition. To this I typically reply, “Ok, where’s the party at, asshole?”
(From This Fish: Someone has seen “With Honors”
I like that response, too.)
The fact that Mora Kelly is playing Lucas’s mom on One Tree Hill makes me feel old. One Tree Hill is my one concession to The WB. You can thank my wife, who still has the TV taste of a 16 year old. You can also thank Sophia Bush, but I digress.
C’mon people, start something new.
I’m just waiting on stories about the new job ; )
Love the blog, Fish! Had to finally put in my 2 cents…
I HATE when people incorrectly use quotation marks… like when a store has a sign that says “Sale”. As if it’s not *really* a sale! My husband is so sick of my rant about this.
“Seriously” people, quotes are not for emphasis! Phew- feel better now!
Totally missed your previous post. Sorry for describing your same grammar-peave.
I’ll play! I read an article that the Mango has Officially Arrived. So I’m starting to look for recipes with mango.
Cheers – hope 1st day went well!
I hate to be a contrarian but, well, isn’t English a living language? I mean, if everyone always followed the rules we’d still be speaking Middle English, Medieval French or maybe Latin depending on how far back you want to go. (This from the guy who makes a point of saying “Well, thank you.” when asked how he’s doing.)
Anyway, why not make up some new 21st century rules to turn over that new leaf?
I think there ought to be new tenses for things that happen electronically. I mean, when did you actually send that email? When you hit the send key, when your server hands it off the the recipient’s or when it gets downloaded?
Starting new things? I started my junior year of college today. It was wonderful. The semester appears promising.
I just started reading the blog, and it’s very addicting. I heart your style and wit. It’s great! Keep it up!
(And good luck with your new job~)
Here’s my new thing – a plan to curb spending and get me to the gym. http://biggirlunderoos.blogspot.com/2006/08/i-have-plan.html
Starting new things? Hope your first day went well. I have my first day of school tomorrow. Except that this year my first day of school means my first day of *teaching* school, rather than being a student at one. Crazy!
My biggest peave is when people consistently write definately instead of definitely. A woman recently wrote to me on a dating site with “i definately hate it when guys have bad grammar and speling”. Needless to say, I did not reply. Yes, I realize this is a spelling peave, but I had to throw it in.
If you’ve ever talked to someone from Newfoundland, Canada, any desire to drive your truck into the nearest tree will solidify that desire. Feel my pain.
Three things:
Impact is NOT a verb, and never has been…but, unfortunately, because of rampant misuse, it’s starting to become accepted as such.
It also makes my skin crawl when stores use cutesy spellings in their names for no good reason at all. Example: Karen’s Kraft Korner.
And, if you’re going to put it on a sign for everybody to see, for the love of all that’s holy, please, please, please learn to use apostrophe’s correctly (Ha! Just kidding!)
This is frightening, what’s happening here. Congratulations on your new job, Ms. H. Give me a call some time, will you?
I have a major in English. What bothers me most about grammar? That most people think that they are experts. I hate to rain on the parade here people but “grammar” (and I am using quotations correctly here) is not as simple as a set of rules and regulations. What is “right” or “wrong” gramatically not only depends on context; but on who is speaking and who their intended audience is. Anyone who has ever studied ENGLISH LITURATURE will certainly agree that “grammar” was not important to Keats, Spencer or even Shakespeare who often changed the spelling of words (or made them up) to suit their pieces! I am Canadian and have many dear friends from Newfoundland and I can certainly tell you that if the way others choose to communicate their thougts makes you want to drive your truck into a tree you should open a paper or watch a news program and open your eyes to real issues. Get over yourselves!! Also any “grammatical errors” made here are intentional as I want it read as I would speak!
hey,
new job? again? wish you loads of luck!
The use of youre for you are/your/you all the same!
And youre,ur,u r
never even you’re or your.
Bah.
hey folks, there are foreing readers here (like me)! do you really wanna (wops, sorry, want to) we/us to be “infected” (well, *infected*) by urs (yours) lazy mistakes??? haha :p teasing, i’m sorry
Congrats (congratulations) about the new job, can’t wait to read some sappy update!
ps: what’s wrong with the “at” @ the end of the sentence? every guy i’ve hooked online used that :p
Fish, how was your first day?
I was thinking of trying microdermabrasion. I have very large pores and I heard that the procedure can minimize them. How do you like it?
Yea I want to hear about the microdermabrasion and 1st day on job too!
I hope your first day was good! I’m starting grad school tonight, so yes it is a fresh start for me also. I love that clean slate feeling.
Just to clear up a huge misconception (no pun intended): microdermo doesn’t shrink pores, it just makes them appear smaller. Nothing, other than having your genes magically altered, can change the size of your pores. Sad, but true. You can thank your parents for that one!
New job? Did I miss an announcement? What’s going on there?
I absolutely HATE it when people confuse LOOSE with LOSE.
My belt is LOOSE.
Did you LOSE your keys?
How hard can it be?!
Bendy — It was announced two weeks ago. See the post titled, Two Weeks Notice.
Everyone Else — Okay! Enough with the grammar issues, people. You’re not only going in circles, repeating everything that’s already been said, but you’re driving me nuts!
Is there such a thing as *macro*dermabrasion or is that falling off your motorcycle while doing 60?
i think falling off your motorbike at 60mph would count as macrodermabrasion, yes. not quite the same effects but same general principal, i suppose
On the subject of grammar, here’s a fun little quiz that was on msn.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/adultlearning/?page=Quiz216&Quizid=216>1=8404
I would love to see the spelling of “through” officially changed to “thru”.
I hate it when people say “You Welcome.” It’s suppose to be “YOU’RE Welcome.”
This drives me nutts.
I cannot STAND two commmon grammar/spelling mistakes. First, just to clarify:
~THERE is a place.
~THEIR means belonging to “them”
~THEY’RE is a contraction, which combines two words using a shortened word form and an apostrophe e.g.: “they are”
Second, IT’S can have two meanings. Either 1.)a contraction (see above definition) of “it is” or 2.) a contraction of “it has”.
ITS is posessive, meaning “belonging to it”.
Can we please try to use these words properly?
This ends the blue book lesson. It’s now time for history jeopardy.
I hate the spelling of the word “lite.” It’s light! And on certain hotels and motels, it’s “night” not “nite!” What is the point in spelling a word wrong? Another thing. In my town, we have a resturant called Kountry Kubbard. I’m not kidding. If it was Kathy’s Kubbard, or Keith’s Kubbard, maybe I’d let that slide. But why make them both k’s when they should be c’s? Please, spell common words correctly!
People with *peeves* should be careful not to spell it “peave.”
As for my peeves:
1. it’s / its
2. use of “less” to mean “fewer”: e.g. express lane for less than 10 items
3. lose / loose
Umm… I’m not very smart and I do just “about” everything listed above. I definately hate it when peoples doesnt know how two speek to.
But thorough help I canned lurn.
Won thin that is compleetly unaccepible is whenn peoples cant spell.
You’re all a bunch of Idiots.
Hopefully this thing is HTML.
This is more a punctuation thing, but I hate comma splices. That is when you join two independant clauses with a comma instead of a semi-colon, as in “I went to the gocery store, I needed to buy eggs”. My punctuation is not great, but it’s been a long time since grade 12 english. I’m just weird about comma splices.