Page 3 | to absolutely hate the how people are speaking English!

exse24Londoner · 2026-02-03T16:35:47+00:00

I really hate how we have "suddenly" starting gifting presents rather than giving them as we did only a couple of years ago. Vacations - when did we start having vacations instead of holidays?????? The other day I saw an advert for pants - turned out to be trousers. Apparently when I speak to someone it is now liaising & if I call or text, I am reaching out..... the other day someone was talking about the front end, or as I prefer to call it - the beginning!!🙄 Dont get me wrong, I love the evolution of language & that generations make it their own but this isn't that this is not teenagers or cultures developing own language its...... weird management/pop psychology speak is it just me??

Coco1379 · 07/02/2026 23:35

I hate the use of ’their’ instead of ’his’ or ’her’. ’Their’ is plural. If you want gender neutrality just use the name. I had a note from the vet ’Loki is due for their flea treatment’. Why not ‘Loki’s flea treatment is now due’?

LEDZEP2 · 07/02/2026 21:46

And a trainer, or a trouser, it sounds stupid! What is wrong with saying a pair?

IloveOwlsandPenguins · 07/02/2026 20:47

exse24Londoner · 06/02/2026 19:42

🤐

Show quote history

The OP isn’t criticising people regarding grammar / typos . As she’s previously carefully explained herself.
She is asking if people are bothered by the increasingly prevalent substitution of ‘American English ‘words for ‘English English ‘words .
Whichever form of English we are using the OP has been clear and polite .

user1476613140 · 07/02/2026 20:47

Reaching out....bleugh.

Annteeta · 07/02/2026 20:45

RedToothBrush · 03/02/2026 16:58

NW where? England?!

Never ever heard that! Ever!

Show quote history

I'm from NW England and we've said pants for trousers as long as I can remember.

Pleasepleaseme1 · 07/02/2026 20:44

100%

IloveOwlsandPenguins · 07/02/2026 20:19

My spoken and written English are both pretty poor . There are so many words I mispronounce and the way I use grammar is mainly intuitive .
However there is is one linguistic change that has been universally adopted that I find really jarring which is people saying ‘me and Brenda went to the shops …’ instead of ‘Brenda and I went … ‘ It isn’t so much that it’s grammatically incorrect but that it seems ungracious to put oneself first .
Have no idea why it bothers me so much !

DustyMaiden · 07/02/2026 19:32

Rayburn · 03/02/2026 16:48

Tell that to Shakespeare.

Show quote history

ill gotten gains?

hugbilly · 07/02/2026 19:28

It's infuriating, and there are so many examples. A particular bugbear of mine is "expiration date," widely used on credit cards and elsewhere. No, it's "expiry date!"

CRCGran · 07/02/2026 19:28

RitaIncognita · 07/02/2026 19:18

I can understand to a certain extent because the spoken contractions are indistinguishable from the "of" sound in many accents, and people are writing what they hear and say. I think not knowing the difference in writing must come from not being taught adequately or from not being a reader.

And it's not just young people; it's quite common on MN from, I assume, a variety of ages.

Show quote history

I just don't know where it's come from. Surely if you're taught the right use in schools it would stick...but apparently not.. it certainly is a pet PEEVE of mine... (it was pointed out I'd misspelled peave in my original post).

CRCGran · 07/02/2026 19:24

Rayburn · 07/02/2026 19:03

It’s peeve.

Show quote history

Oh dear... that's what you took out of that? I take it you're one of those misusing "of" then.... 😂

RitaIncognita · 07/02/2026 19:18

CRCGran · 07/02/2026 18:50

My absolute pet peave in language destruction is the way so many, mainly youngsters, use "of" instead of "have" ... would of, could of, should of !!! When did would've, could've, should've disappear?? Makes my blood boil. And it's so widespread.

I can understand to a certain extent because the spoken contractions are indistinguishable from the "of" sound in many accents, and people are writing what they hear and say. I think not knowing the difference in writing must come from not being taught adequately or from not being a reader.

And it's not just young people; it's quite common on MN from, I assume, a variety of ages.

Rayburn · 07/02/2026 19:03

CRCGran · 07/02/2026 18:50

My absolute pet peave in language destruction is the way so many, mainly youngsters, use "of" instead of "have" ... would of, could of, should of !!! When did would've, could've, should've disappear?? Makes my blood boil. And it's so widespread.

It’s peeve.

CRCGran · 07/02/2026 18:50

My absolute pet peave in language destruction is the way so many, mainly youngsters, use "of" instead of "have" ... would of, could of, should of !!! When did would've, could've, should've disappear?? Makes my blood boil. And it's so widespread.

Anmbord · 07/02/2026 17:06

StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 16:37

New Year’s (plural) means New Year’s Day! Okay 😖

Show quote history

New Year’s isn’t a plural.

The apostrophe makes a big difference.
When I say I’m “going to the doctor’s” I mean I’m going to my own doctor’s surgery (as opposed to going to see a group of doctors).

OchonAgusOchonOh · 07/02/2026 17:00

StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 16:37

New Year’s (plural) means New Year’s Day! Okay 😖

Show quote history

New Year's is not plural...

MyBoldLeader · 07/02/2026 16:47

Rayburn · 07/02/2026 16:25

Is it fat?

Show quote history

Too fat to fit?

StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 16:37

RitaIncognita · 07/02/2026 15:42

New Year's spoken by Americans is short for New Year's Day. I say it myself.

Show quote history

New Year’s (plural) means New Year’s Day! Okay 😖

Hiptothisjive · 07/02/2026 16:33

Echobelly · 03/02/2026 16:38

The worst thing is when fashion editors describe a pair of trousers as 'a pant' . Seriously.

Could be an American article? North Americans say pants and we all speak english. Oh and I have only ever said vacation.

Rayburn · 07/02/2026 16:25

MyBoldLeader · 07/02/2026 16:08

How could I forget my despondency at the verb “to fit” losing its participles! 😖

Is it fat?

MyBoldLeader · 07/02/2026 16:13

catsareme14 · 06/02/2026 17:58

For me it's using 'unalived ' instead of dead .

It feels like nobody is allowed to simply die these days - I certainly won’t be “passing” or “moving on” let alone “un-aliving”.
I’ll possibly Dance my last Dance, but that’s where I draw the line.

MyBoldLeader · 07/02/2026 16:08

How could I forget my despondency at the verb “to fit” losing its participles! 😖

RitaIncognita · 07/02/2026 15:42

StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 12:01

Oh yes, of course. It’s the American “New Year’s” that grates on me. It’s either New Year, or New Year’s Eve.

Show quote history

New Year's spoken by Americans is short for New Year's Day. I say it myself.

IthinkIamAnAlien · 07/02/2026 12:15

pompomtiddly · 07/02/2026 10:53

His ill gotten gains

Show quote history

What is the earliest known use of the adjective gotten?
EARLIEST KNOWN USE
Middle English
The earliest known use of the adjective gotten is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for gotten is from before 1382, in Bible (Wycliffite, early version).
Can't get better than the OED!

StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 12:05

catsareme14 · 06/02/2026 17:58

For me it's using 'unalived ' instead of dead .

I felt the same way. I follow book reviewers on YouTube and they use this. I googled it and it seems the algorithms don’t like the terms murder/murderers and downgrade, or hide their vlogs if they use those.