Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to absolutely hate the how people are speaking English!

539 replies

exse24Londoner · 03/02/2026 16:35

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??

OP posts:
StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 12:02

NotMeAtAll · 07/02/2026 08:26

"Speaks to" instead of "attests to".

Yes, yes a thousand times yes

StrikeForever · 07/02/2026 12:01

MyBoldLeader · 07/02/2026 08:53

In Scotland we’ve been celebrating the new year for ages. Christmas wasn’t even a public holiday until the 1950s, so Hogmanay/ New Year has been, traditionally, the mid-winter celebration…

Show quote history

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.

ChubbyPuffling · 07/02/2026 11:27

catsareme14 · 06/02/2026 17:58

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

The algorithms on some work computers will not allow posts to be made with certain words. Dead, shoot, cunt, bollocks, etc... breasts is OK, tits is not... so you learn the "cuddly" terms.

Wouldn't use a work computer for mumsnet or Facebook or personal email etc., though some do.

januarybluesaregone · 07/02/2026 11:03

Whatinthedoopla · 04/02/2026 18:58

I hate that the date on my laptop now tells me the American dates.

We are slowly becoming American

Yes! I find it really confusing because BOTH systems are in use.

pompomtiddly · 07/02/2026 10:53

JamesClyman · 03/02/2026 16:45

YANBU. There is no such word in English as "gotten". It's "got"!

His ill gotten gains

MyBoldLeader · 07/02/2026 08:53

StrikeForever · 05/02/2026 00:57

And when did we start “speaking to” and issue and celebrating Valentines and New Years? Grrrrr!

In Scotland we’ve been celebrating the new year for ages. Christmas wasn’t even a public holiday until the 1950s, so Hogmanay/ New Year has been, traditionally, the mid-winter celebration…

cantankerousoldcrone · 07/02/2026 08:40

OchonAgusOchonOh · 05/02/2026 15:39

Also in Hiberno English.

Show quote history

Yes perfectly fine to say, it's gotten colder, in Hiberno English

NotMeAtAll · 07/02/2026 08:26

"Speaks to" instead of "attests to".

Susgor · 06/02/2026 23:46

"Issues", "cheers", "arsed"
I am a 72yo foreigner who learned, spoke and wrote your beautiful language since I was 6.... I try to keep up, but why issue instead of problem, cheers instead of thank you, arsed (so ugly) instead of bothered?
Please treasure your marvellous language!!!!!

Original poster
exse24Londoner · 06/02/2026 19:42

nomas · 06/02/2026 19:30

It could simply be that you don’t think SPAG matters on a chat forum, which I would agree with. It’s just a thread, we’re not here to write a thesis. But in that case, it would be pretty hypocritical to criticise other people for their English.

Show quote history

🤐

OP posts:
nomas · 06/02/2026 19:30

exse24Londoner · 06/02/2026 19:18

hi @nomas I was going to ignore this comment but its been bugging me. If you don't think I can blame it all on not proofreading - what else could it be???

are you trying to shame me by implying that I am ignorant or lazy or......?

Show quote history

It could simply be that you don’t think SPAG matters on a chat forum, which I would agree with. It’s just a thread, we’re not here to write a thesis. But in that case, it would be pretty hypocritical to criticise other people for their English.

Original poster
exse24Londoner · 06/02/2026 19:18

nomas · 04/02/2026 07:29

There are more SPAG errors in your post. You can’t blame it all on not proof-reading.

Show quote history

hi @nomas I was going to ignore this comment but its been bugging me. If you don't think I can blame it all on not proofreading - what else could it be???

are you trying to shame me by implying that I am ignorant or lazy or......?

OP posts:
Aurelia53 · 06/02/2026 18:11

catsareme14 · 06/02/2026 17:58

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

Me too! But I think using "dead" will trigger algorithms and it'll be shut down.

catsareme14 · 06/02/2026 17:58

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

AJLOAL · 06/02/2026 17:51

I hate how t's are dropped when speaking. Pure laziness IMO.

dailyconniptions · 06/02/2026 13:41

wowhey · 06/02/2026 07:28

Lot's of it is office lingo, many work in international companies and use international English in communications. Language evolves and people bring it into their private lives.

Lots

wowhey · 06/02/2026 07:28

Lot's of it is office lingo, many work in international companies and use international English in communications. Language evolves and people bring it into their private lives.

wowhey · 06/02/2026 07:26

Member869894 · 03/02/2026 16:51

'Reach out' gives me THE RAGE

That's just silly.

Prancingpickle · 06/02/2026 07:13

Also it's always been Mom in the Midlands not Mum!

Prancingpickle · 06/02/2026 07:06

I've lived in the Midlands and Yorkshire and have always called trousers pants why else would you have underpants?

Rayburn · 05/02/2026 22:13

Wouldn’t put it far past the Jocks either .

Serpentstooth · 05/02/2026 18:59

Reaching out. Please stop doing that, it's really annoying.

Aurelia53 · 05/02/2026 18:29

TheCraftySquid · 04/02/2026 19:30

I’m 48 from ‘up north’ and all my life trousers were called pants - everyone I knew said it. It was only when I moved down south when I was 19 that I realise it meant something entirely different down there 😂

I think the issue is not "pants" plural, but fashion writers using the term "pant" singular, as in "she rocked a mauve mohair top and and a purple psychedelic pant"!

StrikeForever · 05/02/2026 15:48

ShineBlueSky · 05/02/2026 14:37

It's not an 'ask', but a request.

This one drives me nuts “a big ask” FFS! 😬

OchonAgusOchonOh · 05/02/2026 15:39

RitaIncognita · 05/02/2026 15:33

The other alternative for the past participle is gotten, the preferred form in America.

Yes. "Gotten" is standard American English for the past participle.

Also in Hiberno English.