Page 3 | ‘I am wanting/ they are wanting’ is the new ‘myself/ yourself’

PinkMagpie · 2026-06-18T13:59:51+00:00

I’ve noticed a real thing of people saying ‘I am wanting’ rather than ‘I want’ It seems like an attempt to over complicate a simple phrase to make it sound posher, as with people who say ‘myself’ rather than me. An attempt to sound important and professional that actually has the opposite effect because you’re messing up the grammar. It’s fine to speak in simple, correct English and say ‘I want’ and ‘me.’ It’s the trying to sound fancy and getting things grammatically wrong that makes people sound daft. I was just wanting to point that out 😆

chevalraye · 18/06/2026 15:28

MrMucker is correct. “I am wanting” is not incorrect grammar. And to answer your question, yes, you are no longer wanting the scissors if you already have them. “Want” implies a lack.

“Myself” on the other hand is incorrect grammar when used as an object pronoun. I used to find this irritating until I realised language is a tool for communication, and as long as one can understand somebody’s message, it doesn’t really matter whether or not they use the right words in the right order.

CatsMagic · 18/06/2026 15:26

YANBU.

“Wanting” is just as bad as “gifting”

Makes me irrationally angry !!!

Beachdrift · 18/06/2026 15:25

I haven’t come across this. Could you give examples of its usage? People are going into Costa and saying ‘I’m wanting a matcha latte’?

HRHCurmudgeon · 18/06/2026 15:24

I’d like to add people using ‘bring’ when they mean ‘take’.

‘He said he won’t bring me to my mums next week. Is he BU?’ Possibly, but so are you with your heinous grammar.

Original poster

PinkMagpie · 18/06/2026 15:23

MrMucker · 18/06/2026 15:10

Actually this is not a grammar mistake at all.
"want" is a stative verb, meaning a state of mind or an abiding condition or situation.
If you change it to "wanting" then you change the meaning specifically to something temporary. It means in this case, it's something that has occurred to you and which you wish to amend so that the "want" will disappear..
The meaning is exactly the same as "I am looking for" and the reason people use it is to emphasise this temporary requirement and invite suggestions how to resolve it.
I mean, you don't often go into Boots and say "hello, I want some scissors" because that's quite abrupt. You'd say "I'm looking for" because there's an invitation to staff to help. "I'm wanting" functions the same, but your response to it is of a conservative thinker not enjoying the increasing preference of using it. In other words you are averse to change.

You're welcome. 😊

@MrMucker will the want disappear as soon as you find the scissors though? Will you not want the scissors after you’ve found them?

OP posts:

MrMucker · 18/06/2026 15:16

CarerBurnout · 18/06/2026 15:11

Indeed.

Can I add, people referring their "eldest" and "youngest" when they only have two children.

Yes but also
People criticising alleged language mistakes of others via the medium of making their own mistakes!!!

Check yer post!

CarerBurnout · 18/06/2026 15:11

Indeed.

Can I add, people referring their "eldest" and "youngest" when they only have two children.

MrMucker · 18/06/2026 15:10

Actually this is not a grammar mistake at all.
"want" is a stative verb, meaning a state of mind or an abiding condition or situation.
If you change it to "wanting" then you change the meaning specifically to something temporary. It means in this case, it's something that has occurred to you and which you wish to amend so that the "want" will disappear..
The meaning is exactly the same as "I am looking for" and the reason people use it is to emphasise this temporary requirement and invite suggestions how to resolve it.
I mean, you don't often go into Boots and say "hello, I want some scissors" because that's quite abrupt. You'd say "I'm looking for" because there's an invitation to staff to help. "I'm wanting" functions the same, but your response to it is of a conservative thinker not enjoying the increasing preference of using it. In other words you are averse to change.

You're welcome. 😊

Thehop · 18/06/2026 15:01

YANBU

I hate it