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Original poster

It's "the worsT", not "the worse"

281 replies

Dovesono · 17/09/2026 20:51

Well not always, but most of the time when people write "worse", they actually mean "worst".

If the worst should happen.
If the worst comes to the worst.
The worst thing I have ever seen.
She is the worst person I know.

As in "bad, worse, worst."
Opposite of "good, better best."

Thank you.

OP posts:
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Bbq1 · 21/09/2026 20:21

Dovesono · 21/09/2026 19:58

I can think of several reasons why I wouldn't want one of those.

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😂

Original poster
Dovesono · 21/09/2026 19:58

Bbq1 · 20/09/2026 10:49

I once saw a sign in a shop window advertising a "glass bowel" for sale!

I can think of several reasons why I wouldn't want one of those.

OP posts:
Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 20/09/2026 15:19

The other thing I frequently see, is people adding ‘ness’ to words instead of the correct ‘ity’ eg. impartialness
I accept that the meaning is still there, but we have a beautiful language, and this really grates.

My English Language teacher gave us a very stern look for even saying something was ‘nice’, as there were myriad other, more suitibly descriptive, words available.

Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 20/09/2026 15:02

I haven’t RTFT so apologies if I’m repeating.
Step foot….. no! It’s set foot…..
I don’t believe that grammar is taught in school the way it used to be. But I’m old!

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 14:38

Ive just seen my example of weighted again

Someone on another thread has said 'I weighted xx stone xx lb' last week.

Where/wear/ware has that come from?

No one even says weighted.

Amberlynnswashcloth · 20/09/2026 13:46

After you leave education there's nobody there to correct your writing and bad habits form. It took my 10 year old to point out that I've been mixing-up my its/it's. Nobody at work has ever mentioned this.

RikthePoet · 20/09/2026 13:37

Ironfloor269 · 20/09/2026 13:20

American English 😂

No, there’s English and then there’s mistakes.

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I know you reckon you're being droll and sophisticated, but this is pretty awful British exceptionalism. It's a Farage view of language.

Ironfloor269 · 20/09/2026 13:20

RikthePoet · 20/09/2026 12:43

Yeah, because you're being an arse.

"I'm good" is an initially American and now very common British expression.

Language changes across generations. This is it changing.

There is no logical reason why your use of the language is "correct" and your daughter's use is "incorrect".

There is no authority deciding you are right and she is wrong and we should stop pretending there is. All we have is practice and observation.

Show quote history

American English 😂

No, there’s English and then there’s mistakes.

Ironfloor269 · 20/09/2026 13:16

RikthePoet · 20/09/2026 12:43

Yeah, because you're being an arse.

"I'm good" is an initially American and now very common British expression.

Language changes across generations. This is it changing.

There is no logical reason why your use of the language is "correct" and your daughter's use is "incorrect".

There is no authority deciding you are right and she is wrong and we should stop pretending there is. All we have is practice and observation.

Show quote history

😆

Suchevilforebodings · 20/09/2026 12:46

Genuinely/generally winds me right up. So many people say generally when they mean genuinely now, and I've noticed my 8 year old has started doing it. Training her out of that asap!

RikthePoet · 20/09/2026 12:43

Ironfloor269 · 20/09/2026 10:27

It’s to DD’s greatest annoyance that I ask her to repeat what she said correctly this time, when she responds ‘I’m good’ when asked ‘how are you today?’ 😀

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Yeah, because you're being an arse.

"I'm good" is an initially American and now very common British expression.

Language changes across generations. This is it changing.

There is no logical reason why your use of the language is "correct" and your daughter's use is "incorrect".

There is no authority deciding you are right and she is wrong and we should stop pretending there is. All we have is practice and observation.

CoffeeCantata · 20/09/2026 12:32

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 11:53

Although I did say upthread that my OH struggles to pronounce some words correctly, he also just says things wrong, he says 'stye' instead of 'stile', 'oh theres a stye up ahead'

He says Kway instead of Quay

It really annoys me.

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Someone I know used to say “strow ” for straw. I’m fairly aware of regional accents but I’d never come across this pronunciation.

It does seem weird!

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 11:54

Bbq1 · 20/09/2026 10:49

I once saw a sign in a shop window advertising a "glass bowel" for sale!

I really love that!

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 11:53

Ironfloor269 · 20/09/2026 10:27

It’s to DD’s greatest annoyance that I ask her to repeat what she said correctly this time, when she responds ‘I’m good’ when asked ‘how are you today?’ 😀

Show quote history

Although I did say upthread that my OH struggles to pronounce some words correctly, he also just says things wrong, he says 'stye' instead of 'stile', 'oh theres a stye up ahead'

He says Kway instead of Quay

It really annoys me.

Greenandyellowday · 20/09/2026 11:06

Just read a MN thread about fitted sheets. Someone mentioned that M&S ones have a "discrete" label to indicate which is the short side.

Bbq1 · 20/09/2026 10:49

I once saw a sign in a shop window advertising a "glass bowel" for sale!

Ironfloor269 · 20/09/2026 10:27

ExOptimist · 19/09/2026 21:41

This is the same thing as when people are now asked "how are you?" the answer is so often "I'm good thanks".

Yes, you may be very well-behaved or talented at something, but the answer should be " I'm well thanks" or "very well thanks". It infuriates me.

Show quote history

It’s to DD’s greatest annoyance that I ask her to repeat what she said correctly this time, when she responds ‘I’m good’ when asked ‘how are you today?’ 😀

ExOptimist · 19/09/2026 21:41

Pawparazzi · 19/09/2026 16:02

You can't say 'pretty good'. The phrase is 'pretty well'.

This is the same thing as when people are now asked "how are you?" the answer is so often "I'm good thanks".

Yes, you may be very well-behaved or talented at something, but the answer should be " I'm well thanks" or "very well thanks". It infuriates me.

Greenandyellowday · 19/09/2026 18:49

Read today on Mumsnet: "Carry on as you where". Were and where seem to have become interchangeable on here.

Also frequently see "we was" instead of "we were".

Pawparazzi · 19/09/2026 17:22

We don't live in the 18th century.

Original poster
Dovesono · 19/09/2026 17:11

Pawparazzi · 19/09/2026 16:02

You can't say 'pretty good'. The phrase is 'pretty well'.

Surely that depends whether you require an adjective or an adverb?

If someone asked you your opinion on a book or a film you wouldn't say, "it was pretty well". I suppose you could say, "I enjoyed it very well," if you wanted to sound like you were from the 18th century.

OP posts:
Pawparazzi · 19/09/2026 16:02

You can't say 'pretty good'. The phrase is 'pretty well'.

ForeverDelayedEpiphany · 19/09/2026 16:00

There, their, they're OP, it'll be alright. (!) 😬😅

Hope that's maid you feel better haha 😄

Seriously though, I absolutely agree, although I'm quite pedantic as I am an editor/journalist by trade so get narked at typos, spelling mistakes etc.

The worst one I read yesterday was from my deputy editor line manager, who wrote per say in his reply to my email! 😬

HollyhocksandPeons · 19/09/2026 15:56

And eTcetera, not Iksetra when you say it.

aloris · 19/09/2026 15:55

Notsosweetcaroline · 17/09/2026 21:35

It’s the word draws for me, I cannot for the life of me fathom how people don’t know they are drawers, don’t they read, anything, from online articles to books, how on earth does anyone not know your cupboard or bedside cabinet has drawers, not draws.

They do not read books. They only read online, usually social media (like mumsnet) where editing is treated as pedantic. Nothing is corrected so anything incorrect just gets repeated and fixed into common usage.

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