To be Specific....

[Gossipmonster]

One of admin lady at work's favourite words is "specific" thing is she says "pacific" Every. Fucking. Time.

Another colleague (degree educated) says "she/he done" instead of "did".

I just want to scream - but feel like it's so petty I couldn't possibly say anything.

Anyone else? :)

Hoppinggreen I used to have a colleague who said 'unindated' too :( She also said 'pacific' instead of specific. The funny thing is, our job was selling cruises, so when she asked people 'what was your pacific enquiry?' I used to imagine them replying 'no, not Pacific, it was an Atlantic cruise
I was interested in'

Re. It's/its... I spotted an error of this ilk on a fact card inside a packet of children's snacks (Yoyo fruit string type things) only yesterday. The fact on the card stated that a particular dinosaur kept itself warm by wrapping 'it's tail around it's body'. Fear not pedants, I have e-mailed the manufacturers to admonish them.

I have also seen 'rest bite', many times.

Like previous posters, I think it might be lack of reading that's to blame. Surely, if people read a bit (even just the Argos catalogue), they'd know that there's no such thing as a Chester Draws, for example.

bored of
different to
them things
not using a capital letter for I

What is wrong with bored of?
I know I use it and I'd hate to think that I was making an error.

Of course a lot of these could be said to be malapropisms.

Using xxx instead of a full stop, and using xxx after every sentence
Eg, "gonna put the kids to bed xxx then chill with a movie xxx but what shall I watch xxx"
This is an almost daily fb status from one friend of mine. Usually followed within 5 minutes with what she's going to watch, then updates about the film every 5/10 minutes.

less and fewer.

Wrong : ...less people. ...10 items or less.
Right: ...fewer people. Fewer cars, less traffic.

Myself instead of I.

Wrong: Myself, and a friend went...

Right: I went with a friend. A friend and I went.

In an office I worked in once the guy next to me used to say 'I've not got nothing....' Rather than 'I've not got anything...'. Tried to point out he was actually saying he did have something but got politely told to eff off.

I've just seen malty task?!

Brought and bought is the worst one. Can people not see they mean two very different things?

Secatary (secretary)

Apparently the forthcoming Scottish referendum is to decide whether or not the country should be 'independant' :-(

Ugh!

Exp's mum used to mix up words all the time. She got very passionate when talking about speeding drivers and asked me if i could imagine the 'compact' of hitting another car at 100mph.

Exp also used to mix up unconditional and unrequited love.

It was hard not to laugh at times.

I corrected someone who used 'pacific' instead of 'specific'. Her reply was 'yes, that's what I said - pacific'. She genuinely couldn't hear the difference

These people just need to be quietly taken away somewhere and shot educated, before any more of these abominations become part of the wonderful English language.

Two American quirks I don't like:

"Speaking to" a topic or an issue, instead of discussing the topic or addressing the issue. (I suppose "speak to" is a synonym of "address", but it still sounds bad.)

"Processes" with the American short o and the final e lengthened, to make it sound a bit like "Rameses". WHAT?

Barrow instead of borrow. They don't sound remotely alike.

Also someone I know gets her tenses mixed up constantly. As in 'I done fish for dinner' or 'I've saw it three times.' It really jars.

Also either instead of neither. How? They mean two different things. Stop!

Barrow instead of borrow. They don't sound remotely alike.

Also someone I know gets her tenses mixed up constantly. As in 'I done fish for dinner' or 'I've saw it three times.' It really jars.

Also either instead of neither. As in 'No, me either'. How? They mean two different things. Stop!

Colleague frequently says "alise" instead of "liaise". Makes me want to throttle her.

She also said that "he rendered his notice" the other day.

English isn't her first language, but she doesn't like people correcting her so looks like I'm putting up with it for a while.

TawdryTatou LOVE the username and your comment. MN needs a "like" button.

To everyone on this thread, I can't do a link on my thread but if you have not seen it before, you must IMMEDIATELY Google "Mitchell and Webb grammar" and sit back and enjoy...

Howling with laughter here at Pedal stool

Have we had chimley yet? My mum says this and I can't help but explode, I think she thinks I'm mad

She says wheelbarrel too. I despair.

The teachers in Tough Young Teachers are outstanding students, I believe the one leaving the voicemail studied English language

A slither of cake instead of a sliver.

Owlcapone. To text is a verb. A text is a noun.

Avoid lexical shift all you want, it is happening!

Yes, a text is a noun. Which is why I said sent a text. You accused me of adding the verb to send to another verb. You were wrong.

If you are going to talk about "lexical shift" then you really have no grounds to complain about how people use language - what once was wrong is now right

Jessie

Com-ity instead of committee.......

My ultimate pet hate is when they just make up words. I am quite sure that 'incentivize and 'condomize' are not real words.....

I had pacific, a lot, AND "advocado" -- as in "I'll have a bacon and advocado sandwich please". Which was hysterical since the culprit was a lawyer!

My father-in-law has also recently had "prostrate" problems.

Sigh. I forgave each time 'cos the offenders were otherwise nice people.