To think some words don't belong in informal conversation

[Thrif]

There are certain words that, whilst technically correct, make a person sound completely up themselves when used out loud.

Whom is the worst. Whilst is another

Yabu some people are more articulate than others. That doesn't make the person "up themselves".

You wouldn't like me at all in real op.

I can of course temper and alter my speech if I need to, for work if speaking to particular clients. But that is exactly what is...altering how I speak.

When I am with friends, having a normal conversation I won't change how I speak. It is perhaps fortunate that my friends and I speak in a similar manner.

You are not above reproach LaQ. I have witnessed a few of your slip-ups .

Very few of the words on this thread are "posh" or particularly articulate. I have a strong regional accent and dialect and an about as common as they come. I use most of the words on this thread in every day conversation apart from "myself" in the way it had been suggested by some - because it js wrong.

There is nothing wrong with being articulate but using your language just to show off your "intelligence" shows a lack of social awareness.

However often it comes from a lack of confidence and a worry that you are not as good as everyone else and need to use "clever people's language" to be accepted or taken seriously. Russell Brand is a classic case of this.

I think this is the place that I have recently been in a situation where I could have used floccinaucinihilipilification for real (it means the act or habit of treating as worthless, and I could use it reference to a particular manager, and not in a positive way. I learnt it when I was about 12.)

I haven't had the nerve to do so, though, because I would be doing it just to make a point.

The who/whom distinction will be gone in a generation. It will not be missed.

Floggingmolly -- it will have had sod all to do with AS. The origins of "happy as a sandboy" are fine (it was to do with boys who sold/delivered sand) but "sandboy" came to be used in the mid-20th century as a disparaging term for brown people who came from places with a lot of sand, so it's sort of borderline offensive now.

You are not above reproach LaQ. I have witnessed a few of your slip-ups.

Yes. I'm not convinced that you're as articulate as you think you are.

The who/whom distinction will be gone in a generation. It will not be missed.
I disagree, it's still widely used.

The who/whom distinction will be gone in a generation. It will not be missed.

"I disagree, it's still widely used."

I still use it and so does my DH and our DCs.

Scone

The who/whom distinction is still widely used by those who know it and is also very much still used in professional roles. Particularly letters.

My children comprehend and use the who/whom distinction. The youngest are eighteen.

Ah,LaQ, most of the time you're fine. It's just the mistakes lots of people make because they 'sound' right? -'they gave DH and I a warm welcome' that sort of thing. ' I took dd and her friends shopping...her and her friends loved it'

Easily done

Tomuchtosay you said you struggle with spelling and grammar because of your dyslexia - but your post was beautifully written. Since you asked, the word you wanted was 'decipher', not 'deceiver'. Similar sounds, easy mistake to make.

I am probably guilty of using longer words than necessary, sometimes. I like words, and I think they're fun to use. I don't think I've ever pissed anyone off - I hope not!

Maybe I am overly strict LaQ? I always tend to correct my elder two DC and, increasingly, my six year old. 'No...they gave it to X and me, but X and I went'. I can often see them trying to mentally take themselves 'out' of the equation, as per my instructions! DD1 is at end of primary school and has almost flawless grammar. A bit frustrating to then go to Parents' night and be told 'yes her and X work well together...'/'we done that last term...'
I do think that impeccable grammar is a useful tool but your accent is unimportant.

The who/whom distinction is still widely used by those who know it and is also very much still used in professional roles. Particularly letters.

I said "in a generation." I didn't say tomorrow. I doubt I will be around to say "I told you so," but the bell will toll for "whom."

All you whom-lovers, do you say "It is I" on a regular basis, or even better, "that was they"?

There is nothing wrong with being articulate but using your language just to show off your "intelligence" shows a lack of social awareness.

And assuming that people are speaking a certain way to show off to YOU is arrogant and self-absorbed, and shows a lack of social awareness as well as an insecurity of self.

For some reason Dh and I respond to all of each other's queries of "who is it" with "it is I, Leclerc", which I think is allo, allo, but the reason is now lost in the mists of time. So yes we are keeping "it is I" alive. And whom, at least at work.