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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

'I'm looking to.....' Does this annoy anyone else?

41 replies

lottieandmias · 27/03/2015 06:39

These days it seems to be increasingly fashionable for people to say this. I think it's pretentious and meaningless.

'I'm looking to speak to Mr SoandSo'. Why not 'Can I speak to MrSoandSo' please. And it's used in so many other situations. For some reason it bugs me like nothing else! Where has it come from?

OP posts:

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 27/03/2015 10:18

I have no idea what region - it's something I've read on MN more often than heard! I don't think I know anyone who uses it (and I no longer encounter new English speakers outside my family that often as I live abroad).

"Looking to" would be correct in a sentence like "we are looking to the past for clues about the future" or "we are looking to the east for new culinary trends" but not as an alternative to "interested in" / "considering" / "thinking of" or "would like to".

JillyR2015 · 27/03/2015 10:34

It is just wrong. Use it if you want to but you will look a fool.

"Who impressed" is a summary of another thread on the talk homepage and that will make many of us wince because they need the bit after impressed such as "who impressed you". Who impressed .....leaves us thinking the grammar is all wrong.

Original poster

lottieandmias · 27/03/2015 11:19

Exactly, I have some paperwork which says someone will 'look to' me for payment rather than my ex husband because I have residence of the children.

OP posts:

Original poster

lottieandmias · 27/03/2015 11:20

And also I've noticed this which is also quite annoying. I hear it a lot in the early 20s age group and lately I've noticed my 11 year old daughter also says it.

'I enjoyed the film'
'Same'

OP posts:

mickeyfartpants · 27/03/2015 11:31

Noticed this too. As well as this one which makes me hate anyone who says it (Holly Willoughby, you are otherwise lovely but )

"What do you think to that?" instead of "What do you make of that?"

muminhants · 27/03/2015 11:33

It's like the "you must be in possession of a first class ticket" on South West Trains.

What's wrong with "you must have"?

There are a lot of people and organisations who need to have some training in using plain English.

Viviennemary · 27/03/2015 11:38

Now you mention it yes it does very faintly irritate me. I am intending to is more accurate.

helpmekeepstrong · 27/03/2015 12:07

muminhants 'I am in possession of a first class ticket and here it is' I do have a first class ticket, but not on me'. Dunno, looking at that, they're interchangeable aren't they? Shuffles back to the drawing board

DidoTheDodo · 27/03/2015 12:12

I had the "can" v "may" conversation with a colleague this morning.
She sulked.

bilbodog · 27/03/2015 12:13

I think a lot of these are Americanisms that are creeping in to our language as so many kids/teens TV programmes come from there. I don't think we can stop it. I think youngsters are also starting to 'text speak' in the way they communicate with their friends on line.

The80sweregreat · 27/03/2015 15:13

'Can i get' instead of 'May i have?' - Sounds so rude to me.
People who start sentences with 'so'. I have probably done it but it sounds odd.

funnyossity · 27/03/2015 15:27

I would use it in "I'm looking to buy a new car this year."

My dictionary gives one definition of look to as "to expect (to do)."

DoJo · 27/03/2015 15:46

Upcoming (the British English word is 'forthcoming')

According to whom?

JillyR2015 · 27/03/2015 16:47

It just defines you as not well educated. By all means make these mistakes but don't assume employers and colleagues and even potential boyfriends will think it's fine.

The other one which is on line all the time is "done" instead of finished. That is an American difference. Also people who write a lot of words when a few would do, tend to be badly educated.

funnyossity · 27/03/2015 17:28

Luckily for me my boyfriend's English was even worse than mine. Reader, I married him nonetheless.

DoJo · 27/03/2015 17:54

Exactly, I have some paperwork which says someone will 'look to' me for payment rather than my ex husband because I have residence of the children.

In this sense it is conforming to a fairly standard definition:

rely on (someone) to do or provide something.
"she will look to you for help"
synonyms: turn to, resort to, have recourse to, fall back on, avail oneself of, make use of
"they got themselves into trouble and now look to the government for help"
hope or expect to do something.
"universities are looking to expand their intakes"
synonyms: consider, give thought to, think about, turn one's thoughts to, take heed of, pay attention to, attend to, mind, heed
"we must look to the future"

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