...to get cross every time I see "10 items or less"

[Tech]

It should be "fewer". I once wrote a long message to the CEO of M&S on this very subject, but didn't send it after one of my colleagues told me I was a "very sad individual indeed". Hmm. Still bugs me though.... maybe we should have "pedants corner" in addition to this topic...

kitty - you mean they missed the apostrophe in "student's"??

Message withdrawn

Oh, yes, drives me mad. There is a sign up at our local swimming pool advertising a people-drying machine with a typed notice proclaiming 'Use less towels'. DH came home from swimming one evening, laughing, ans said to me - 'you've ben swimming today, haven't you?' I said - 'how d'you know?' - he said - 'cos I have seen a 'less' on a sign crossed out and replaced with FEWER'
And he was right - it was me.

Message withdrawn

Also, there was recently a sign up on a Year 3 classroom door requesting parents to come and help with swimming on Thursday's (sic)
Was so riled, complained to head who was clearly irritated at the triviality, and the sign stayed. Great example to the Year 3 kids

kookaburra

Maybe I'll take a photo of it and put in my gallery....!

The head didn't think that was important? Gosh, our head would - she'd go mad!

Right, Im happy with the 'stationARy' 'stationERy' issue.
Can someone please explain 'principle'/'principal'.
I thought 'principal' was the American equivalent of headteacher, and 'principle' is used to mean 'main' - 'principle reason'.
No-one else seems to do it like this - 'principal' is used for everything. Can someone please explain?

Principal is like 'first' - you could say 'the principal reason' (if you wanted, but probably not best example) and yes, American head. Principle you have right.

Don't know why people get it wrong. It's not that difficult!

? Principal is an adjective meaning "most important" or "main" OR a noun designating "the main or chief one." Thus, the principal sum of money on which one draws interest is the principal, and the principal person in a school is the principal.

? Principle can never be an adjective. It is a noun only, referring to a fundamental law or concept or to a code of conduct, often used in the plural, as in "moral principles." Once we grasp this principle, we are less likely to confuse these words.

In fact, the words have absolutely no meanings in common. While principal refers to "chief" or "main" (or to the chief or main person or thing), principle never does. While principle refers to a fundamental law or code of conduct, principal never does.

No sorry, ignore me - principle you don't have right - am trying to think how to explain it now...

You would say 'in principle...' or 'it's the principle...'

THe words sounds bizarre now I've said it so many times - hope I'm not mixed up after all that!!

Thank God for twelveyeargap - much better than my garbled offering!

Roll call for Pedants' Corner here.

Thanks, that does make sense. Think I just need to remember that principle is a noun.
I'd completely forgotten that meaning anyway!

oh have just reread 12yeargap's post again

OK, can't be that lazy, will need to remember the meanings

My other favourite is complimentary medicine. I like the thought of an asprin saying "you look lovely today"....

I feel scared to post anything now in case it's grammatically incorrect.

Should I read Eat Shoots and Leaves?

I think it's the pedants who have the most fear from making mistakes. We leave ourselves wide open to abuse!

People who live in glasshouses shouldn't colour-check the kettle.

While you're all here, what's the correct plural of roof?

roofs?
I've never seen 'rooves' anyway!

Roofs. Try finding "rooves" on dictionary.com.