To wonder why adverbs are disappearing?

[Sittingontopoftheworld]

‘He sings amazing.’
‘I eat healthy.’
‘He did really good in the challenge.’

Dear god, where have all the adverbs gone? Drives me nuts! If I pull my teen DC up on it, they roll their eyes and can’t accept they’re saying anything wrong. Surely they are not disappearing for good? I like adverbs!

Yes that is annoying, but not as bad as 'I was sat/stood...' which I even hear from BBC presenters, see in books, newspapers etc.

That's because there are people on television with dreadful regional accents and dialects these days. "I was sat" is really standard in Manchester. I didn't know it irritated people until reading it on Mumsnet, but I'll make sure I say it as often as possible now.

However I agree with the OP's point on the lack of adverbs, which I think is a shame.

@LoafofSellotape
I raise you BRUNG
cries

In terms of writing style many guides advise reducing adverb usage. In the words of Stephen King 'I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftop

To be fair, this thread is about the incorrect use of adverbs.

Hemingway wasn't keen on adverbs. Or adjectives.

< Although he was a self-regarding, preening twat and horrible to women>

When I'm analysing writing style with students, it's notable how often description is conveyed by verbs.

Having worked with teenagers most of my adult life, and having a DH with EAL, has made me immune from being too annoyed by this sort of thing.

However, since we're talking about adverbs, did you know that Merriam-Webster had changed the definition of "literally" to include its other more modern figurative meaning?

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally

Language evolves. I agree with @FartnissEverbeans

DaveCoaches, “wait on” is regional. Here in Scotland people at a stop say they are “waiting on the bus”, rather than waiting “for” the bus.
It still makes me smile- I imagine them in an apron, serving the bus a drink of diesel...!

@PigletJohn

I read that article.

Rees-Mogg is quickly becoming a caricature of himself.

Hate on
Love on
Can I get?
Excited for
Switch out
Change up

American social media. We're doomed

Yes - 'quick' instead of 'quickly' particularly irritates me - if they want a short word why not say 'fast'?

It's just lazy and sloppy IMO. I dare say a lot of younger ones think it just sounds cool, or maybe they just enjoy irritating older people. Hardly unknown!

OTOH it's going back a long time now, but I still love how a dd of maybe 10 replied when I asked how she'd done in school tests:

'English was OK, Mum, but I did really craply at maths.'

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER Oh yes, and the American "don't take it personal" instead of personally.

Agree about Simon Cowell and the ‘You did amazing.’

Yes to misuse of past participles. My DC say ‘he has came’ etc. Er...no! I’m constantly correcting them and I’m always going to - evolution of language or not!

I keep seeing "Has anybody went to...?"
Surely people don't actually say that, do they? Is it just on SM?

Remember the days when they only thing to froth about was the use of 'yourself?'

Happy days.

And in cooking programmes - “cook off”.

Just cook, ffs.

Oh yes, and the American "don't take it personal" instead of personally.

Another Americanism that drives me mad is “your call will be answered momentarily”.

No, your call will be answered in a moment.

"How are you?"
"I'm good" - I can't stand this, it sounds ridiculous.

Yes, that’s it loaf! Using the simple past tense of a verb instead of the past participle you need for the present perfect. (Ha, I think that’s right!!)

'Cook off' has been used in kitchens for as long as I can remember,it's a culinary expression and I'm old,so we'll give that one a free pass

did you know that Merriam-Webster had changed the definition of "literally" to include its other more modern figurative meaning?

The whole point of the word 'literally' is that the action isn't figurative. I understand the 'language evolves' argument, but this corruption of the word 'literally' is an example of language being destroyed.

We have plenty of intensifiers already - degrading 'literally' to yet another is an utter waste of the word. If we can no longer rely on 'literally' meaning that whatever it is actually happened, how are we now to convey this?

"I took it out of the oven and it literally exploded. I literally died of shock."
"Yeah ..." (bored)
"No, I mean it really exploded, it blew up in my face and burnt me. I didn't really die, though."

Oh god! YES! “I did brilliant” or similar. I’m hearing this a lot on Radio 4. Not the presenters of course. Drives me nuts.
I am the pedant that corrects the children in my class as I can’t bear to let it go through.

Cook off' has been used in kitchens for as long as I can remember,it's a culinary expression and I'm old,so we'll give that one a free pass

I’m amazed that chefs have the time to add an unnecessary word to their conversations - they always seem to be rushing about so much

'Cook out' is used as well, not sure the difference exactly.

Rees-Mogg has rather shown himself up with the blanket comma ban after "and" PigletJohn.

For example...

Rees-Mogg always insists that his letters are concise and correct (no comma required).

Rees-Mogg insists his letters are written with correct punctuation and, given his expensive education, should know when to use a comma (comma required after "and").

Eton needs to brush up on basics it seems.

I know that technically they’re incorrect but certain things convey a meaning that the correct doesn’t.

I was sat waiting for him

I was sitting waiting for him

I quite like

‘The boy did good’ - if say it’s a DH bringing home chocolate & flowers

The correct ‘the boy did well’ Is not the same, but far better for a child getting a good test result

Some things are technically the same ‘error’ but some annoy me & others don’t...

Don’t take it personal- rage inducing

I did brilliant - rage inducing

He has came. - WTAF????

Bring/take
Bought/brought
Arghhhhhhh

I love regional language such as ‘waiting on’
Etc

But I’d outlaw ‘we was’ if I could!!

When I was at university, one of the English students said that adverbs would disappear within 20 years. He blamed football commentators especially.

That was 35 years ago. I have lost contact, but if ever we met again, I would remind him of this and tell him he was correct.

The boy did good’ - if say it’s a DH bringing home chocolate & flowers

Whereas I’d say, “No, I still don’t want a shag.”

I quite like

Not sure this is incorrect as it implies nuance, as does "really."