To shout “No! The Queen was not sat alone!”

[Saddlesore]

I have just been reading some of the online coverage of Prince Philip’s funeral, from some pretty blue-chip websites, and some of them say “The Queen was sat alone...” This is like nails down a blackboard for me (along with “I was stood...”). Surely the Queen was sitting, or was seated?
Of course, there’s an outside chance that the writer made a spelling error and meant to say “The Queen was sad...” - but that goes without saying.

Also good point about sub-editing. I hadn't thought about that. It's an issue in US online media as well. Not just grammar, but factual mistakes as well.

It's a weird error.

@GreenTeaPingPong

Before all the papers went online, they used to pay highly-skilled sub-editors who would never have let this through. Now news websites are riddled with grammatical errors and even blatantly obvious typos, but they don't care, as long as they keep churning out the content and getting the clicks.

THIS.

She was sitting on her jack OP
Simple

It's worth pointing out that there's at least one generation of adults who weren't taught formal grammatical rules at school. Basic grammar yes but much beyond that was only introduced during foreign language classes.

I confess I'm often guilty of the op's example in my daily speech...colloquialisms will out

There has already been some nitpicking silliness on here today,it was concerning high heeled shoes., so that's enough for today.

@anyoldtime

I absolutely hate the way language has to be dumbed down. Someone “was sat”, “it’s needed doing”, “it’s needing done” and so on. Ffs, it’s not that difficult.

I’m not from the UK and always thought itt must be a regional way of speaking? It is odd as it’s the ...., well English language.

^^ This. I live outside the UK and I've always thought that these were regional UK expressions. Or maybe just the way uneducated people speak.

At least she wasn't 'sat shaking and crying', although in the circumstances, eh?

I always thought 'nob' = old fashioned term for posho

Knob = someone who's acting like a dick. Or an actual penis dick.

'was sat' is awkward phrasing though. I wouldn't use it myself and would be surprised to see it used on news channels.

We all use colloquialisms that are grammatically incorrect and pointing out errors in someone’s speech or online posts is rude (rather like calling someone a nob, or even a knob). I am, though, irritated that mainstream news channels are using “was sat”. It seems particularly ironic in this case that they couldn’t use the Queen’s English.

Who (besides u ) cares

@Blue4YOU

Sorry pps.. a “knob” not a “nob” and a “place, not a plaid”. Oops- they will get me with their linguistic pitchforks

People in glass houses...

Ellipsis is three dots.
A full stop should go before the closing speech marks.
A dash should have a space either side.

@FontyMcFontface

Collins dictionary also agrees with me.

Nob = nobility = ‘head’ = penis

Collins says it is knob = penis.

I agree - was sat is poor English.

Hurray! This irritates me too - beyond reason. Then there's "I was stood.." I'm constantly correcting my (adult) children and my grandchildren. They ignore me, of course.

@Blue4YOU

I absolutely hate the way language has to be dumbed down. Someone “was sat”, “it’s needed doing”, “it’s needing done” and so on. Ffs, it’s not that difficult. But OP you will get all the “what difference does it make, language evolves” comments.which makes me think.. what, into incomprehensible half-speak?

I agree. My response is that the ‘language evolves’ comment is that it’s ignorance masquerading as progress. I hate the way in which people dismiss any attempt to use English language, particularly written English, properly.

[quote OwlBeThere]@Blue4YOU that’s unlikely, but the fact is many of the ‘proper’ words/grammar of today was wrong initially. Language DOES evolve and any linguist worth their degree will tell you being prescriptive as a linguist is just making your own life harder.
I’m as irritated as anyone by things like literally being misused completely...but language will evolve whatever we do.[/quote]
Its one thing saying we shouldn’t be prescriptive about language but ‘sat’ and ‘sitting’, ‘stood’ and ‘standing’ are entirely different part of speech and should be used properly.

‘She was sat alone.’ Implies an action was done to her and that she was put by herself.

‘She was sitting alone.’ Implies that she chose to sit by herself.

The first is slightly more dramatic and sounds sad. It makes a better news story.

@Skral

‘She was sat alone.’ Implies an action was done to her and that she was put by herself.

‘She was sitting alone.’ Implies that she chose to sit by herself.

The first is slightly more dramatic and sounds sad. It makes a better news story.

No, that would surely be was seated? Was sat is never correct.

I am sat here like this 🙄

Just when you think you have seen every whine about the Royal Family this week.

But OP you will get all the “what difference does it make, language evolves” comments.which makes me think.. what, into incomprehensible half-speak?

I'm with you on this. Every time I hear or read "I should/would of..", I have to restrain my impulse to shout "Kindly conjugate the verb "to of"".

I've learnt to live with split infinitives, though. They used to make me wince.

I of
You ofst
He she oft
We offen
They offenen

@Saddlesore I feel your anger, but folk like us are relegated to pedants corner

@PurpleDaisies

There’s a time and a plaid for this sort of comment.

This really isn’t it.

Agree.

Would you pick on the language family meme era used to desire what happened at someone's funeral?

No? Well then maybe have some respect that this is someone's grief played out in public and picking on how it's describe is disrespect beyond belief?

Does the internet have some kind of sense of humour?

Those words actually read correctly before I pressed send