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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be fed up with people saying "fed up OF" ...

70 replies

howtotellmum · 31/05/2009 22:01

do they not know the correct preposition after "fed-up"?

and also the use of "of" after "off" such as...

can't think of an example, but someone will..the "of" is not needed.......

OP posts:
Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 09:09

Or how about "I am going off of on one!"- why the unnecessary "of"- is that US speak too?

This is the one that really drives me mad, along with "There's" when "They're" is required- plural verb plural subject- it is even appearing in the adverts in print and on TV adverts.

And whilst I am going off of on one- I hate "no worries" when people mean "Don't worry", or "No problem".

so there.

OP posts:
KingRolo · 01/06/2009 09:13

The Americanisms remind me of when I went for a meal recently with my younger brother who kept saying things like, 'Could I get the chicken?', 'Could I get a Budweiser?' to the waiter. He also says 'gas station' instead of 'petrol station'. He thinks he's American, poor love.

That episode of Alan Partridge was funny where the wannabe American wagon driver said, in a very poor US accent, that he was 'going to get a Dr Pepper from the cooler' and Alan replied 'yes, and I'm going to have a GINSTERS from the FRIDGE'.

spokette · 01/06/2009 09:43

I have been drilling into my 5yo DTS that when they ask for something they must say "May I have" as oppose to "Can I have". I explain that the former is asking permission to do something whereas the latter is asking if they have the ability to do something.

However, I do feel I am fighting a losing battle when they constantly here adults say "Can I have"?

BTW, my grammar is imperfect but I do think it is important for my DTS to learn grammatically correct English!

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 09:54

I can excuse things like "Can I have" rather than "may I have" but I cannot excuse incorrect or additional prepositions!

OP posts:
paisleyleaf · 01/06/2009 10:25

"do they not know the correct preposition after "fed-up"?"

Don't you mean "formal" rather than "correct"?
"fed up of" is colloquial.

You're going to hate this; but even the Times use it....

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 10:29

No PL- I think you misunderstand...

the preposition after "bored" is "with", not "of".

The other pint I was amking is different- the addition of an extra "of" following "off".
It is becoming common all of a sudden, for no reason I can see, to use "Off of" when epole simply need to use "off".

It's not the difference between formal or colloquial.

OP posts:
ZZZen · 01/06/2009 10:30

this kind of thing doesn't really bother me much, so long as I understand what they're trying to say.

I don't understand the meaning of this though:
"I am going off of on one!"- Please translate.

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 10:30

yes, I know I should learn to type better!

As for the Times- well what do they know!

OP posts:
Bobblebuddy · 01/06/2009 10:32

Could of, would of, should of - ARGH

And people working on radio and TV who say 'F' when they mean 'TH'... Why can't they employ people who can pronounce it properly? Double ARRRGGGGHHHH!

hehehehe

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 10:33

zzzen I don't understand it either- but I saw a post on Mns yesterday where someone added an extra "of" after "off"- happens all the time.

I think this might be a similar example..

"I am going off of it"- e.g.- "I don't like chocolate any more. I am going off of it."

OP posts:
ZZZen · 01/06/2009 10:35

yes I see. The "on" is confusing me.

So "I am on one" is I like it
"I am going off of on one" is : I don't like it anymore

Weegiemum · 01/06/2009 10:37

Since we moved to Glasgow, our dcs have started using "how" instead of "why"

"go to bed"

"how?"

"just go up the stairs ...."

etc etc

TsarChasm · 01/06/2009 10:39

Ooh hooray - I like these threads. Agree with all of these.

Ok, brought instead of bought.
Loose instead of lose.
And a woman I used to know used to say pacific istead of specific.

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 10:56

pacific- I love that!

I thought there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel when my DDs secondary school started sending out "grammar lessons of the week/month etc" FOR PARENTS TO READ.

The reason people say "should of" etc. is because they HEAR "should've" ( contraction of "should have" )and in their ignorance think that is written "should of". They forget that "have" is part of the verb, whereas "of" is a preposition.

OP posts:
paisleyleaf · 01/06/2009 10:57

this is for you howtotellmum.

I am a bit fussy about language and sounding 't's etc
but 'fed up of' isn't something that upsets me.

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 11:03

PL- thanks- have to confess I had seen that already!

OP posts:
SummatAnNowt · 01/06/2009 11:48

Yeah, cos everyone speaks using grammar rules based upon a dialect spoken in a specific region when they were inventing a standard English for the written word. Er, no, they don't.

And for some of us not sounding t's, or any other letter/s is a perfectly valid dialect, as is having a different word order and different pronunciation.

And American English does have different grammar rules, it's not just an "inferior" form.

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 12:44

And for some of us not sounding t's, or any other letter/s is a perfectly valid dialect, as is having a different word order and different pronunciation.

This thread is not about the merits or validity of dialect which is summit completely different.

It is about the correct use of grammar, which if left unchecked can cause all kinds of confusion in meaning.

And whilst I am being pedantic, I am amazed at how many times I read "their" for "there" here, and "your" for "you're".

OP posts:
LightShinesInTheDarkness · 01/06/2009 12:48

YANBU

The one that gets me is people saying '4am in the morning'. You can't have 4am at any other time. FFS!!

Bobblebuddy · 01/06/2009 14:59

One that really annoys me is that so many people (including my local health authority, apparently) think that 12noon is 12AM

It is 12 pm. 12am is midnight.

My DD was requested to attend a development check at 12am grrrr.

Agree with howtotellmum - it is a worry that kids will grow up getting things wrong.

I also hate it when kids programs have the characters saying things like "more strongerer". I know it is meant to represent a small child who doesn't know it's wrong, but our children - who are watching it - won't get that subtle point. They will think it is right and will copy it!
. Very annoying IMO

FairLadyRantALot · 01/06/2009 15:05

Off you go to the pedantic corner....toddle off you...

(and I know I probably used the wrong of/f there...)

SummatAnNowt · 01/06/2009 15:36

Yes but you started the thread talking about "saying" you can't now change it to the written language. They are different.

SummatAnNowt · 01/06/2009 15:40

Plus, if you'd ever read a transcript of dialogue you would have a lot more to complain about! They can be barely comprehensible, full of repetition, and broken sentences, and umms and ahs. Not just a couple of trigger words people tend to trot out to make themselves feel like they're superior to the oiks what don't no grammar.

Original poster
howtotellmum · 01/06/2009 15:43

Yes but you started the thread talking about "saying" you can't now change it to the written language. They are different.

Don't know what you are talking/writing about.

If you m ean me, I didn't refer to either written or spoken language specifically- or should that be pacifically?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 01/06/2009 15:45

My personal fave is 'we was'!