Anybody have any weird habits.

[breeze]

Just thought I would start this thread, as my DH always take the mickey out of me for when I am hanging out my washing, I always have to have the same colour peg on the same item. I didn't
actually realise this until it was pointed out. Am I the only one who does things like this.

Oooh, JanZ ? we're going to have to start that thread on grammar ? I can only dimly remember about that French 'liaison' thing (and I did A level AND lived there for a year!). What was it?
Can't you call the British Consulate in India and get them to contact your mum AT ONCE,telling her she's urgently required back in the UK on an important matter. Gosh, a cycling mum ? good on her ? I'm very impressed!

Breeze ? no, I don't know what you mean about having the tag up your end. I'd keep quiet about things like that if I were you. (BTW, just thought of another one ? cutting the tags off new clothes, duvets, etc ? they really annoy me.)

Yes, and drying racks ? all the socks have to go on the bottom rung. Arranged in pairs.

Bayleaf - Sunday?

Oooh, JanZ ? we're going to have to start that thread on grammar ? I can only dimly remember about that French 'liaison' thing (and I did A level AND lived there for a year!). What was it?
Can't you call the British Consulate in India and get them to contact your mum AT ONCE,telling her she's urgently required back in the UK on an important matter. Gosh, a cycling mum ? good on her ? I'm very impressed!

Breeze ? no, I don't know what you mean about having the tag up your end. I'd keep quiet about things like that if I were you. (BTW, just thought of another one ? cutting the tags off new clothes, duvets, etc ? they really annoy me.)

Yes, and drying racks ? all the socks have to go on the bottom rung. Arranged in pairs.

Hilary and ks, you are my sisters under the skin. Am I the only one who insists on correct spelling, grammar and punctuation in text messages?

No, I do too! Although I'll let the punctuation go if I can't find the right mark and get bored scrolling through them.

Marks & Spencer care about grammar. They are the only supermarket I have ever seen use the words "10 items or fewer" instead of "10 items or less".

I cant't afford to shop there though

M&S used to have "x items or less" - Mum complained to them! I'm not saying that's why they changed though!

Off topic, but so what, I'm proud of them: Mum and Dad are now both in their 60s (Mum 63 and Dad 66) and are still gallivanting off around the world. They're just back from a trip to see family in South Africa and are now on a 2 week cycling holiday in Southern Inda (last year it was Cuba and the year before it was Vietnam). I have difficulty keeping up with them! My definition of middle aged keeps changing as to me they're not yet middle aged. I think I'm pushing it a bit now!

If I remember correctly, liaison is when two vowel sounds in separate words would otherwise merge, so a consonant is introduced. I might have got the word wrong though (it's nearly 20 years since I finished my French degree!) - but that's the effect that I meant.

I get really upset about grammar mistakes in documents circulated at work (and worse, to the customer) - but have never worked out a diplomatic way of telling the author!

I get very cross with on-screen spelling mistakes etc. It's mostly 'youth' programming, but even the BBC has been getting sloppier. I particularly hate the use of everyday when it should be every day e.g. 'Every Day at 8.00pm'

JanZ> In the past when I have spotted grammar and spelling mistakes in letters and mails from colleagues, I have been known to make a point of replying using the same words but with the corrections made.

Some people may well hate me.

I make tonnes of mistakes myself, so I really should relax about it more.

slug, I use proper words, punctuation and sentences in text messages too. It does take more time but when I have tried to abbreviate, I have to delete it all and type it properly anyway!

Also, don't you just hate it when you send an email and THEN notice it's got a spelling mistake in it?

I really need a spellcheck on mumsnet. Am going to have to resort to a dictionary soon.

Angelmother - I am exactly the same both with the washing up and the crisp packets. Freeky!! I am also very particular about how the washing is hung up, how the towels are hanging in the bathroom (and which colours should be used together) and how my (and dd) clothes are arranged in the wardrobe....

Do you know what else I really hate - incorrect grammar on tv. What about that advert which says a bike is an 'exact replica'. Frankly, something is either a replica or not... No wonder the youth cannot speak properly!

Hmm, you sure ks? A replica is a representation. Oxford English lists it as: 1. a duplicate of a work made by the original artist. 2. a facsimile, an exact copy. 3. a copy or model, esp. on a smaller scale.

I.e. a replica gun or car could be a smaller scale and not work as the original would but is still a replica. Therefore the phrase "an exact replica" would imply dictionary definitions 1 and 2 rather than 3, so it isn't tautological.

(oh, by the way, that's my bad habit - looking things up in dictionaries and researching the origin of words and phrases.... sorry!)

In that case, Georgina, I have just the website for you. It's American though.
www.wordorigins.org

Another US one, www.pseudodictionary.com

I found them in this Saturday's Independent supplement.

Ta SoupDragon - bookmarked

I bet you all thought you were fairly unique till you read this thread (sorry ks)

What about the use of apostrophes for pleurals! e.g. sausage's. Aaaarggh... I get really mad at that. There is a sign near me that says 'ANTIQUE,S'. I mean, if you are going to get it wrong, why not go the whole hog! Every time I pass it, I want to run into the shop, and tell them.

Now I am paranoid that I have made a mistake in this posting The other day, I posted on another site, and made a typo, that made it look like I thought the word 'whose' was 'whos'. I was really embarassed! I am slowly realising how anal I am

Ok I'm really sad- my most hated phrase is when someone says (usually on natural history programmes- although not on ones made by the BBC bristol unit)- 'yada yada yada... for the good of the species......" agghhhhh no no no!!! evolution doesn't work like that. Told you I was sad.

Oh I'm sorry, ks [feels guilty now]