Bored of

[hollyisalovelyname]

On the Mumsnet homepage today:
....bored of.....
Aghhhhhhh!

I don't get it, what does it mean?

It should be 'bored with' or 'bored by', not 'bored of'.

I disagree. Why can you not use "bored of" ?? Rubbish

skinny - sorry, but you may not be in the part of Mumsnet where you will feel most comfortable if you really need to ask that question seriously rather than just to stir things up. You might sign yourself "Bored of Bournemouth", if writing a letter in that vein, but otherwise there can be no possible excuse for this form.

Oh, I see, someone used it instead of 'with'? I was looking at it and couldn't get my head around the meaning.

CatWithKittens I think you too perhaps are not in the part of Mumsnet where you will feel most comfortable. I think you'd fit in very well in the AIBU forum.

"The first two constructions, bored with and bored by, are the standard ones. The third, bored of, is more recent than the other two and it’s become extremely common. In fact, the Oxford English Corpus contains almost twice as many instances of bored of than bored by. It represents a perfectly logical development of the language, and was probably formed on the pattern of expressions such as tired of or weary of."

Indeed. We say "tired of" and "sick of", so there's not really any good reason not to say "bored of" as well. If there was some fundamental reason why "bored of" would mean something else, then maybe there'd be some reason to object to it, but I can't see that there is. Having said that I don't think I'm going to start saying "bored of", myself.

what is wrong with 'bored of'? gosh and I thought that I was pedantic!
does it matter? If it is in the corpus then it is not wrong. Besides there is actually no such thing as 'wrong' in the English Language, bet u didn't know that!
also if people have nothing better to do....i despair.
some people are good at writing, grammar etc., others are better at sums, or being charming or whatever.

Not as bad as "should of" or "could of" that realy gets my goat

Nearly as bad as 'try and'....

Should/could of is horrible.

(I did an online test recently and discovered that I'm 90% pedantic)

It is worth remembering that the Corpus reflects current usage, which may or not be correct, as those who follow this Forum will know. The fact that a usage is common may simply mean that ther is widespread ignorance - look at the use of "of" instead of "have". It is remarkably common but is it to be approved or defended? In any case I note that skinnyflatwhite's quotation from the Oxford Dictionaries site in relation to "bored of" is somewhat selective. She omits the part which shows exactly why pedants complain of this usage: "Nevertheless some people dislike it and it's not fully accepted in standard English. It's best to avoid using it in formal writing."

".... there is widespread ignorance ... " I pressed send before checking.

yes catwithkittens but what is in current usage is in fact correct, as there is no official 'Academy' of the English language as in France or Spain, to declare what is 'right' or 'wrong'. IN fact this is a strength of English and is why it has so many varieties, and has contributed towards it being a world language.
there are still some things that will put our teeth on edge as pedants, of course

...and your excuse for rudeness and condescending nature towards me is? CatWithKittens

Skinny - I did not intend to be either rude or condescending and regret that you thought I did. Your use of "Rubbish" to dismiss other people's views indicated to me that I was not replying to anybody with a thin skin but I am sorry if my reply was too robust for you or upset you.

Nigella'sDealer - You are of course right to say that there is no Academy but I have to disagree that what is in current usage is in fact correct - if by correct you mean acceptable and beyond criticism. If that is true pedantry is dead and this Forum should die with it. I frequently hear, and even see written, "should of", "would of" and similar perversions of standard English. They both appear to be in current usage. Do you take the view that they are "correct"?

yes if they are in common use then by default they become 'correct'.
I know that might grate a bit but that is how it is.
Pedantry will never be dead though. fear not!
What would you say to a would be pedant who tells you that splitting an infinitive is 'wrong'? I would say is it? why? who says? They will not be able to answer and will probably start blustering pompously!

Oh, how I love pedants' corner! I don't think I shall ever get bored of it

MrsRuffdiamond

How can "should of" ever be correct? "Of" is not an alternative spelling of the word "have"; it is a completely different word type. Would you say "I of got four apples" or "I of only one thing to say to you"?

I agree that English is a language that evolves, but that shouldn't be an excuse for laziness in language.