Examples of errors that have been normalised?

[spicedsoup]

Language evolves and I assume there are words or expressions that exist that developed from common misunderstandings or variations in usage. I don’t know of any examples though! Do you have any examples or know where I can find out more about how the English language has evolved?

I’ll also share that part of the reason I am curious is because I am irrationally concerned that one day ‘of’ in place of ‘ ‘ve’ as the contracted ‘have’ will become accepted as correct due to common usage. I’ll be an old lady ranting at young ones, “In my day it was HAVE! HAVE, I tell you!”. So I’m wondering what the precedent is

‘As best as I can’ rather than ‘as well as I can’

It was like she’d been under a rock for the last two years
Rather than
It was as though she’d been under a rock for the last two years

"Have" will be replaced by "of" over my dead body!!
Less is definitely acceptable now instead of fewer in many (not all) contexts.

I think Jane Austen always uses ‘well pleased’ rather than ‘very pleased’ because there was some rule about not using ‘very’ with a participle.

People saying mischievious instead of mischievous.

"Begs the question". This is now more or less universally (mis)used to mean "raises the question".

@ResurrectionInfinity

I think Jane Austen always uses ‘well pleased’ rather than ‘very pleased’ because there was some rule about not using ‘very’ with a participle.

I was taught that using very was lazy, I should find a more appropriate term that included the emphasis.

I still use very.

'As ,much as she loved him, she decided to let him go'- now universal, even amongst the articulate and educated. Should be:

'Much as she loved him, she decided to let him go'. The first 'as' has crept in from somewhere. No point in objecting. I just try not to wince.

Bring being used in place of take. For example,

‘Should I bring this jumper with me on holiday?’ Or ‘My DH said he would bring me to my sisters tomorrow but he’s changed his mind. I’m cross. AIBU?’

These make me screech ‘it’s TAKE! Should I take this jumper / he said he’d take me!!!

Bias

Not a phrase but the word 'liaise'. I don't know why but the correct spelling stuck with me since school. However in my last job I was told I was spelling it wrong (repeatedly 🙄) and any reports I produced were changed to liase before release. I've noticed it spelt wrong in so many work documents and emails over the years. I feel like a mad lady ranting about it!

Registry Office. Should be Register Office.

'Those ones' and 'these ones'.

'Literally' as an intensifier.

"I literally died of embarrassment!"

Clearly, you didn't.

@Bideshi

'As ,much as she loved him, she decided to let him go'- now universal, even amongst the articulate and educated. Should be:

'Much as she loved him, she decided to let him go'. The first 'as' has crept in from somewhere. No point in objecting. I just try not to wince.

I love saying ‘much as I love you, I must go’

I really don't think 'of' will replace ''ve', as it makes no sense. When people understand that it's the same as saying " I of done that this morning", then they see better why it needs to be 'have'.

Having seen a few escape goats in my time, I came across a powerphrase in the wild a week or two ago.

These aren't normalised yet, but give them time...

'Off of' used instead of 'off' is working its ugly way into normal useage. I cringe when I hear it.

I still dislike party as a verb...

I too am somewhat despairing of 'I could of tried again but...' '...the chester draws...' ...I can't think of another to complete this sentence but those two are bad enough.

Cliché. The noun has somehow morphed into the adjective. " That's so cliché ".

Comprises of. NO! IT'S 'COMPRISES'
Return back. NO! IT'S 'RETURN'.
Continue on. NO! IT'S 'CONTINUE'.
Revert back. NO! IT'S 'REVERT'.

Not long ago on a similar thread I tried my hardest to explain exactly why 'irregardless' is a made up double negative which cancels itself out, but some people just couldn't grasp it ( bangs head against wall).

However I recently learned that I have been incorrectly using the phrase 'another thing coming' when I should have been saying 'another think coming'. I did not realise for decades it was think.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/nov/18/mind-your-language-another-think?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Disinterested does not mean uninterested.
The use of "amount" instead of "number" grinds my gears.
These ones/those ones: just no - these/those is fine.

I notice more and more 'incase' being considered to be one word. Likewise 'alot'.

Myself/ yourself trying to sound formal.

If you need an example please contact myself.

@LadyMacduff

I really don't think 'of' will replace ''ve', as it makes no sense. When people understand that it's the same as saying " I of done that this morning", then they see better why it needs to be 'have'.

You would also think that people would realise that just as "come with I" makes no sense, "come with Johnny and I" cannot be correct. Unfortunately not, as apparently there is a new grammatical rule that states "me" cannot be used after "and".