"OFF OF". Hideous crime against English language. Discuss.

[UnquietDad]

That's it really.

Well, yes!

"Off of" is a hideous crime against English language. It makes me cringe.

"Off of from" is also worse.

what's to discuss?

You're absolutely right. Tis hideous and should never, ever be used.

Do people actually say "off of from"?

kerry - the "of" part

KM - you don't need the 'of'

"Get off the car" is all you need to say. So why add an extra word in there? It doesn't make sense.

Scott Mills is always referring, on his show, to "that bloke off of Eastenders" or some such. It makes me want to throw my shoes at the radio. Never a great idea when driving , so I just can't bring myself to listen to him any more!

What about if you say 'Phil off of Eastenders'

Is that allowed?

no no no....that would be from

bugger, never a good to make a spelling mistake on a pedant's corner thread.....I mean hastily

I would say 'Phil in Eastenders'

Oh, you are all so well spoken

I also loathe and cringe at "for free" but it's everywhere now so I've given up moaning about it

Apart from just then, obv

hahaha - you should hear me speak in RL, pure Estuary English!

I may say "Phil off Eastenders" or "Phil from Eastenders" but I'd probably settle for "that bald tosser who can't act, who's in Eastenders"

Actually there is a north of England usage of 'off of' which comes from offna--a ?Norse word.

So if you're using 'off of' and you live north of Watford, you're OK.

If you're using it in Sussex, you're not.

Eliza2 that is the kind of pedantry I love.

Hoorah for the historically informed pedant.

It makes me cringe on the Pet Shop Boys' version of "Where The Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You", when Neil sings "off of you". He's an erudite and educated person and it makes him sound dim.

It's not as if the extra syllable is even needed. It's not in the original.

I'm from Nottingham where we used to say "gerroff of t'bus"

Guilty as charged - although I have undergone successful rehabilitation.