Any common mistakes in grammar (or bad cliches) you've seen lately?

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: seemingly random
Oh shit - it's in Merriam-Webster Unabridged

Main Entry: ain't3 : do not : does not : did not -- used in some varieties of Black English
usage Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't in senses 1 and 2 is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis {the wackiness of movies, once so deliciously amusing, ain't funny anymore -- Richard Schickel} {I am telling you--there ain't going to be any blackmail -- R. M. Nixon}. It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style {the creative process ain't easy -- Mike Royko}. This informal ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases {well--class it ain't -- Cleveland Amory} {for money? say it ain't so, Jimmy! -- Andy Rooney} {you ain't seen nothing yet} {that ain't hay} {two out of three ain't bad} {if it ain't broke, don't fix it}. In fiction ain't is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It is also used for metrical reasons in popular songs {Ain't She Sweet} {It Ain't Necessarily So}. Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.

ya i think they added it around the same time they put irregardless in. i hate that. the bold portion cracks me up tho.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
orientated

I love that one. For some reason, I always picture that word being used by a drill sergeant. [had to look up sergeant...]

 

[seemingly random]

It's curious about what causes disdain in people. For a fashionista [not in firefox], it's improper clothing selection. For me, it's people butchering verb tenses and using ain't (except when emphasizing an expression). It really puts me off with some of my friends and relatives unfortunately.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: seemingly random
It's curious about what causes disdain in people. For a fashionista [not in firefox], it's improper clothing selection. For me, it's people butchering verb tenses and using ain't (except when emphasizing an expression). It really puts me off with some of my friends and relatives unfortunately.

ya a lot of my friends/ family called me webster [not in firefox? wow] for a long time when i used to correct them... even tho i was doing it to be facetious. i did crack up when a friend told me i was being fecetious in an IM once tho. that was too funnay.

edit: not many things cause me disdain. im fairly "undisdainable"

 

[seemingly random]

The ceo of a company I worked at long ago had a bit of a tendency to correct others' mispronunciations. I once corrected one of his. He wanted to get mad but couldn't intellectually and just laughed.

 

[Bill Brasky]

The most common mistakes I hear at work are "this data show..." when it should be "these data show..." and the misuse of bacteria/bacterium.

 

[seemingly random]

Declining latin [not in firefox!] words correctly is boring.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
I just read a very long post on duel monitors which I thought was a cool concept, until I realised they were talking about dual monitors.

Dueling monitors can get messy - sparks and plastic pieces everywhere.

https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...om/duel%20monitors.jpg

 

[Jugernot]

Two kids last night in the grocery store were talking to each other (very loudly) and one yelled "Did you axe her? Well whud she say?"

I can't stand the axe thing ...... GDit! It's ASK you little bastards.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/duel%20monitors.jpg">https://mywebspace.wisc.edu......uel%20monitors.jpg</a>

Hope you don't mind that a kept a copy of this.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: Jugernot
Two kids last night in the grocery store were talking to each other (very loudly) and one yelled "Did you axe her? Well whud she say?"

I can't stand the axe thing ...... GDit! It's ASK you little bastards.

You obviously haven't lived in the deep south. At least you understood axe. I can't think of descriptive words now to describe it here, but sometimes it's like living in another country. What's semi-distressing is that I'm starting to understand...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...om/duel%20monitors.jpg"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/duel%20monitors.jpg">https://mywebspace.wisc..........20monitors.jpg</a></a>

Hope you don't mind that a kept a copy of this.

I stole it off the web and just kept it for myself to start with

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
I just read a very long post on duel monitors which I thought was a cool concept, until I realised they were talking about dual monitors.

Dueling monitors can get messy - sparks and plastic pieces everywhere.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/duel%20monitors.jpg">https://mywebspace.wisc.edu......uel%20monitors.jpg</a>

Haha, awesome. :thumbsup:

KT

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: richardycc
a unique.

What's wrong with this?

 

[seemingly random]

Just saw this in another thread:

definately vs. definitely

very, very common. I keep wanting to point out definite and infinite but I keep my mouth shut ... or my fingers in my pockets.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

Originally posted by: richardycc
a unique.

What's wrong with this?

Don't know - would have to see it in context.

 

[shortylickens]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=80&threadid=2113766

http://www.xeromag.com/cheat.html

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: Zaitsev
The most common mistakes I hear at work are "this data show..." when it should be "these data show..." and the misuse of bacteria/bacterium.

How about "the one criteria"? It seems that nobody knows the word "criterion".

 

[91TTZ]

I get annoyed when people use the word "whom" in place of "who" in an attempt to sound more educated. Usually they're wrong and it backfires.

 

[seemingly random]

To whom are you referring?

 

[seemingly random]

insistant vs. insistent

 

[TXHokie]

...and walla!!!

 

[Rachael]

Pluralization mistakes. The datum/data one comes to mind. My professors do this all the time and it drives me off the wall...

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: seemingly random
Declining latin [not in firefox!] words correctly is boring.

Oops - Latin is in firefox. And so is Firefox. Damn capitalization nazis.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Rachael
Pluralization mistakes. The datum/data one comes to mind. My professors do this all the time and it drives me off the wall...

Speaking of pluralization error's, inserting the unnecessary apostrophe always grates on my nerve's