Grammar Pet Peeves

[emm]

touché

You have no idea how many times I proofread my comment in case I had made a mistake

 

[TapToBoreMeRigid]

Saw a guy with a shirt on that had ghost illustrations on it and "I'M JUST HERE FOR THE BOO'S".

The boo is what?

 

[Pawpaw365]

I always have more to add to this list

When people add hyphens that really aren’t needed. Eg just seen in an article ‘ husband-of-16-years’ ARGHHH

 

[Mamacita]

I keep hearing people say 'a' (prounounced 'ay') instead of 'an' when the next word begins with a vowel, for example: we're going to ay event tonight.

Similarly when people pronounce 'the' as 'thee' when it's not a word beginning with a vowel. Is this an American thing??

 

[Melian]

People who consistently spell someone's name wrong, even when they've known them for years, or when the name is right there in front of them on an email or social media. I'm thinking Micheal/Michael, Jane/Jayne, Jackie/Jacqui, etc.

I get this a lot. Yes it's unusual but not that hard to spell!

 

[Lalalaand]

Mine is when people mix up brought and bought.

I literally came here to post that when I noticed this thread! You see it here allllll the time. I once typed it into the comment box just to double check it wasn't autocorrecting I seen it that often!

 

[Loopy1981]

All of the above, but bought/brought annoy me the most. I think people think it makes them sound posher to use bought! 'I bought my new Dyson hair wrap with me on holiday'.

 

[bubbadabut]

I was reading a Shirley Jackson book this morning and saw, "If he'd of been my friend you would have said plenty", and "She must of been glad to see him."

I only ever use the Oxford comma where there is ambiguity. Most of the time, it is unnecessary.

 

[sheleg]

I disagree. If my surname was Smith. And your talking about my house, it's the Smith's house. I.e. the house belonging the the Smith's

It would only be the Smith’s house if the Smith were a person - as in the Blacksmith. The Smiths are the Smith family, so their house is the Smiths’.

 

[Mollywobbles]

Just seen someone asking about visiting a tourist attraction that has just reopened.
"Do I need to book or is it a free fall?"

 

[Sickofthissh1t]

I know they are different phrases with different meanings. That's why I said my pet peeve is when people use "early doors" instead of "early days"!! They are getting them mixed up!

 

[bubbadabut]

A very popular one on social media at the moment: "boarders" instead of "borders".

 

[Pawpaw365]

I was sat. Hate this. It's I was sitting.

Where I live a lot of people say "You was there" not "you were there." After 20 years in the area it still grates.

That sounds like quite a London / Essex thing?

 

[Al Fresco]

Of course but I bet you did it with a cheeky smile! I'm sure I've done it before too!

I have a weird diacotomy though because I became unwell a few years ago and lost the ability to spell and do some things language properly, after previously being a bit of a grammar pedant. It's like having a split personality. I do miss the old me a bit but I also have a much better understanding of say, things like dyslexia so now get how things don't always come easily to people. It's a weird one. The unnecessary 's at the end of names like James still deeply upsets me though .

I know what you mean. I feel like some things I was taught at school now seem to be deemed as incorrect. Don’t even get me started on plurals such as “roofs”

 

[Rosie34567-2]

Month instead of Months, when referring to a childs age.

it gives me the ick

Don't hate me but, depending on the sentence, sometimes it's correct to say "month."

For example:

My 10 month old child is starting to walk.
My child is 10 months old.

 

[emm]

Don't hate me but, depending on the sentence, sometimes it's correct to say "month."

For example:

My 10 month old child is starting to walk.
My child is 10 months old.

If we want to be pedantic you're missing hyphens in the first one, should be my 10-month-old child

 

[E84Blair]

"Me either" really grates on me.

I used to get really irked by people who confuse than and then, but I've come to realise that it must be 99% of the population so I'm learning to let that one go.

 

[LittleMy]

People who consistently spell someone's name wrong, even when they've known them for years, or when the name is right there in front of them on an email or social media. I'm thinking Micheal/Michael, Jane/Jayne, Jackie/Jacqui, etc.

My husband gets this a lot with his name. He’s used to it by now so it doesn’t bother him.

 

[emm]

argh! the worst thing is that i very much know the difference between to and too. the shame!

At least you do know the difference, I am waiting for the day when I see someone that doesn't know the difference between the number and too or to

 

[MaineCoonMama]

If all the threads on Tattle I'd say the worst offender grammar and spelling wise has to be Katie Hayes. I get that not everyone is good at spelling or even cares how words are spelled but I've never seen anyone as bad as KH. Just atrocious.
I love the thread, it's hilarious but Katie's posts give me a headache.