Grammar Corner

YosemiteSam

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A pet peeve for me is the misuse of the words "less" and "fewer". Some beer commercials irritate me when they talk about "less calories". It should be fewer calories. And people do the same thing in every day life. The word "less" should be used with a more broad description, such as "less beer", or "less money" or "less time", whereas "fewer" should be used when referring to specific units of measurement or something that can be expressed numerically, such as "fewer beers" or "fewer dollars" or "fewer days".

I need you to be fewer irritated with the word less. :muttley:
 

GimmeTheBall!

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Sure, but the point is that its not a "North" thing
Point taken. Idiots are all over.
TV and radios and movies have disseminated the worst of language everywhere. The media has brought us a standardized language with Yiddish, Italian and teen speak. Awful.
 

Runwildboys

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One of the millennial expressions I detest is the use of the word "ratchet" to mean something they despise. The reason I dislike this so much is that it seems pretty clear that some ignorant fool heard the word "wretched" and misspoke it to someone else, who repeated it to someone else, and so on. A word created through ignorance just shouldn't exist.
 

OmerV

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One of the millennial expressions I detest is the use of the word "ratchet" to mean something they despise. The reason I dislike this so much is that it seems pretty clear that some ignorant fool heard the word "wretched" and misspoke it to someone else, who repeated it to someone else, and so on. A word created through ignorance just shouldn't exist.

I couldn't agree more. My daughter says that sometimes, which irritates me even more because she normally someone who would also be bothered by that kind of thing. It may not have even dawned on her that it is a *******ized version of "wretched", but that's what I always assumed it was. Another common expression among millennials that irritates me is the word "epic". The way they use it to refer to even small or trivial incidents makes me wonder if they have any concept of the meaning of the word. Even a minor mistake may be referred to as an "epic fail".
 

GimmeTheBall!

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I couldn't agree more. My daughter says that sometimes, which irritates me even more because she normally someone who would also be bothered by that kind of thing. It may not have even dawned on her that it is a *******ized version of "wretched", but that's what I always assumed it was. Another common expression among millennials that irritates me is the word "epic". The way they use it to refer to even small or trivial incidents makes me wonder if they have any concept of the meaning of the word. Even a minor mistake may be referred to as an "epic fail".

How about the teens' affection for the word "Literally"?
He literally died when he lost the concert tickets!

Or the infamous newspaper lead in a story: The police chief literally blew up when he read the report. Lol lol

Figuratively is the word to use.
Literal means real
Figurative means in a fanciful or imaginary way. However, I doubt any will use the word this way: She figuratively jumped out of her shoes when she won the contest.:)
 

GimmeTheBall!

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Let's extend this to clichés, especially the ones used by poorly educated players and coaches. Also, words they think make them sound educated.
I have a list. Add to it, mateys!

1. Do our due diligence.
2. At the end of the day ....
3. This is not braggadocio
4. A modicum of health
5. We'll take it one day at a time
 

Runwildboys

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How about the teens' affection for the word "Literally"?
He literally died when he lost the concert tickets!

Or the infamous newspaper lead in a story: The police chief literally blew up when he read the report. Lol lol

Figuratively is the word to use.
Literal means real
Figurative means in a fanciful or imaginary way. However, I doubt any will use the word this way: She figuratively jumped out of her shoes when she won the contest.:)
I was actually thinking of that one as well, but I assumed that was a very common observation, so I decided not to mention it. :grin:
 

Runwildboys

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Let's extend this to clichés, especially the ones used by poorly educated players and coaches. Also, words they think make them sound educated.
I have a list. Add to it, mateys!

1. Do our due diligence.
2. At the end of the day ....
3. This is not braggadocio
4. A modicum of health
5. We'll take it one day at a time
I've never heard anyone use #4.....That would bother me.
 
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