Ah, yes. Minor deviations in a language that's already changed over time to begin with. One of the many, many things I'm supposed to be offended by. I'm only about 35% joking right now.
Can we include abstract concepts, please? Thanks. I'd like the 12-hour clock banned. People will argue that not everyone understands the 24-hour clock, but believe me, if someone like me can learn it, anyone can. The 24-hour clock totally eliminates the confusion that often arises with the 12-hour clock, such as when people forget, or don't even realise, they need to specify am or pm.
The letter zee. I grew up pronouncing it zee and now I hate my teachers. I'm also not very fond of things being "American" or "Americanisms." I was reading an article (http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14201796) the other day and there were quite a few of these things that I've never heard anyone say before, such as "winningest," "ridiculosity," or "least worst option." So many people think that Americans are terrible with grammar, when a lot of the time, it's just something that they either have a disagreement with us about how something should be pronounced or it was never actually a word to begin with.
I decided to come back to this thread to add: "Needless to say..." I've used it, I am guilty, but it just feels so silly. Needless to say? Then don't.
That's neither a word nor a phrase and therefore cannot be banned. While we're at it then, I nominate sense of humour bypasses and the inability to identify flippancy even when aided by a wee emoticon. I'm 100% serious right now.
But how can an ass/arse be laughed off?! I don't usually need things to be literal but I have never understood the lmao imagery.
I don't like it, but I don't mind it much when it's used for things that would be predictable. ("I left the cat with the tuna and, needless to say, the tuna was gone when I got back.") But it's so often used for things that aren't the least bit predictable. ("I came back from the grocery and, needless to say, seven dwarves were sitting around my dining room table demanding cornflakes.")
Can I add "brown nosing" to the Room 101 pile? That gives me a very clear image and it makes me feel sick.
Like so many other foreigners, I learned the hard (and embarrassing) way that when an American (or even a Brit) asks "how are you", you're not expected to answer that, except maybe with "fine, thanks."
Have you ever done the awkward thing that shows nobody even listens to the answer? Person 1: "How are you?" Person 2: "Fine, you?" Person 1: "Fine, you?" *awkward silence*
Haha, no, because I always listen to the answer. Starting a conversation can be awkward where I live, but asking how the other person is doing is a good way to get the conversation going. You just have to answer the question truthfully and in sufficient detail. "Hi, how are you?" "Fine, fine. Been a bit busy. We just started a new project." "Oh? Sounds interesting. What kind of project?" "Well, it's about..." - two minutes later - "So, how's it going with you?" "Fine, thanks. Nothing special. Except I just became an aunt!" "Congratulations! A boy or a girl?" The awkward pause would happen if both just said "fine."
It amuses me, because I know the mechanics of any given language are largely a popularity contest, with the added division of various social classes (blacks, whites, workers, academics, etc.) What sounds wrong to me and you could someday become entirely accepted. And now, to contradict myself and go ahead and do it anyway: "False equivalence" (too associated with left-wing language wars) "Political correctness" (see above, except with right-wingers) 'Till the cows come home" "Honey" (when used as a form of address) "At the end of the day" "Rootin-tootin"
'Here' being used as a way of attracting attention to yourself. I don't understand it, but it seems to be quite a common thing here in England. 'Here, I think we should go to ...' Why has that word become used in that way?
Yeah, that's true. I had forgotten about that. I keep seeing it on Eastenders too. Yes, I sometimes watch Eastenders. Yes, I do hate it too.
You know I think it is. I'm a huge Auf Wiedersehen, Pet fan, and that way of speaking is used, especially by Neville..
