English, as she is spoke.

[John Locke]

I recognise that language changes over time; individual words take on new meanings, and new expressions, some of which seem meaningless when viewed logically appear in daily use, and others simply indicate poor education.

Some examples which I find irritating, or incomprehensible, in no particular order, except that in which they came to mind:

The incorrect use of "due to" (caused by), in place of "owing to" (because of).

The expression "timesed by", instead of multiplied by, used recently by a BBC financial affairs correspondent.

"Oh my days" What on earth is that supposed to convey?

Copied from a CV-19 thread this morning:
"that the death rate is actually some 35x lower than their own estimates"
Does that mean that the death rate is 1/35th of "their own estimates", or something completely different? A figure may be 35 times that of another, or even 35 times higher, making it 36 times that of the lower figure (at least in my head), but not 35 times lower; that is nonsense.

I will not be unduly offended by responses casting doubt upon my sanity; it has been under attack since March.

Edited by John Locke on Friday 9th October 07:09

[MXRod]

Optic, I thought only pubs or telescopes have optics

Like like like like like like like like like like

Goes instead of said

Haitch as letter, then dropping it on a word ,elp,otel etc
Anyfink fought. (Thought)
Jamean ,do you know what I mean
For free ,it's just free

Edited by MXRod on Friday 9th October 07:02

[Dr Jekyll]

'Increased by x%' when it's actually increased by x percentage points.

[PositronicRay]

MXRod said:

Optic, I thought only pubs or telescopes have optics

Like like like like like like like like like like

Goes instead of said

Haitch as letter, then dropping it on a word ,elp,otel etc
Anyfink fought. (Thought)
Jamean ,do you know what I mean
For free ,it's just free

Edited by MXRod on Friday 9th October 07:02

I was always taught to drop the 'H' on hotel.

As in 'an otel' rather than 'a hotel'


On the other points JL raises yes I too find it irritating, but scholars understand language evolves.

[Pit Pony]

I think the hotel/otel thing is more a pretentious nod to French language classes at O level in a public school.

[anonymous-user]

Welcome er to er Sky News and now er over to er Beth Rigby.

Well er than you, I'm at er Westminster talking with er the minister for er health.

Good morning er Beth. We strongly believe that er a lot of people in er the UK have now er been infected with the incessant er.

[LordGrover]

"x-times lower" in OP and the good Dr's incorrect usage of "increased by x%" are two that frustrate me.
It's difficult to discern what they're trying to convey, and often just plain wrong - because they don't understand it themselves.

[Bill]

John Locke said:

The incorrect use of "due to" (caused by), in place of "owing to" (because of).

Er... https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due%20t...

[Stay in Bed Instead]

Sorry, did you just assume gender?

[Johnniem]

'Different to', is one of my bugbears. Different from, FFS! It is more rare nowadays for it to be used correctly.

'Similar to' and 'different from'....

Edited by Johnniem on Friday 9th October 12:21

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Dr Jekyll said:

'Increased by x%' when it's actually increased by x percentage points.

Drives me mad. "Insurance premium tax is going up 3%". No it's not you liars, it's going up 3 percentage points, which is about 30%!!

[anonymous-user]

Merriam Webster is US.

[DeWar]

The neologism skill set. Used by professional sportspeople across codes. Gets on my tits because there’s a perfectly good English word - skills

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

I'll revert back to you... Seems to have suddenly become a thing in the last few months.

[Dr Jekyll]

When did railway stations become train stations? No real disadvantage in calling them train stations but it still sounds wrong to me.

[PositronicRay]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

I'll revert back to you... Seems to have suddenly become a thing in the last few months.

I think you've just identified an on going out of control situation.

[snotrag]

'Literally'

For example:

"I literally cannot believe it"

describing something which is somewhat unlikely or surprising, yet entirely believable.


https://www.boston.com/culture/lifestyle/2011/07/1...

[Bill]

01WE01 said:

Merriam Webster is US.

Assuming that's aimed at me...

https://www.lexico.com/definition/due_to

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge....

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

DeWar said:

The neologism skill set. Used by professional sportspeople across codes. Gets on my tits because there’s a perfectly good English word - skills

Amateurs have skills. Honed professional sports-people have a very precise skill-set. They eschew non-essential skills...so that only the right skills are nurtured and grown to almost preternatural levels?

Or so they would have us believe.

[John Locke]

Bill said:

Er... https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due%20t...

01WE01 said:

Merriam Webster is US.

Indeed it is, thus wrong.

ETA

Bill said:

Assuming that's aimed at me...

https://www.lexico.com/definition/due_to

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge....

Regardless of what Lexico may say, "due to" and "owing to" are not interchangeable.

Edited by John Locke on Friday 9th October 09:36