Comments on: Pet Peeves

By: martha

martha — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:17:12 +0000

Since we’re on the subject of words and wording, ETC. I am totally annoyed by “I could care less”, which is wrong…it implies that you still care a little. The correct terminology is “I COULDN’T care less” implying you do not care AT ALL. There. So noted.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:09:56 +0000

The majority of the time it’s a typo for me even etc since it can be easily transposed.

By: JaredB

JaredB — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:56:23 +0000

I see it too often to think that it’s a typo; I think it’s more likely just people not thinking about what they’re writing (There’s another one, actually – “they’re” vs. “their” vs. “there”)…

Maybe that’s the same type of thing as a typo and I just see it differently. Either way, I’m not going to put anyone down about it – just mentioning it since the subject came up.

I think you’re also probably right on “et cetera”; most people probably haven’t looked into it or haven’t heard that commonly used example line from “The King and I”.

By: nstryker

nstryker — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:08:25 +0000

i usually attribute things like your/you’re to a simple typo, rather than ignorance. everyone learned the rule in elementary school, so i really doubt it’s an actual mistake.

i hear people all the time pronounce it “ec cetera” so i know many don’t know.

By: JaredB

JaredB — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:56:58 +0000

If we want to get into spelling & grammar ones, I could write a huge post about all the stuff that annoys me in that area, but I usually just don’t bother correcting people because I don’t want to look like a jerk.

Since we’re talking about it though, probably the #1 for me (as far as spelling & grammar goes) is “you’re” vs. “your”.
* “You’re” is a contraction; it’s short for “you are”, and the the apostrophe takes the place of the letter “a”.
* “Your” is the possessive pronoun (similar to “our” but with a “y”), and possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes.

If you’re into this kind of thing, there’s a pretty good podcast that I listen to called “Grammar Girl” that usually takes one common quirk or misunderstanding per episode and explains it.

By: nstryker

nstryker — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:05:08 +0000

similarly, it’s “etc” not “ect” — “et cetera”.

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:13:26 +0000

I thought of another one; LISTEN UP people- A LOT (as in “there was a lot of food”) is TWO words, not one. Here is an easy way to remember it- A LOT is two words, just like A LITTLE is two words!! DRIVES ME CRAZY!! I know, I need a life.

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:41:19 +0000

Yeah, I know the sunscreen thing, just bugs because when I worked at the pool I would see it all the time. That is why I screen us before we get in the car! Then I don’t have to bother doing it there.

Good point about the “me time.” Never thought of looking at what is like “before kids.”
Looking forward to reading yours!!

By: martha

martha — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:36:24 +0000

Ok…

I do the sunscreen thing. Sorry. But I forget. Give me a break I have 3 kids to get ready.

On the “me time” thing, you’re not lucky, you’re smart. I mean I bet if you looked at what happened with that couple before kids- I”m guessing it wasn’t a lot of dates and picnics in the park.

And the skinny thing…I get people all the time, “what should I do for my “. So I tell them the exercises and add “and clean up your diet”. Know what most of them say, “Oh, my diet is good and I already do those.” I smile and walk away.

I’ll post mine over there on my blog, around the corner.