Common Errors in English Usage

estebanrey · 21 Sep 2012 at 21:28

This site is pretty old but some of you may not have heard of it...

Common Errors in English Usage

A compulsory read for anyone who wants to avoid the G.D pedants. Here are three of my favourites that I like correcting people on as they are so common.

BUTT NAKED vs BUCK NAKED

The standard expression is “buck naked,” and the contemporary “butt naked” is an error that will get you laughed at in some circles. However, it might be just as well if the new form were to triumph. Originally a “buck” was a dandy, a pretentious, overdressed show-off of a man. Condescendingly applied in the US to Native Americans and black slaves, it quickly acquired negative connotations. To the historically aware speaker, “buck naked” conjures up stereotypical images of naked “savages” or—worse—slaves laboring naked on plantations. Consider using the alternative expression “stark naked.”

CATCH 22

People familiar with Joseph Heller’s novel are irritated when they see “Catch-22” used to label any simple hitch or problem rather than this sort of circular predicament: you can’t get published until you have an agent, and you can’t get an agent until you’ve been published. “There’s a catch” will do fine for most other situations.

CONCERTED EFFORT

One cannot make a “concerted effort” all by one’s self. To work “in concert” is to work together with others. One can, however, make a concentrated effort. The prefix “con-” means “with.”

ShortWarning · 21 Sep 2012 at 21:41

I've never heard the above examples used incorrectly to be fair. Interesting read though!

estebanrey · 21 Sep 2012 at 21:54

ShortWarning said:
I've never heard the above examples used incorrectly to be fair. Interesting read though!

Really? I hear people say "I made a concerted effort" quite a bit. I bet a search of 'Catch-22' in this forum would bring up a few erroneous examples too.

Vampyre · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:07

Nice to see that, even though it's an American website, they correctly picked up on 'could care less' rather than 'couldn't care less'.

It may not be definitive for British English though...

2bit · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:09

This is the first line from a sign posted in a 'pub' near me:

'Can't decide witch drink to have?'

I have mentioned the issue but it falls on very deaf ears - i.e. they couldn't give a toss.

Spektor · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:12

2bit said:
This is the first line from a sign posted in a 'pub' near me:

'Can't decide witch drink to have?'

I have mentioned the issue but it falls on very deaf ears - i.e. they couldn't give a toss.

You walked into a pub and began pointing out spelling mistakes? was it one of those fruity wine bars? because there are places I know where having hair longer than a #2 gets you glassed.

Curunen · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:14

Vampyre said:
Nice to see that, even though it's an American website, they correctly picked up on 'could care less' rather than 'couldn't care less'.

It may not be definitive for British English though...

Good to see this one highlighted; one of the few things that really annoys me when people say/write it.

2bit · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:15

Spektor said:
You walked into a pub and began pointing out spelling mistakes? was it once of those fruity wine bars? because theres place I know where having hair longer than a #2 gets you glassed.

Yeah it's OK - it's a nondescript eatery on a roundabout in Shrewsbury.
No glassing worries. Just total indifference.

Castiel · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:20

Vampyre said:
Nice to see that, even though it's an American website, they correctly picked up on 'could care less' rather than 'couldn't care less'.

It may not be definitive for British English though...

I have never heard anyone use the term "I could are less" instead of "I couldn't care less"......so not so common methinks.

Equally with the term "Catch 22", I have only heard it used to infer a circular problem like the op described.

And one other issue is with the word 'concerted'....as well as meaning to work jointly or in 'concert' with another or within a group, it can also mean resolute and determined in modern usage, so a 'concerted effort' in the singular would imply 'a determined or intensive effort' and would be perfectly correct usage in that context. Not to mention the implied singular in the definition in respect of 'contrived' and 'planned' if we ignore the modern usage or context. In either case it is acceptable in English to use 'concerted' in the context "He made a concerted effort" etc....

I think the author of the website needs to consult a dictionary/thesaurus (and not an online one) once in a while...

2bit · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:30

Castiel said:
I have never heard anyone use the term "I could are less" instead of "I couldn't care less"......so not so common methinks.

Equally with the term "Catch 22", I have only heard it used to infer a circular problem like the op described.

And one other issue is with the word 'concerted'....as well as meaning to work jointly or in 'concert' with another or within a group, it can also mean resolute and determined, so a 'concerted effort' in the singular would imply 'a determined or intensive effort' and would be perfectly correct usage in that context.

I think the author of the website needs to consult a dictionary/thesaurus (and not an online one) once in a while...

Hi Castiel!

Curio · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:32

Castiel said:
I have never heard anyone use the term "I could are less" instead of "I couldn't care less"......so not so common methinks.

Equally with the term "Catch 22", I have only heard it used to infer a circular problem like the op described.

And one other issue is with the word 'concerted'....as well as meaning to work jointly or in 'concert' with another or within a group, it can also mean resolute and determined, so a 'concerted effort' in the singular would imply 'a determined or intensive effort' and would be perfectly correct usage in that context.

I think the author of the website needs to consult a dictionary/thesaurus (and not an online one) once in a while...

I have heard "could care less" a few times, but it usually gets an angry reaction so people have probably just stopped using it

Agree about Catch 22 - don't recall ever seeing it used incorrectly.

Concerted is an interesting one. Just had a look at a few on-line dictionaries and some only have the one definition and others have both :confused:

estebanrey · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:36

Castiel said:
I have never heard anyone use the term "I could are less" instead of "I couldn't care less"......so not so common methinks.

Equally with the term "Catch 22", I have only heard it used to infer a circular problem like the op described.

"Could care less"
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=22790546&postcount=4

OK so it could just be a typo but I have heard people use it in speech.

Catch-22 Misused (See thread title and OP)
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=20335371

Not having an alternative Sim Card isn't a circular problem.

Castiel · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:39

estebanrey said:
"Could care less"
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=22790546&postcount=4

OK so it could just be a typo but I have heard people use it in speech.

Catch-22 Misused
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=20335371

Not having an alternative Sim Card isn't a circular problem.

It isn't something I have ever come across, there are plenty of other examples of incorrect usage, but the way the English language, even formally, evolves it isn't surprising that there are all these little vagaries within it....it is what makes English such an interesting language after all.

mollymoo · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:40

Catch 22 is something I've never heard used in the wrong context.
"Could care less" who even says that?
Concerted is something that I've always seen as a concentrated assertion to, although that may just be the way I see things.

Castiel · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:43

Curio said:
Concerted is an interesting one. Just had a look at a few on-line dictionaries and some only have the one definition and others have both

The Oxford English Dictionary (not online unfortunately) gives a range of examples of usage...it includes several uses of 'concerted' in the singular and says that the verb can be used to apply to one person and means to devise, arrange or plan. (This using the first definition)

2bit · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:44

Castiel said:
It isn't something I have ever come across, there are plenty of other examples of incorrect usage, but the way the the English language, even formally, evolves it isn't surprising that there are all these little vagaries within it....it is what makes English such an interesting language after all.

So I'm allowed to abuse the formalities of the English language. I'm just 'evolving' it.

Castiel · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:47

2bit said:
So I'm allowed to abuse the formalities of the English language. I'm just 'evolving' it.

It is precisely what such luminaries of English Literature such as Shakespeare and Joyce have done....

Who do you think sets the formalities?

However don't blame me if the Grammar Nazis come knocking in the early hours to cart you off to the Grammar Gulag for re-education.

mollymoo · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:49

2bit said:
So I'm allowed to abuse the formalities of the English language. I'm just 'evolving' it.

It shouldn't be set in stone, I see it as more of a tool to convey a meaning than a strict rule.

2bit · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:53

Castiel said:
It is precisely what such luminaries of English Literature such as Shakespeare and Joyce have done....

Who do you think sets the formalities?

It was a tongue-in-cheek reference to a discussion we had a little while back where you tried to correct every proposition or simple statement that I made.

Castiel · 21 Sep 2012 at 22:59

2bit said:
It was a tongue-in-cheek reference to a discussion we had a little while back where you tried to correct every proposition or simple statement that I made.

We're you not being somewhat factious at the time though...Humour on a forum is somewhat hit and miss.....

And I love you too......