Misused words that grin d your gears

Inquisitor · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:05

I can't understand how people can even get 'of' and 'have' mixed up though. One's a preposition and the other is a verb; they're completely different!

For example, would you say "I of done wrong"? Of course not; you'd say "I have done wrong."

It doesn't make any sense :confused:

penski · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:08

"Cheap at half the price."

Really? No ****! Everything is cheap at half the price.

Another is incorrect emphasis:

"Go through it with a fine TOOTHcomb."

WTF is a toothcomb?

Fine-toothed comb, you imbecile.

My dad does both of the above regularly.

*n

Runbalk · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:09

Masterdog said:
"Want to know the words what grind my gears?" Mark Blundell on ITV F1 does it all the time and it really grates.

How does somebody go through their entire life not knowing how completely wrong that is?

Also, is anyone else being extra careful when they write their posts here?

Ampeg · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:09

Really, really stupid but hearing "Oh my gosh!" annoys the crap out of me.

Raikiri · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:09

cleanbluesky said:
Raikiri, that sig is utter brilliance!

Erm... thanks. :confused:

Fraggr · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:10

"Should have" -> "Should've" -> Sounds similar to "should have" -> "should have" replaces "Should have"

Vita · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:10

Where, Were, We're.

theleg · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:12

for all intensive purposes.

fieldy · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:12

two for me:

I've noticed a lot of people saying generally instead of genuinely as in "I really generally like you" as a pose to "I genuinely like you"

and

some people tend to say cinemas instead of cinema grrrrrr :mad:

Lysander · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:12

Raikiri said:
'I could care less'

Yes, it's an Americanism. Something that my gf has picked up on and I'm stamping out.

Another one: "Let's see if we can't sort this out"

Why would you see whether you CAN'T sort it out? You want to see whether you CAN.

Oh look! We can't sort it out.. excellent!

dirtydog · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:12

JimmyEatWorms said:
Since when was "of" similar to "have"?

It is similar to 've

ie. "should've" and "should have" sound similar.

Not that it is an excuse for making such a basic error.

Inquisitor · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:13

Fraggr said:
"Should have" -> "Should've" -> Sounds similar to "should have" -> "should have" replaces "Should have"

Yes, but 'should have' doesn't make any sense as a combination of words. Why don't people think about what they're saying rather than just repeating what they hear?

Runbalk · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:13

Inquisitor said:
I can't understand how people can even get 'of' and 'have' mixed up though. One's a preposition and the other is a verb; they're completely different!

For example, would you say "I of done wrong"? Of course not; you'd say "I have done wrong."

It doesn't make any sense

It's the sound of the contraction that causes the confusion. E.g. ''I would have,'' sounds like, ''I would've.'' See?

EDIT: Man, I'm slow

sniffy · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:13

Inquisitor said:
I can't understand how people can even get 'of' and 'have' mixed up though. One's a preposition and the other is a verb; they're completely different!

An awful lot of people around this area would say "I would have...". I don't know what it is. Obviously you're right, it's incorrect English. Still commonly used though. I must get out of the habit!

For example, would you say "I of done wrong"? Of course not; you'd say "I have done wrong."

No. Should, could, would and stuff like that.

It doesn't make any sense

I'd say the same for a lot of northern dialect.

theleg · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:14

Lysander said:
Yes, it's an Americanism. Something that my gf has picked up on and I'm stamping out.

Another one: "Let's see if we can't sort this out"

Why would you see whether you CAN'T sort it out? You want to see whether you CAN.

Oh look! We can't sort it out.. excellent!

Surely if you see whether you cant sort it out, you also see if you can?

dirtydog · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:14

Inquisitor said:
Yes, but 'should have' doesn't make any sense as a combination of words. Why don't people think about what they're saying rather than just repeating what they hear?

Because a lot of people aren't very bright, I'm afraid.

Sp00n · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:14

paradigm said:
The word brought being used where bought should be.

Skyfall said:
'Your' being used instread of 'you're'.

Top 2 pet hates when it comes to grammar.

Inquisitor · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:14

Lysander said:
Another one: "Let's see if we can't sort this out"

Well to be really pedantic, why would you want to see if you can? Surely what you actually want to do is sort it out, not just know whether you can.

So it doesn't actually matter which one you say.

Inquisitor · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:15

dirtydog said:
Because a lot of people aren't very bright, I'm afraid.

But people should be able to grasp it if they just think about it... *sigh*

Runbalk · 27 Jul 2007 at 14:17

Inquisitor said:
Yes, but 'should have' doesn't make any sense as a combination of words. Why don't people think about what they're saying rather than just repeating what they hear?

Nah, I think you're misunderstanding him. He was just trying to explain to you, like others, why the mistake occurs - you said you didn't understand how.

Misused words that grin d your gears

Capodecina