# Mispronunciation/ Poor grammar that bothers you **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475 "2005-07-07T17:02:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ragiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/81 "2005-07-08T19:14:10Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > I suppose most of you would yell at me for my use of the words “videate” and “audiate” instead of “watch” and “listen”. > > Although this isn’t wrong, the only thing that really gets on my nerves is when my in-laws say “deer meat” instead of “venison”. I love “videate” and “audiate”! I’m already planning to use both, especially when I’m trying to be annoying. hehehe… Most of the folks in my household have bypassed both “deer meat” and “venison” in favor of “Bambi.” ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/82 "2005-07-08T19:58:19Z")
All the sudden. It hurts just typing it. Do the people who use this not read books? Have they _ever_ seen that phrase in a published work? All _the_ sudden? What could that possibly _mean_, anyway? Gah – I hate that one! ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/83 "2005-07-08T20:44:14Z")
Does it bother anyone else to hear “hopefully” so frequently misused? “It’s been so dry lately. Hopefully it rains tomorrow.” It may rain softly or torrentially tomorrow, but I can assure you it will not rain hopefully. “I hope it rains tomorrow” is not only correct, it also saves a syllable. ---
**Author:** ![Ex\_Machina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/84 "2005-07-08T20:59:02Z")
I also vote that ‘myself’ etc. should only be used in a reflexive construction. My boss once said “If you have any problems I want you to come to Bob or myself.” And I replied “I have a problem, I don’t know how to go to yourself.” Also people who can’t hear the incorrectness of “This has been a great victory for my team and I.” ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/85 "2005-07-08T21:28:42Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > 1. People who “go”. “And so Sally is talking to Mark and she goes ‘What was that all about?’ and he goes ‘I dunno. What do you think?’ and she goes…” It’s as if the verb “to say” has forms of conjugation we just weren’t taught when we were young. First person singular “all” e.g. "I’m all, ‘no way!’ " Second person singular “like” e.g. "And he’s like, ‘Way!’ " Third person singular “goes” e.g. (as above) "…she goes, ‘What was that all about?’ " While I’m here: There seems to be a movement amongst the 13-year old set to convert the latin preposition versus (vs.) into a verb “to verse.” “After I beat Joe, I versed John in a game of Yu-Gi-Oh.” My kids know if I hear them say this, they’re grounded. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/86 "2005-07-08T21:41:23Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > “I don’t feel good” (no, you don’t feel well) > > “that shirt looks well on you” (no, that shirt looks good on you) Yes! The effect of teachers citing the “rule” about “feeling good” has fostered more confusion about “well.” Does anyone have suggestions on how to explain how correctly to use the adverb “well”? (teach’em to fish…) Dad: “You did good, son!” Me: “No, Mother Theresa does good. I did well.” Dad: “Smartass.” ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/87 "2005-07-08T22:07:04Z")
My coworkers occasionally have lunch at “Chipolte”. Drives me NUTS. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/88 "2005-07-08T22:44:20Z")
I been I seen I done…gack! **Nature’s Call** > [@](#): > > First person singular “all” e.g. "I’m all, ‘no way!’ " > Second person singular “like” e.g. "And he’s like, ‘Way!’ " > Third person singular “goes” e.g. (as above) "…she goes, ‘What was that all about?’ " So, she went, “there’s no way! Get out!” And he, right back at her, “I’m tellin’ you-way!” Are you listening in to my 15 y/o’s phone conversations? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/89 "2005-07-09T00:52:29Z")
Obstropolis instead of obstreperous (usually as applied to children). I don’t hear this a lot anymore, fortunately, but it was a common expression among my mother’s generation. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/90 "2005-07-09T01:11:01Z")
As **E. Thorp** notes, there’s no correlation between the actual pronunciation of most Latin words and how they come out in English (way-nee, wee-dee, wee-cee gets you weird looks anywhere except in Latin class. Say “veni, vidi, vici,” and everyone knows what you mean). But I’m shocked to learn that “vice-a versa” is an accepted, even preferred pronunciation. I have never heard it pronounced that way in academic circles (or in my three years of Latin classes courtesy of the Austin Independent School district, **tremorviolet.** ) In fact, the only way I’ve heard it that way is from my friends trying to be clever… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/91 "2005-07-09T01:49:18Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > I tell this story frequently IRL, so sorry if I’ve already told it here… > > A co-worker was telling me a story about a friend of his who “had a problem with peels.” > I looked at him like he was crazy, and asked, " What are you talking about? Banana peels? Facial peels?" > He looked at me like _I_ was crazy, and replied, “Per-_scription_ peels!” > > Or should that be, “looked at me as if I were crazy”? Just doesn’t have the same ring, somehow… And I’ve been hearing just the opposite, especially on local news broadcasts: A banana pill. A still mill. Walking hill and toe. Get rill. And then there’s my all-time favorite, which I \*\*rarely \*\*hear pronounced properly by anybody: **Nuptial**. The letter after the T is an I, not a U. It’s pronounced nup-sh’l or nup-ch’l, not nup-choo-'l. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/92 "2005-07-09T01:51:14Z")
On accident. “I spilt coffee down my shirt on accident”. Please tell me I’ve been right when I correct people and say _by_ accident, because on accident just seems wrong wrong wrong. I seen. My father and brother both say this. I find it kind of cute from them, but can’t bring myself to join in. Woof = wolf. This one is all mine. Luckily I don’t live in a wolf-infested area so it doesn’t come up in conversation very often, but it gives my husband the shudders when I do say it. On another message board that I frequent, good news is always greeted the following way. Poster 1: Congratulations!! Poster 2: Congratulations!! Poster 3: Congratulations!! Poster 4: Congradulations!! It bothers me greatly that some people are unable to spell a word correctly even when there are multiple examples of the correct spelling right there in front of them. I can’t figure out if Poster 4 is too dumb to notice the difference, or if she thinks she’s the only one who has spelt it correctly. You could write it off as a typo I guess, but I’ve seen the same people make that same mistake over and over again. On the other hand, when someone has bad news they are sure to get the response: “I am sorry your going threw this”. ::shudder:: As if their problems weren’t bad enough before. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/93 "2005-07-09T01:57:16Z")
I once had a coworker who referred to everyone else as “yous guys.” One day, she tried to make a possessive out of it, and it came out “Where are yous guys’s cars parked?” When everybody laughed, she asked, “Well, how would yous guys say it?” ---
**Author:** ![Bigang120](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bigang120](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bigang120)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/94 "2005-07-09T02:17:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Earl for oil. I pronouce in oy-yill. Not sure how a correct one syllable pronunciation would be. I don’t hear earl around here much, but oral is certainly popular ---
**Author:** ![Bigang120](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bigang120](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bigang120)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/95 "2005-07-09T02:21:45Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > On the other hand, when someone has bad news they are sure to get the response: “I am sorry your going threw this”. ::shudder:: As if their problems weren’t bad enough before. I get that sort of stuff all the time at work. Seemingly intelligent people using the wrong word because spell check didn’t catch it. There/their is always a favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Grasshopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@Grasshopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grasshopper)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/96 "2005-07-09T03:20:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I once had a coworker who referred to everyone else as “yous guys.” > > One day, she tried to make a possessive out of it, and it came out “Where are yous guys’s cars parked?” > > When everybody laughed, she asked, “Well, how would yous guys say it?” Hehe! I read that thinking, hey I say that all the time! And then I noticed your location. (I’m from Chardon) ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/97 "2005-07-09T03:27:58Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but when someone calls a ‘water heater’ a ‘hot water heater’, it drives me insane. Am I the only one? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/98 "2005-07-09T14:49:44Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I live in New York and have never heard anyone pronounce “involved” as “invovved”. I’ve never heard “museem”. I think it’s mostly a Bronx thing. We have a strong Bronx diaspora in Westchester, where I now reside. > [@](#): > > But I’m shocked at your objection to sleeping over. […] Or are you grinding your teeth at the missing “at”; as in “sleeping over at Bill’s house”? “At’s” it… I dunno, you s’pose the Midwest used up so many of the national supply of “ats” that New Yorkers had to learn to do without? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/99 "2005-07-09T15:07:47Z")
Pope got it right: a little learning is a dangerous thing. Though a junior high English teacher told you something was wrong, it may not be wrong. [One example](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961122). I’ll leave the thread now, because while the board is designed to fight ignorance, it’s very difficult to fight it successfully in a thread like this. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475/100 "2005-07-09T16:13:22Z")
Heh, just live with my SO for a day. He mispronounces every other word, can’t spell worth a damn, and thinks grammar is something for other people to use. (For example, I have about 200 e-mails from him that begin, “hi sweatheart”. I still tease him about that.) I used to get annoyed when he said “flustrated,” until I decided that it’s a useful blend of “flustered” and “frustrated.” I want to lobby to have it added as a legitimate word. I didn’t know that real people said “youse” until I met his family. He retains the oddities of South Philly Italian slang, along with the Baltimore accent/pronunciations. It’s wildly amusing, at times. I can’t even begin to explain how he pronounces “water.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mispronunciation-poor-grammar-that-bothers-you/311475.md?page=6)