# Real-world examples of 'Ummm, acktually, It's X, not Y' nitpicks, and discussion about them **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326 "2025-06-08T12:47:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/101 "2025-06-10T15:00:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think, though, that it’s the same or very similar chemical to what’s in horseradish and mustard, and might (though I’m not sure here) also be similar to arugula. It is. Also, about spiciness- I remember when I was young, spicy did not always mean “hot”. Things such as spaghetti sauce or pizza which had lots of herbs and spices in them without the capsaicin or isocyanates were often said to be spicy. This usage seems to have faded away. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/102 "2025-06-10T15:13:42Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Let’s amend that to “the next _available_ moment” Surely “the _first_ available moment” ! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/103 "2025-06-10T15:24:13Z")
Yeah, I’ve sometimes described things as ‘spicy but not hot’ when they had a lot of aromatic spices in them, and people got confused. I think in part because they think it’s a complaint when a white person says ‘spicy’. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/104 "2025-06-10T15:29:54Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > OK question for the thread… Is the kind of pedantry we’ve discussed here _ever welcome?_ I personally find it very welcome to have any mistakes I’ve been making corrected. You’re poisoning the well by giving the correcter a sneering “smarter than thou” tone. I don’t really understand the mindset of people who continue to use “alot” or “could of” after being corrected on it many times. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/105 "2025-06-10T15:41:36Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > in the US jails are usually run by cities or counties and prisons are run by the state which often gives prisons options that jails don’t have, such as transferring offenders to keep certain people separated. Jails ( in my area, at least) are also often more dangerous than prisons. Completely agree. In Florida, jails are run by the local sheriff. Prisons are run by the state, and you can do things like train dogs. [https://www.correctionsfoundation.org/fdc-dog-training-and-adoption-programs/](https://www.correctionsfoundation.org/fdc-dog-training-and-adoption-programs/) (In California, you can become a firefighter) I’d _much_ rather be sentenced to 12 months to the Department of Corrections than do “11/29” (11 months, 29 days) in County. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/106 "2025-06-10T15:44:09Z")
Is “next” wrong? I thought it was more or less, in that usage, the same thing as saying “the first”. I’m one of those people who _appreciates_ nitpicking, If I’m saying something wrong I like to know so I can avoid it in the future. It took me a lot of work to really internalize that most people do not feel that way. (And also to realize that even I do not feel that way all the time) ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/107 "2025-06-10T15:58:41Z")
In a way I agree with **colinfred** , which may be why I have something of a reputation as an annoying know-it-all among my friends. I _like_ being corrected. If I’m getting something consistently wrong, then yes, for God’s sake, somebody please tell me so. I guess my mistake has been in assuming that other people feel the same way. Growing up, I always figured that other people would appreciate the corrections as much as I did. I’ve had to learn, through painful experience, that they usually don’t. So now I try to keep my mouth shut, even if I don’t always succeed. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/108 "2025-06-10T16:23:56Z")
I think for a lot of people , it depends on the type of correction. Some people have the annoying habit of correcting people when it’s not exactly a correction and isn’t needed for understanding. For example, correcting someone who says “flathead” screwdriver rather than “slotted” or who refers to a “boat” rather than “ship”. Or someone who believes that a term that has a specific meaning in a particular area cannot also have an ordinary English meaning and “corrects” someone using “antisocial” to refer to anything other than a diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/109 "2025-06-10T16:39:38Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > You’re poisoning the well by giving the correcter a sneering “smarter than thou” tone. It’s not well-poisoning to discuss a subset of a phenomenon that has specific attributes. This thread isn’t about _corrections in general_ ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/110 "2025-06-10T16:41:12Z")
“Ummm acktually” is well poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/111 "2025-06-10T16:46:08Z")
…via **[eye dialect](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye%20dialect)**. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/112 "2025-06-10T17:04:11Z")
I suppose it could be _next_, but to me that implies there were previous available opportunities. 50 and 49 years ago aren’t available ! I’m probably wrong ! ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/113 "2025-06-10T17:10:53Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I think for a lot of people , it depends on the type of correction. For me it depends on a batch of things; including the tone of voice, and whether I think the corrector might actually be right. > [@pjd](#): > > I suppose it could be _next_, but to me that implies there were previous > available opportunities. For me, “next” in that specific context only implies that “right this minute” isn’t available. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/114 "2025-06-10T17:13:18Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > or who refers to a “boat” rather than “ship”. Uhmm… actually… Boats are boats, but ships are vessels. I’m not sure why. (Owner of a white water kayak, it is my boat) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/115 "2025-06-10T17:27:44Z")
Subs are boats. Everything else is a target. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/116 "2025-06-10T18:35:36Z")
No it’s not. It’s just a meme. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/117 "2025-06-10T19:47:21Z")
Sure, but have you ever seen a well full of memes that you want to drink out of? Checkmate. (Ackshually, they don’t say “checkmate” in real chess matches…) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/118 "2025-06-10T19:47:31Z")
> [@Xocomil](#): > > Maybe it’s because children’s science shows of my youth drilled the fact that whales are mammals into my soft millennial skull. Absolutely- whales are mammals. But the term “fish” no longer has any precise scientific meaning, as the various "fishy-like creatures’ have been divided up into several other classes, etc. Bony Fish, jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, and so forth. > [@Ludovic](#): > > I don’t insist that they’re fish but I don’t insist that they’re _not_ fish, either. It just doesn’t seem right that sharks should be included and the closer relatives to other fish, the whales, should not. The whales etc are not very closely related at all. > [@Moriarty](#): > > (In California, you can become a firefighter) Sorta, they use them to clean up hot spots, do firebreaks and such. IIRC only non violent criminals are accepted. > [@colinfred](#): > > “Ummm acktually” is well poisoning. That spelling is generally used by people making fun of pedants making corrections. Oh, and one that come sup in film, etc “it is some unknown metal!”. Nope. We know all 92 naturally occurring elements, plus many of the unstable ones. An unknown alloy? perhaps but we’d know what elements are in it. Unless it is magic or some force field like thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/119 "2025-06-10T20:08:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That spelling is generally used by people making fun of pedants making corrections. I think also somewhat specifically, people making _unnecessary_ corrections. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326/120 "2025-06-10T20:09:15Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I think also somewhat specifically, people making _unnecessary_ corrections. Okay, I will buy that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-world-examples-of-ummm-acktually-its-x-not-y-nitpicks-and-discussion-about-them/1019326.md?page=7)