This isn’t a complaint, but the section police might believe it is and become annoyed that it’s in the wrong place elsewhere, so here it is.

Are there expressions people use that you believe are wrong or use incorrect words, even if you know what they mean? A couple for me:

“To try and” do something rather than “to try to” do it. The first expression is probably more common in America than the latter, and even appears in formally-edited writing. It just doesn’t seem right to me, though.

“He must of” done something rather than “he must have” done it. I attribute the common use of the first to people’s hearing the spoken contraction, “He must’ve” and understanding it as “must of.”

What are yours?

(This question is more about expressions used by normal people, not gun fanatics [ ] who are concerned about clip versus magazines, and those sorts of specialized terms.)

Any phrase or sentence using "irregardless."

Is it inflammable or flammable?

Waiting or standing on line (wrong) vs. in line (correct).

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
Any phrase or sentence using "irregardless."

That one kills me.

Another is “take and do....”.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

I think I use the first example interchangeable but got try to makes more sense.

As for the second one must of is actually must’ve, a contraction of must have(though perhaps not a grammatically proper one).

https://grammarist.com/eggcorns/must-of/

The second example in the OP drives me absolutely up the wall. Same with “should of” instead of “should’ve” or “should have.” Words have meaning.

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:

Is it inflammable or flammable?

Yes.

It's combustible, too.

Turning up missing. An oxymoron.

He dindu nuffin.

Referred back.

Put it up. (Southern for putting something away)

The most obvious one to me, that absolutely drives me batshit crazy is "could care less" instead of "couldn't care less".

Starting a thread with "So". Just drop it,it adds nothing to the substance of your post and no doubt is ungrammatical.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
“He must of” done something rather than “he must have” done it. I attribute the common use of the first to people’s hearing the spoken contraction, “He must’ve” and understanding it as “must of.”

What are yours?

(This question is more about expressions used by normal people, not gun fanatics [ ] who are concerned about clip versus magazines, and those sorts of specialized terms.)

Oh yes, that, and the incorrect use of "fitment", are the two biggest pet peeves of mine. How often do you see folks talk about barrel fitment? Really embarrassing.

“Bring” vs “take”

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

Turning up missing. An oxymoron.

Woke up dead.

"No problem" instead of "You're welcome" in response to "Thank you".

"I could care less".

'Towing the line', when they mean 'toeing the line'

'Ironically' when they mean 'coincidentally'

'Playing Devil's Advocate' when they mean 'for the sake of debate'

'Begging the question' when they mean 'raising the question'

Double negatives:

I didn't steal nothing (I stole something)

I don't have nobody to mow my lawn. (I have somebody to mow my lawn)

This gem is not uncommon. (This gem is common)

I can't barely see where I am going in this fog. (I can see where I am going in this fog)

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone (there is sunshine when she is gone)


The character Anthony on Blue Bloods uses double negatives all the time and there are not infrequently jokes about it at his expense