By Barb

December 18, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

My most recent pet grammar peeve is people being afraid to use -er and -est for adjectives. I even hear “professionals” (newscasters)say things like “more rainy” instead of “rainier”. Why are people suddenly so afraid to use the proper comparatives and superlatives? I also am livid when I see a professioanlly-made sign with improper grammar. Someone paid that company to make them look like an idiot!

By Lea

December 14, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this

I am constantly attempting to correct my children’s grammar. My particular (non) favorite is when my son says, “May you please get me…” I understand that he’s trying, but as I have a degree in English it is particularly annoying. Aside from that, anyone who says “nucular” should learn how to read. There’s no QU. It is NEW-KLEE-ARE. Finally, misuse of apostrophes and commas also irritate me.

By SSGT

December 13, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this

Stress to me is being shot at and worrying if my fellow soldiers or I will make it back to our families alive. If you are getting stressed over how someone writes or talks, then I truly think that your priorities in life are backwards.

By whome

December 13, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

I cringe when people use “ideals” with “ideas”!

By Grammar Police

December 12, 2009 11:43 PM | Link to this

My pet peeve will be around on Christmas cards this year. When people sign their name by adding an apostrophe making it possessive instead of plural. For example: The Smith’s or The Jones’s. The proper way is to say: The Smiths or The Joneses. So annoying!

By nan

December 12, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this

Biggest peeve? “Me and Amy went …” instead of “Amy and I went …”

By Vivenne

December 12, 2009 9:48 PM | Link to this

I am sick of hearing people respond with “absolutely” when a simple “yes” would do. This is common on people being interviewed. Also the word “amazing” for anything that is unusual is definitely overworked. NO one except English teachers seems to use the apostrophe correctly. And “a lot” is two words, not one.

By gindie

December 12, 2009 8:54 PM | Link to this

How about those who pronounce the word “picture” as if it were “pitcher”?

By silentE!!

December 12, 2009 8:45 PM | Link to this

what makes me mad is the silent E at the end of words that changes the preceding vowel from short to long sound. Its freaky. Why is that E so quiet? It somehow seems sneaky. I just don’t trust that silent e. And why do “Y”s sometimes sound like an “E” at the end of the word like in “happy” or like an “I” as in “dry”. That Y pretty much does whatever it wants to and I don’t think thats fair.

By Rodger

December 12, 2009 8:27 PM | Link to this

What bothers me is when people say “fer” instead of “for,” as is, “I’m going fer a walk.” Listen and you’ll hear almost everyone say it, even the newsreaders.

By null

December 12, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this

I hate it when people pronounce words that have a “th” at the end life they have a “f” at theend. For example, Bath is pronounced like baf. Stop being lazy people!!

By Dave

December 12, 2009 6:14 PM | Link to this

IRregardless …its not a word quit using it. theAtre….no need to emphasize the A

By NoUse4aName

December 12, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this

“Updation” really bugs me. Encounter it often working with Indians in the tech world. Comes from the database statements ‘Select’, ‘Delete’, and ‘Update’. It’s as if the entire continent figured if select becomes selection and delete becomes deletion then update becomes updation.

By null

December 12, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this

I hate when people making signs or sign cards that say, Congradulations. Its Congratulations. I don’t understand why this is so hard understand but i find more and more people doing it.

By Anonymous

December 12, 2009 4:51 PM | Link to this

I have seen more than once a sign stating ‘sorry for the inconvience.’ The word is inconvenience. Also, look for misspellings on signs in stores. Do they have a spell checker available? The latest was for ‘Drining Water’.

By red

December 12, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

I have to agree with James Guthrie. There are more errors in spelling and grammar showing up in the DDN than ever before. Don’t misunderstand my statement I am not perfect in either. A newspaper should be.

By Bob

December 12, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this

Improper use of “your” vs. “you’re” along with “there/their/they’re” drives me absolutely batty. I also agree with Grrrrrrr about “should/would/could of.” And the overuse of apostrophes, too. Oh, and “to” vs. “too.” This thread is making me angry!

By Birdy

December 12, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this

I’m on a mission to get people to stop saying “Irregardless” that is not a word!! Stop saying..it drives me crazy!!

By LA

December 12, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this

It’s irritating when people say “I could care less” when they obviously mean to say ” I couldn’t care less”. I’ll also be glad when people tire of using the word “actually” in every sentence.

By Lizzie

December 12, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this

When loose and lose is used incorrectly.

By Keith

December 12, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this

Kathy living in Ontario. I too lived in the UK for three years and they also spell they spell words like Labour, Centre, Colour & tyres. I found it odd until I remembered they were writing English far before we became a country. Whose grammer is correct?

By EnglishTeacher

December 12, 2009 3:21 PM | Link to this

Everything that’s been mentioned makes me cringe! I don’t want to be the spelling or grammar police when I’m not in the classroom, but it’s something I can’t turn off! Two of my personal pet peeves are seeing a plural made with an ‘s, and hearing the dropped T in words like “Day-un”. It’s hard to explain to students that those are wrong when they’re seen and heard everywhere.

By James

December 12, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this

I am amazed at how many people substitute the “a” and “er” sound in many words. People say “amotion” instaed of “emotion” and “perduce” instead of “Produce”. We sound very uneducated.

By tomnshell

December 12, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

The incorrect use of “their”, “there”, and “they’re”. Get it right!! They’re going to their friend’s house over there. Also people that say “your dumb” instead of “you’re”. While I am at it, people who type in text shorthand or make up their own spelling of words. Also, people who can’t finish a sentence without using the word “like” 10 times.

By J

December 12, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this

“Intrested” instead of the correct spelling “Interested”.

By Judi P

December 12, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this

How about using “troop” for 1 person when it means a group of people. Or “myself” is used incorrectly ALL of the time. “Fewer” and “less’ are always used incorrectly any more.

By Ugh!

December 12, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

The mispronunciation of comfortable as comfterble and jewelry as jewlery. Another is when someone uses then instead of than. His car is better then mine…Ugh!

By snave

December 12, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this

I absolutely cringe when I hear someone say “I ain’t got no…” and another one is hearing someone say “I seen the…” Come on people that is just basic grammar.

By FeelsBetterNow

December 12, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

Since I first saw this commercial, it has irked me like crazy… On a recent Thanksgiving commercial for Jeff Schmitt Auto, there are turkeys talking. At the end, one of the turkeys says “And they call us turkey’s”. I wanted to call the dealership, just to let them know the apostrophe is not needed and they definitely needed a better commercial writer! If his commercials weren’t annoying enough before…

By tgal

December 12, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

What about INsurance - with the emphasis on the in? According to my dictionary the syllable that is stressed is sur.

By RN

December 12, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this

If you are sick and think you might vomit, then you are NAUSEATED. If you make me want to vomit then you are NAUSEOUS.

By Clueless

December 12, 2009 10:17 AM | Link to this

I have a question I hope someone can answer. When I was growing up I always heard people say “orient.” Now, more often than not, people say “orientate.” Are both pronunciations correct?

By Clueless

December 12, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this

I have a question I hope someone can answer. When I was growing up, I always heard people say “orient.” Now, more often than not, I hear people say “orientate.” Are both pronunciations acceptable?

By drivesmenuts

December 12, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this

I can’t stand people using the wrong form of their/there/they’re. It’s something I learned in elementary school, and I just don’t see how it’s so difficult to understand!

By Jim

December 12, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this

I give you that. She don’t know.

By Due ewe really want two no?

December 12, 2009 9:21 AM | Link to this

Homonyms!

By Tom

December 12, 2009 9:15 AM | Link to this

I do not think the schools teach English anymore, especially in Ohio. I have heard TV News people say things like, “this is where we are at”, rather than correctly say, “this is where we are”. Heard Natasha Williams say they had a Christmas display of “reindeers” rather than correctly saying “reindeer”. Also, just about everyone will say, “I have no ideal”, rather than, “I have no idea”, and no one ever “saw” anything, they always “seen” something. Hope I got my point “acrosst”.

By Doc

December 12, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this

I have to agree with “ax”. Let me ax you something… WTF, people? Are you purposely trying to make yourselves look stupid? Also: This is the year two thousand nine. NOT two thousand in nine or, two thousand and nine. It kills me to see a “professional”, like a news reporter say it.

By Mike

December 12, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this

Hey Null, we’re not trying to change the world, here. I think this is supposed to be a little lighthearted. What bothers me is the incorrect use of pronouns, e.g. “Me and her went to the store”, or “That was for him and I”.

By bob

December 12, 2009 7:48 AM | Link to this

how about “whar’s muh driver’s license? Ah caint seem to find THEM” There is only ONE license so it is singular, never plural.

By Kathy

December 12, 2009 7:23 AM | Link to this

I live in Ontario (an American from Springboro Ohio) and it drives me crazy the way they spell words like Labour, Centre, Colour. It is crazy the way they pronounce of the words too. Wish I could tell ya. Also I hate it when people can’t spell. I saw a posting where the guy said he was a wharehouse manager. Whatever!

By Grrrrrrr

December 12, 2009 6:22 AM | Link to this

I have a few. Should/would/could of. Of what? The use of the word hopefully. The ly indicates it’s an adverb. The proper use baffles me. And how about…I am a fan of his. His what? Isn’t it better to say I am his fan? Maybe I am a non-contributor, null.

By Grrrrrrr

December 12, 2009 6:10 AM | Link to this

I have a few. The worst is should/could/would of. Of what? Another…how is the word hopefully used correctly? The ly and the end indicates an adverb. One more…I am a fan of his. His what? Isn’t it better to say I am his fan?

By Heather

December 12, 2009 6:08 AM | Link to this

PERSONAL PRONOUNS!! Correct usage is: my sister and I went to the mall. NOT my sister and ME. Secondly, the car dealer gave my husband and ME a great deal, not my husband and I. Get it right, folks!

By max

December 12, 2009 6:00 AM | Link to this

The phrase “Here goes…..” Here goes my teacher. Here goes my pencil. I wonder where it/they are going???

By Steve

December 12, 2009 5:32 AM | Link to this

“OK, kids, looks like we’ve gotten a bit of a row”… OK, kids, it looks like… Ron, you just got owned.

By Anon

December 12, 2009 12:55 AM | Link to this

This one is found more in the spoken word than written, but referring to a time of day twice, as in: 7 AM in the morning. Is there another time of day besides morning that you will find 7 AM?

By Alan Limke

December 12, 2009 12:09 AM | Link to this

Substituting “your” for “you’re,” as in “Your an idiot.”

By NoUse4aName

December 11, 2009 10:08 PM | Link to this

It’s rediculous how many people can’t spell ridiculous.

By James Guthrie

December 11, 2009 8:31 PM | Link to this

DDN really, really, really needs to hire a new copy editor. In today’s paper: Spanish “grammer”? “unleased”? One sign of ignorance is an inability to grasp irony.

By TKidding72

December 11, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

The only one that drives me crazy is how Paula Deen says yall every other word. Thankfully I can just change the channel.

By Martha

December 11, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this

Using “breath” instead of “breathe,” as in, “I couldn’t breath.”

By numbskull72

December 11, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

irksome (a): Disagreeable or troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition; bothersome; annoying; irritating; wearisome; tedious. “I find Mr. Mensa’s off-base criticism while failing to suggest a more fitting alternative word particularly irksome.”

By Steve

December 11, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

Oh, so many. How about loose instead of lose? A spoken one is how people drop the letter t around this area. They live in Day-un. And overuse/misuse of the words literally and irregardless.

By Steve @ the airport

December 11, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this

My grammar pet peeves 1. where you at? 2. I seen … 3. Joe, Billy, and myself …

By null

December 11, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this

Split infinitives and not conjugating verbs (the worst: there’s many reasons)are at the top of my list of peeves.

By null

December 11, 2009 3:32 PM | Link to this

I can’t stand the use of “excape” instead od escape. Why does “s” turn into “x”? Let me “ax” you a question…

By Tallywhacker

December 11, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this

I cringe at “Congradulations” around June 1st

By Mr. Mensa

December 11, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this

numbskull72, you couldn’t find a better word than irksome in an article about grammer? And you’re worried about apostrophes? Child please.

By numbskull72

December 11, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

One that I find particularly irksome is when people stick apostrophes where they shouldn’t be. Example: “My uncle own’s five pickup truck’s.”

By null

December 11, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this

Grammar police. Uptight society’s glorious non-contributors.