Vexing phrases

[d000hg]

When people use literally incorrectly. Only this morning some put in our chat they 'literally drank their bodyweight on Friday night'

So that literally makes my blood boil.

[OwlHoot]

Beginning with "so" is incorrect, if there is no preceding statement from which this statement follows on, or if "so" is followed by a justifying statement (as in, "So, because people start speaking with the word 'so', they are irritating f***wits"). "So, I'm James and I'm a f***wit" is grammatically incorrect.

Exactly. It's an attempt to subliminally suggest "This is so", or "so be it", like an all-knowing oracle uttering unassailable words of wisdom.

"So, I'm the departmental head. My name is Dee, and I'm part mental!"

[d000hg]

Exactly. It's an attempt to subliminally suggest "This is so", or "so be it", like an all-knowing oracle uttering unassailable words of wisdom.

Not in my experience. Younger people use it to demonstrate uncertainty or awkwardness. "soooo, I'm gluten-intolerant."

[vetran]

When people use literally incorrectly. Only this morning some put in our chat they 'literally drank their bodyweight on Friday night'

You told him he was a lightweight?

[Gibbon]

"Its" when it should be "it's"

Apostrophes are for dumb****s who cant understand context, they were invented only @500 years ago by some verbose Italian. If it isnt spoken it isnt needed; the ancient Greeks and Romans had no use of spaces or full-stops (or any other grammatical interlopers really) and they got along fine with their literature.

All they do do is give pedants a reason to feel superior when in reality they ought to look at themselves as nemorepentefuitstultissimus

[malvolio]

Apostrophes are for dumb****s who cant understand context, they were invented only @500 years ago by some verbose Italian. If it isnt spoken it isnt needed; the ancient Greeks and Romans had no use of spaces or full-stops (or any other grammatical interlopers really) and they got along fine with their literature.

All they do do is give pedants a reason to feel superior when in reality they ought to look at themselves as nemorepentefuitstultissimus

I think you'll find that is not everyone's viewpoint. For example "I forgot my lunch so I ate my workmates".

HTH. BIDI...

[Gibbon]

I think you'll find that is not everyone's viewpoint. For example "I forgot my lunch so I ate my workmates".

HTH. BIDI...

Context fecking hell M didnt expect you to roll out that trite example. Spoken it would make perfect sense, why should the written word be different?

[OwlHoot]

Apostrophes are for dumb****s who cant understand context, they were invented only @500 years ago by some verbose Italian. If it isnt spoken it isnt needed; the ancient Greeks and Romans had no use of spaces or full-stops (or any other grammatical interlopers really) and they got along fine with their literature. ..

To be fair though, most Romans found reading text like that quite challenging and would read aloud. Julius Caesar was the first person recorded as being able to read without speaking the text or even moving his lips, and everyone marvelled at that amazing ability!

[malvolio]

Context fecking hell M didnt expect you to roll out that trite example. Spoken it would make perfect sense, why should the written word be different?

Because I can read? And, unlike most of the last two generations, I was taught English, rather than picking it up from a variety of illiterate sources.

[d000hg]

Because I can read? And, unlike most of the last two generations, I was taught English, rather than picking it up from a variety of illiterate sources.

So you're boasting that your learning makes you struggle to understand something an illiterate would not find confusing?

Sorry but they still teach English at school, they just don't teach much grammar because the language is tending towards function over form. Sorry to break it to you but what you were taught is no longer 'proper English' anyway. Move with the times grandad.