Suzy Says

I do realize that language is an ever-changing, ever-evolving thing (otherwise we’d all still be speaking Shakespearan English — egads!), and I do realize that being a linguistics major makes me both petty and pedantic about the abuse of the English language, but dang. I am sick and tired of language mistakes becoming accepted because so many people make the same mistake.

Prime example: orientated or disorientated. Should be: oriented or disoriented. However, people have been using the “tater” version so long, it is now included in Webster’s dictionary.

Another one that drives me crazy: irregardless. What you have there is a double negative, saying NOT regardless. This is another one that appears in Webster, though with the caveat that it’s really only acceptable in speech. But it’s not far from being acceptable in speech to being included as a real entry in the dictionary.

Other examples:

One of my husband’s co-workers actually told him he “disincluded” something instead of saying “forgot” or “omitted”. Fortunately, even Webster’s, despite their feet (or pages) of clay, don’t recognize this as a real word. Yet.

“I could care less”. Think about this. I COULD care less….but I don’t. Should be: “I couldn’t care less.” In other words, there is no way on Earth I could care any less about this than I do. Get it now? Saying “I could care less” means you do care a certain amount.

“That’s between him and I.” Should be: “That’s between him and ME”. I don’t know why this one trips people up so much. Maybe they think “me” doesn’t sound correct or proper, but newsflash: it is. Anywhere you have words like between, for, with…use me, not I.

“Very unique”. If something is unique, there is only one of them. Period. The thing in question is incomparable, and therefore it cannot be very, sort of, or any other modifier. It’s unique, and that’s it.

“I feel so badly about that.” You feel badly with your hands. That’s what we linguistics freaks call an adverb, and should only apply to a verb. Bad is an adjective and should be used with nouns or pronouns. Often used with linking words like feel, look, sound, or to be. Correct use: “She sang badly at the concert.” “He felt bad about missing their date.” OK?

I could go on, but I have filled my pettiness quota for the day.