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words most often used incorrectly

#206
shadowtippy said:
I help a friend with his antique/resale store. Some of the tags are scary, like vace (vase), Asin (Asian) vase,, knome (gnome), chester drawers (chest of drawers), not for sell.
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I have heard many refer to it as a "chester draws", including myself, for my first few years.

I imagine that we often hear something and assume that we understand what was heard.

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#207
There are at least a couple sci fi movies where the spaceship was being bombarded by a "meteorite storm".

My favorite though was from Forbidden Planet:

"I'll bet any quantum mechanic in the service would give the rest of his life to fool around with this gadget"

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#209
That's the typical U.S. spin that folks put on stuff, because they're afraid of sounding like a foreigner if they pronounce something correctly.

Karaoke is my prime example, which originally (in Japan) sounds like Kara-Okay, but the U.S. citizens have made the word completely unrecognizable by saying Carry Okie.

Even here at home they put these ludicrous spins on the pronunciation of Spanish words. There's a town nearby called Buena Vista, but everyone calls it Bewna Vista.
 
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#210
My pet peeve these days is the superfluous use of 'at.'

"Where is he at?" Which would be fine without the 'at.'
"Where are you at?" Which would be fine without the 'at.'
"Goleta? Where's that at?" Which would also be fine without the 'at.'

I answer, "He's over there...at."
"I'm at home.....at."
"It's just past Santa Barbara....at." etc.

Don't get me started on "conversate."

Also...
I cringe a little with verb past tense forms such as 'dove' for 'dived,' (and this includes gaffs such as 'arrove' for 'arrived'!) or 'hung' for 'hanged.'
Past participles such as 'boughten.' Grrrr...
 
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#211
Not a word but a term: "brand new". I see this one used all-too-often to describe a used bass in the classifieds. If you, the seller, bought that bass from someone and are now selling it, your bass is not "brand new", it is used. It might be in "mint" condition but it is not "brand new". And if your bass is "mint with a few minor scratches" then it is not "mint". ;)
 
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#213
ThudThudThud said:
My pet peeve these days is the superfluous use of 'at.'

"Where is he at?" Which would be fine without the 'at.'
"Where are you at?" Which would be fine without the 'at.'
"Goleta? Where's that at?" Which would also be fine without the 'at.'

I answer, "He's over there...at."
"I'm at home.....at."
"It's just past Santa Barbara....at." etc.

Don't get me started on "conversate."

Also...
I cringe a little with verb past tense forms such as 'dove' for 'dived,' (and this includes gaffs such as 'arrove' for 'arrived'!) or 'hung' for 'hanged.'
Past participles such as 'boughten.' Grrrr...
Click to expand...

I am with you on the "at" issue.

This one goes with it when somebody asks, "Where are you going to?" The "to" is not necessary and it is incorrect.

How about "get it over with?" While this phrase has become acceptable, and I don't know why it is, we can just say "get it over."
 
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#215
bass12 said:
Not a word but a term: "brand new". I see this one used all-too-often to describe a used bass in the classifieds. If you, the seller, bought that bass from someone and are now selling it, your bass is not "brand new", it is used. It might be in "mint" condition but it is not "brand new". And if your bass is "mint with a few minor scratches" then it is not "mint". ;)
Click to expand...

I agree. 'Brand New' would indicate something that's completely novel. You can't have a brand new standard Precision. You can have a new one, but not a brand new one.
Used basses can be "like new."
 
#219
bass12 said:
Not a word but a term: "brand new". I see this one used all-too-often to describe a used bass in the classifieds. If you, the seller, bought that bass from someone and are now selling it, your bass is not "brand new", it is used. It might be in "mint" condition but it is not "brand new". And if your bass is "mint with a few minor scratches" then it is not "mint". ;)
Click to expand...
I was at a pawn shop last week, looking at basses. The proprietor was having an animated conversation with a guy trying to sell his phone, used by him, insisting it was "brand new". The owner TRIED in several ways to explain to him that it can't be brand new if this potential customer brought it, and pointed out it that the list of his contacts proves it is used. This kid, and his buddy were downright pissed, and told him it IS BRAND NEW, in very rude terms, then proceeded to tell him he MUST buy it or he is a racist. At that point, I laughed at them, and left.
 

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