English Pet Peeves

Discussions of English Language pet peeves provide an entertaining forum for the expression of ire. In fact, if a “pet” is something we cherish, and a “peeve” is something that annoys us, “pet peeves” are what we love to hate. Here’s a collection of common English solecisms—guaranteed not to literally blow your mind:

English Pet Peeves: Logic Problems

• • “I could care less.” – If you’re expressing disinterest, you couldn’t care less.
  • Every time I hear Paul McCartney sing, “But if this ever-changing world in which we live in…” I cringe. Correct usage is “… in which we live.”
  • “The reason why this happened is because…” – use either “why” or “because,” but not both.

The reason this happened is because …

The reason why this happened is …

To be picky, we can do away with “The reason” if we precede the cause with “because.”

This happened because …

• “Where’s it at?” – It’s at over there.
• “Comprising of” – should be “comprising” or “comprised of.”

English Pet Peeves: Acronyms and Repetition

• Why repeat the word that the last letter stands for (ISBN, VIN, ATM)?
• Shouldn’t we get ISB numbers for our books?
• Why don’t our cars have VI Numbers?
• Why don’t we get cash from an AT Machine?

Redundancies

• Plan ahead, plan for the future – can you plan behind?
• Hot water heater – Why would you heat it if it’s already hot?
• Past history – As opposed to future history?
• It was a very unique experience – Are there degrees of uniqueness?
• final conclusion – conclusions are assumed to be final unless you specify they’re preliminary
• pre-recorded – You can only record it once.
• pre-planned – Is this the time before the planning?
• reply back or respond back – “Back” is assumed.
• first-ever – if it’s first, “ever” is implied.

Contradictions

• Same difference – Please choose one.
• Free Gift – Really? I usually pay for gifts.

Imaginary Words

• The seminar orientated me to my new job responsibilities. (oriented)
• We’ll conversate after the meeting. (converse)

Confusion and Abuse

• “You’ve got two choices.” – usually means someone has one choice between two options.
• “…on either side” – usually means on both sides
• “It literally blew my mind” – usually means figuratively. Your head did not explode.
• further vs. farther – farther refers to physical distance; further refers to figurative distance: “Is it more than a mile farther down the road?” “Yes, would you like further directions?”
• lie vs. lay – To “lay down” means to spread baby duck feathers across a surface.
• lose vs. loose – If your button is loose, you’ll lose it when it falls off.
• everyday vs. every day – Summer rains are an everyday occurrence; they happen every day.
• good vs. well – “good” describes character or desirability. “Well” describes status.
• fewer vs. less – Use “fewer” with countable objects. Use “less” to refer to matters of degree or status: After the delivery, one less package left him with fewer to deliver.
• advise vs. inform – to “advise” is to suggest. To “inform” is to present with factual information.
• goes vs. says – “goes” is outright slang—not an acceptable substitute for “says.”
• loath vs. loathe – “Loath” is an adjective meaning hesitant or unwilling. “Loathe” is a verb meaning to dislike.
• discrete vs. discreet – “Discrete” means different or unique. “Discreet” means hidden or respectful of privacy.
• moot vs. mute – The point was moot and not worth pursuing so Bill stayed mute on the matter.
• incidences instead of incidents
• ensure vs. insure – To “insure” means to purchase insurance. To “ensure” means to make sure: He insured his valuables to ensure their safety.
• Irregardless – “regardless” with a skin tab
• nuclear vs. nucular – “Nucular” is a mispronunciation of “nuclear.”
• alot vs. a lot – “Alot” is incorrect; use two words to suggest “a lot full of items.”
• .50 cents = half a penny
• peaked vs. piqued – “Piqued” means to catch attention. “The coin piqued his interest but in a few moments, his curiosity peaked and then he moved on.
• data vs. datum – data is a plural noun, often used incorrectly as a singular noun.

Weak Substitutions

• doable vs. feasible – “doable” is an improvised “verb + able” word
• use vs. utilize – “utilize” is pedantic and pseudosophisticated
• momentarily – means for a very short time. When the pilot says, “We’ll be in the air momentarily, he’s implying that you’ll only be off the ground for a moment.”

Grammar

• waiting on vs. waiting for – The attendant waited on the customers while they waited for their luggage to arrive.
• should of vs. should have
• different from vs. different than – “different from” is technically correct: The red ball is different from the blue ones. Use “different than” when making a comparison: Today, things are different than they were in 1980.
• “One in ten people are …” – the subject (One) is singular, so use “is.”

Hollow Clichés and Crutches

• “To be honest with you…” – can’t we assume you’re being honest?
• “The fact of the matter is…” – an empty crutch phrase
• “untimely death” – who schedules their death? These words cling together to form a tired cliché.
• “back in the day” – does this mean breakfast?

Evolving Language

• impact vs. affect – “impact” is not a verb, though its use as one is so widespread that it will probably become one.
• who vs. whom – “whom” is fading from language to a point where many grammarians are discarding it like “thee” and “thou.” You’ll find a list of them in Who’s Whom? For Editors.
• functionality vs. function – lots of common crossover here. Theoretically, a program with more functions has greater functionality.

What are your favorite English pet peeves? Or is it redundant to have a “favorite” pet peeve?