Poor language: The BBC is supposed to be the suppositary of good language but I am am irritated by a recent habit of saying, for instance, more quickly instead of quicker. What's...

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

The BBC is supposed to be the suppositary of good language but I am am irritated by a recent habit of saying, for instance, more quickly instead of quicker. What's happened to the ER?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

viscountdriver wrote:

The BBC is supposed to be the suppositary of good language but I am am irritated by a recent habit of saying, for instance, more quickly instead of quicker. What's happened to the ER?

Either you're being sarcastic, or you've chosen the wrong word. I think you meant to say "repository."

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=suppository

As for "quicker" or "more quickly," it's "six of one...," with "more quickly" taking over the show.

http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic488.html

http://languagetips.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/weekly-language-usage-tips-quicker-or-more-quickly-comparative-adjectives-and-adverbs-decimal-points-and-percents/

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Now you've done it! Started my morning with a rant (from me.) Over here our on-screen personalities prefer "as best as" to the proper "as well as" as in
'Bob handled the problem "as best as" he could.'

Having lost friends and family to mesothelioma I find this too often a reminder of the prevalence of asbestos in our man made world. The phrase is close enough phonically to grate on my mind. There are a few others malapropisms which I am more successful at ignoring.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

jerryc41 wrote:

Either you're being sarcastic, or you've chosen th... (show quote)

I take your point,Jerry but why use two words when one describes it accurately?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Don-RC wrote:

Now you've done it! Started my morning with a ran... (show quote)

I can't say I've ever noticed that around here. Unfortunately, people tend to think that speech they hear from TV announcers is always correct.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

viscountdriver wrote:

I take your point,Jerry but why use two words when one describes it accurately?

Ask the BBC. :D

APB Loc: UK

Hi Jerry, I have read many of your posts but never, so far , replied.

Can you help explain the difference between the American version 'Named for . . . '. and the British version 'Named after . . . ' when using an existing place/person to name another.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I think it is the younger generation taking over. Pretty soon they will not be able to send a letter. They aren't teaching them to write now. They do everything on a computer. I hate that I am getting old and seeing this all happen.
Erv

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

APB wrote:

Hi Jerry, I have read many of your posts but never, so far , replied.

Can you help explain the difference between the American version 'Named for . . . '. and the British version 'Named after . . . ' when using an existing place/person to name another.

I'm more familiar with "named after," as in "I was named after my father." Maybe "named for" is a regional thing.

One thing I've noticed about British speech is that I usually hear, "That boy is called Paul," while we would say he is "named" Paul.

EDIT: Slightly off topic, but it bothers me when I hear someone on TV say, "My name is Captain Smith." He is Captain Smith, but that isn't his name, unless his parents had a sick sense of humor.

APB Loc: UK

How about this everyday conversation;

'How are you', (or equivalent)

'I'm good'

You may be fine, well, feeling happy, BUT it is up to me, or others to decide whether you are 'good' since that is a value judgement you cannot sensibly make about yourself!

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

My biggest problem with the English Language is the American version of "not caring".

An American will say "I could care less"
An Englishman will say "I could not (or couldn't) care less"

Two totally different literal meanings, but both used as "I don't care"

The American version literally means the user does care.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Searcher wrote:

My biggest problem with the English Language is the American version of "not caring".

An American will say "I could care less"
An Englishman will say "I could not (or couldn't) care less"

Two totally different literal meanings, but both used as "I don't care"

The American version literally means the user does care.

Right. I could never understand why people say that.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

Don-RC wrote:

Now you've done it! Started my morning with a ran... (show quote)

Your example is typical for many American substandard broadcasters today. The correct expression is actually "as best he could". But even that has it's flaws since it clearly demonstrates that people do not accomplish work with due diligence but just schlep along to just get by.
If you're interviewing prospective employees, would you hire one that just gets the immediate concerns resolved or the one who solves the problem completely? Do you hire the creative and imaginative candidate and pay more in salary or the warm body schlep to fill the opening? Your end product or service is at stake here. Think about that.
JMHO

GARGLEBLASTER Loc: Spain

What about to try and instead of to try to? How did and get in there?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

GARGLEBLASTER wrote:

What about to try and instead of to try to? How did and get in there?

:thumbup: