Words - People are Like Sheep: I'm going inside and continue working on my mask now. One thing I don't understand is "prewash." In carpentry, a lot of directions say to "predrill" a...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm going inside and continue working on my mask now. One thing I don't understand is "prewash." In carpentry, a lot of directions say to "predrill" a hole, and I don't understand that, either. I have a load of wash in the washing machine now, but it's washing. When I drill a hole in wood, there it is. A hole!

Another thing that annoys me is the sudden popularity of the unnecessary use of the word "of."

"This is a big enough of a problem..."

Why are people using "of" when there's no need for it? A previous annoyance was with the word "need," which is grossly over-used.

"I'm going to need you to step out of the car, sir." "...going to need you to..." What a ridiculous way to talk! I've given up on "need."

Yes, my life is full of major problems and worries.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

And what ever happened to the word much? Nowadays, people say "That was so fun!" We used to say "That was so much fun." That usage turns the word fun from a noun into what, a verb?...an adverb? I can't even figure it out.

kerry12 Loc: Harrisburg, Pa.

Burtzy wrote:

And what ever happened to the word much? Nowadays, people say "That was so fun!" We used to say "That was so much fun." That usage turns the word fun from a noun into what, a verb?...an adverb? I can't even figure it out.

I agree. They also use funner. It makes you sound uneducated.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm going inside and continue working on my mask n... (show quote)

I would like to thank you for this.

amyinsparta Loc: White county, TN

Pet, Petted, Have petted? Now, its pet the dog, I pet the dog yesterday, I have pet the dog many times. AAARRRRGGGGG

I'm sure there are many other examples. I know that languages continually change, but this example does not flow off the tongue, as languages should do. JMO

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Burtzy wrote:

And what ever happened to the word much? Nowadays, people say "That was so fun!" We used to say "That was so much fun." That usage turns the word fun from a noun into what, a verb?...an adverb? I can't even figure it out.

If enough people use the term(s) and/or phrase(es) they become the norm.

And those people you are referring to are called sheeple.

amyinsparta Loc: White county, TN

Burtzy wrote:

And what ever happened to the word much? Nowadays, people say "That was so fun!" We used to say "That was so much fun." That usage turns the word fun from a noun into what, a verb?...an adverb? I can't even figure it out.

Adjective?

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

My pet peeve is the use of then and than, like “I’d like the sky to be red rather then blue. Should be than not then! See this misuse all the time.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

Longshadow wrote:

If enough people use the term(s) and/or phrase(es) they become the norm.

I realize that language is always evolving. But it is de-evolution that bothers me.

Lknack Loc: NOCO

The one's that bug me are, starting every sentance with "So" and not using "take" and "bring" properly.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Burtzy wrote:

I realize that language is always evolving. But it is de-evolution that bothers me.

Amen!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Another failure of our educational system. Even the teachers speak that way.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

kpmac wrote:

Another failure of our educational system. Even the teachers speak that way.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm going inside and continue working on my mask n... (show quote)

This is interesting Jerry. It's not grammatically correct to say "Step out the car, sir" which is what it would be without the "of". Prewashing is for people who sew with new fabric. New fabric usually has some kind of finish on it, or it may shrink upon first washing. So, fabric manufacturers suggest prewashing before sewing a garment (or mask) so that you don't have a future problem.

Now, if you really want to gripe, think about how often people now use the word "up" unnecessarily. Even the media is doing it. Serve up dinner instead of serve dinner. Write up a ticket instead of write a ticket. Make up a plan instead of make a plan. I could go on and on with this one.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DebAnn wrote:

This is interesting Jerry. It's not grammatically ... (show quote)

(Make up a plan would be to create a fake one.

OR - to make it look pretty.)