My pet peeves center on grammar and word-usage. I feel uncomfortable about them, yet I revel in them. Many years ago I was chastened when criticized for laughing at someone’s mispronunciation of a particular word. I’ve long since forgotten the word, but it was pointed out that those who mispronounce words often do so because they read, never having heard the word in spoken English. In the same vein, is recoiling in feigned horror or laughing at “improper” grammar or word usage equally elitist?
Or is it innate in my mental makeup? Surely, it exercises the intellect – for example, when I’m attempting to determine whether someone’s usage of “me” instead of “I” is correct, particularly in a convoluted or recursive sentence featuring one or more embedded phrases and clauses. I enjoy figuring out what is the subject, the object, and which verb is controlling. The same mental gymnastics are required when trying to figure out the meaning of “I couldn’ fail to disagree less.”
Having apologized for what can be termed misplaced elitism, if such a thing exists, here are three of my linguistic Pet Peeves:
“Exact same”. I claim ownership of this one, as I’ve not seen discussions of this term anywhere else. “Exact” and “same” are adjectives. I don’t know what an “exact” thing is. Is it measured with a micrometer? Is there something precise about it? I understand “exactly the same thing,” where “exactly” is the adverb it should be. I’m at a loss as to what an “exact same thing” is. Recently, I reviewed a brief where the drafter made the point that a law firm had filed virtually the same brief in half a dozen cases, characterizing them as “near identical” briefs. I suggested changing the characterization to “nearly identical”, observing that the brief was “near” only if he’d printed it out and held it close to his glasses. He wrote back generally agreeing, but cited several published California appellate cases where the courts, surely aided by crack law clerks with Order of the Coif credentials, had used the exact same phrase. (Whoops.) To humor me, the brief was filed using “nearly identical” to describe the similarities.
“Chaise Lounge”. This is a corruption of the correct “chaise longue”, from French. When I see this, I think of “lounging” in an airport lounge waiting for a flight, rather than the reclining seat next to the pool at the resort I wish were the termination of my flight. Merriam-Webster online suggests that English speakers were more comfortable importing this French term for a “long chair” as “lounge” because they wanted a word with spelling they knew and unambiguous pronunciation. I dunno. I once pointed out to a newspaper columnist his error in a column he wrote. He, an adherent to the belief that proper English is that which the people speak, acknowledged the etymology of the word, but disputed that he’d made an error.
Finally, “Nonplussed.” My favorite, because its common (incorrect?) meaning is the one almost universally used by current American writers, and it is used to convey the near opposite (whoops again) of the original meaning. I’ve never heard anyone say “nonplussed” in ordinary speech, but it comes up often in opinion columns and other popular writing. The original meaning, “Astonished to the point of being unable to speak”, or loosely, “perplexed or unsure of what to say” also comes from French, non plus or “nothing more.” Now, in this country, at least, it signifies a state of being unimpressed, as in “I was nonplussed by the candidate’s speech.”
The nicely perverse consequence of pet peeves like this is that the more widespread the error, the more proper its usage becomes. In France, I believe there’s a commission that certifies acceptable words. English speakers, of course, wouldn’t put up with nonsense like that. We’d be nonplussed by their suggestions.
Mister Ed
Very interesting, Mister Ed. The English language is difficult, so speaking a word if one has only read it can be challenging and some latitude should be granted there. Your sentence structure example is really challenging. I don’t think grammar is taught in schools any longer. How can the younger set learn the rules?
Your other examples are really interesting and show how our language has evolved. That isn’t a good thing. Your last two examples come from French words and have been entirely corrupted over the years. I have other examples (not necessarily from French, just words that have come to mean something else) like peruse, which I was taught, means to read in detail NOT skim, but that is how it is used today. I wonder how these words get so distorted.
Thanks for your comment! I’ve liked the “couldn’t fail to disagree less” example for years. I’ve seen it attributed to Dwight Eisenhower and Boris Johnson. Boris couldn’t have said it first since I heard it long before he was a world figure.
LOL, Mr. Ed. I have basically given up expecting anything said or written, even by respected journalists, will pass your tests. I’m especially offended by the use of “I” when it should be “me.” Is that part of trying to inflate ones’ self importance?
I enjoyed your comment. I think “I” is just from confusion. But what do me know?
I wonder if the misuse of nonplussed stems from the fact that it has “non” in it, which suggests NOT caring about whatever you are reacting to. Sort of like inflammable, which was problematic because people thought it meant not capable of burning, instead of the reverse.
That makes sense to me. Especially since “plus” is generally regarded as favorable. As in your A+ comment.
Very thoughtful and well-written Mr Ed, altho I’m not clear as to what the MyRetrospect administration say about accepting manuscripts from horses.
So far I haven’t heard any neigh-sayers.
OY!
Did I just hear that from the horses mouth?
Where is Wilbur?
Wilbur’s on vacation. Bur I’m not sure he ever held a job. Too busy talking to a horse he thinks can talk.
All good points, even if not in my top ten. Growing up in New Haven, our prime peevish redundancy was “pizza pie.” And yes, “nonplussed” is often misinterpreted to mean the opposite of its correct meaning. As Suzy mentioned, I think it is the “non” that throws a lot of people. But they’re still wrong.
Thanks, John. Always enjoy your comments. Don’t those in New Haven think they invented pizza?
Not invented. Just perfected.
Ah.
To the best of my memory*, I’ve only seen “nonplussed” used in its correct sense, but seeing it here makes me want to make a joke about being “plussed.” I get the same urge with unpaired words like “inept” and “uncouth.” Thankfully I’m able to restrain myself.
A distant cousin to “exact same,” one of my pet grammatical peeves is “very unique.”
*I used to be a court reporter so this type of cagey phrase springs to mind from time to time..
“More perfect union”
!!!
You are the first person to list one of my pet peeves, Mr. Ed, the chaise lounge/chaise longue. Maybe it bothers me so much because I know French.
I had 3 years of high school French but couldn’t learn the language. Sometimes I thought we were learning it along with the teacher.
A nice catalogue of common mis-usage. I would add that with these wise words, you have LITERALLY MADE MY DAY. Except that would imply that you are the Creator, I suppose as in “let there be light” etc. I nominate the use of “literally” when folks mean “figuratively” as a worthy addition to your list.
And I loved your last line.
Thank you for the comment. Literally would be a good addition to the list.