Dear all. I get very anoyed and pull a face when I hear anyone say 'tret'. As in past tense of treat. Three times in one day and it's all I can stand. Do you feel the same or have an adverse reaction to any other slang utterances.

Grr... Win

You should have "tretted" yourself to a spellcheck Winston. Perhaps you wouldn't find it so ANNOYING then!

Regards,

A.E.

Anthony, I was just wondering who would be the first to spot that (Capt Mainwaring)

I thought 'tret' was a condition which allowed you to tell other poets to eff off, without getting into trouble.

Winston - don't tell them your name! (Stupid boy!)

I HATE "bored of". It should be "bored WITH"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anything annoys me, I tread on it. If that doesn't work, I ignore it - then I cease to be annoyed.

I likes that Isobel!!

Why thank you!

Other things that annoy me. The way everyone says either and neither the American way now. There isn't one kid who pronounces it the way were were taught to. I correct my own but nobody else's. I suppose you just have to accept that language changes and when 80% of all we are watching is American television, there is nothing you can do about it.

I also don't like 'try and'. I much prefer 'try to'. To me 'and' is a connective - not part of a verb construction. Apparently 'try and' has been acceptable since the 17th Century in writing though. I see it written in books and newspapers, so I must be the dinosaur.

It really annoys me seeing 'definitely' spelt with an a. The root of the word is 'finite' with not an a in sight.

I think we all make spelling mistakes though - there are certain words I just have blind spots with. Time and time again I have to look them up - but that can slow you down if you are in a rush.

oh dear i think i make all the mstakes highlighted here...
but i would NEVER make the mistake of saying bockle instead of bottle, these people need a stay in hospital or as they say hospickal. its actually sick.
i like a lot of slang, my fave at the moment being the way americans say axe instead of ask :) i like a lot of americanisms and black style. cant stand word arse much preferring ass.

You've jogged my memory there Rachel. Let's add to that people who say 'pacifically' instead of 'specifically'. Let's bang them all up and throw away the key or tie bricks to their ankles and throw them into the Pacific ocean - then they won't forget!

And then there's "See you later" as an alternative to "Goodbye" when there is no possibility whatsoever of seeing the person later and you both know it. All terribly trying.

I'm currently reading Bill Bryson's 'Mother Tongue' which (in his usual inimitable and entertaining style) explores how extraordinarily diverse and fluid the English language is, and always has been. If Bryson is right, then 'Canute' and 'waves' come to mind in respect of any attempt to enforce 'correct usage'. He spends a whole page (p127 in my edition) giving examples of how even 'experts' get it wrong.

"If anything annoys me, I tread on it. If that doesn't work, I ignore it - then I cease to be annoyed."

Hmmm - can't see that strategy working with dogpoo though Isobel . . .

Regards

A.E.

Yes, Dave. Mother Tongue is brilliant. I particularly liked the chapter on the origins of swearing.
My own bete noir concerns people "turning round".
"She turned around and said...
Why was she turned away in the first place?
Would you want a conversation with someone's back?

Ha - you have a stinking point there Anthony! As we speak, I have a boot with poo all over the heel in my back garden. I've wrapped it in a plastic bag to protect it from the weather and am ignoring it for the moment...

David Crystal is the main man to go for knowledge of the history of the English language. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if 'tret' goes back as far as Middle English.

I'd recommend his "The Histories of English"; which will tell you, for instance that prepositions are for ending sentences with, that to rashly split infinitives is perfectly respectable; and that not never using double negatives as emphasis is perfectly good English. What's more, he'll tell you why, and tell you to get over yourself.

I know these laws were beaten in to some of us at school; but they were dragged into English from Latin by 18th century prescriptivists. They're not a natural part of English grammar.

There were people who fulminating against Norman French imports into English in Chaucer's time, saying what is wrong with good old-fashioned Anglo-Saxon. They couldn't stop language change, and I'm darned sure none of us can.