Grammatical Error?

Question

What's your biggest pet peeve when it comes to grammar, spelling, and so forth? I'm caught between people using "irregardless" (NO it is not a word) and people saying "between" when they are talking about more than two items.

Answer 1

I grade standardized tests for different states' schools, and I always end the day gritting my teeth because of the awful spelling and grammar. My personal pet peeve is using "its" for "it's," and vice-versa. Also, I hate when they use computer-speak, even though they know they're being graded on spelling and grammar. I want to reach through the computer, grab the kids, shake them, and tell them that people in the real world won't tolerate that!

Answer 2

My grammatical pet peeve is when a person uses the word "a" instead of the word "an" in front of words such as historical, honor...etc

Answer 3

I hate it when people argue about spelling that is acceptable in different places or cultures. For example: is it theater or theatre?
Does it really matter? If it is acceptable in America it should be acceptable in London and vice versa. And honestly, I have never heard of "irregardless" but that is amusing :)

Answer 4

Lately, it's been the repetitive insertions of the word 'O.K.' and 'like' at the beginning of a sentence. The writer acts as if he or she is asking if something is okay about what they wish to depict.

As for the word 'like?' That usage smacks of teeny-boppers having not acquired tasteful English habits.

Answer 5

when people can't tell the difference between two simple words like than and then. Don't people get ANY grammar in school any more.

Answer 6

One of my biggest pet peeves that I've learned to live with (because they added it to the dictionary) is the word "anyways." The word is ANYWAY, only ANYWAY, if you have ANY WAY, are there really ANY WAYS?

Answer 7

I hate to be picky, and i don't like the word myself, but irregardless is a word, according to my internet search.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/irregardless

ir·re·gard·less (r-gärdls) KEY

ADVERB:
Nonstandard
Regardless.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETYMOLOGY:
Probably blend of irrespective , and regardless
Usage Note:
Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/irregardless

Answer 8

Ain't
Don't instead of doesn't
I also dislike when people at work use a single letter for you (u) instead of spelling it out. I mean it's business email not a text message.

Answer 9

My two biggest:
- turning "a lot" into one word, "alot"
- turning "cannot" into two words, "can not"

What's better is when people who make the mistake argue with you about it.

Answer 10

When people say crouton instead of croton. Ivory instead of ivy. Sqwimps instead of shrimp. And when people use the wrong case--everybody understands "I went to the store." but why do some say "Joe and me went to the store." ?