Expressions that get on your pip.
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 08:03 AM
There must be collectively 1000s, but I felt compelled to start this as a result of checking something out on the IMDb (internet movie data base): A
film entitled "The Ultimate Avengers" was listed just prior to "The Ultimate Avengers ll". Doh!
It's very similar to a tale an ex-Vulcan pilot related to me about his misgivings on being posted onto the aircraft. The ground study involved
detailed examination of the ODM (Operating Data Manual). Emblazoned under the RAF crest on the cover of this mighty tome were the words
"Vulcan: The Ultimate Deterrent (Mk l)".
Whilst I'm at it, "at this moment in time" is a waste of breath. What's wrong with "now?"
"In actual fact" is a favourite of Jon Nichol's who regularly reviews the papers on Sky news. All facts are actual Jon, that's why
they're facts.
"Pretty unique" is another one, along with "fairly unique" and "quite unique." It's either unique of it's not
for Chrissakes!
End of rant (for now). Over to you chaps and chapesses.
tasmod - 18/4/12 at 08:10 AM
The phrase beloved of Formula 1 and now starting to appear elsewhere.
"For sure" instead of "definitely" or other suitable English words used in the correct context.
owelly - 18/4/12 at 08:29 AM
"and it goes without saying...." So don't feckin say it then!
designer - 18/4/12 at 08:31 AM
Like BBC speak.
It's not 'cloudier' any more it's 'more cloudy.
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 08:31 AM
quote:
Originally posted by tasmod
The phrase beloved of Formula 1 and now starting to appear elsewhere.
"For sure" instead of "definitely" or other suitable English words used in the correct context.
Ill-used Americanisms simply add petrol to the fire for sure. 
whitestu - 18/4/12 at 08:39 AM
quote:
"and it goes saying...." So don't feckin say it then!
That one means 'this goes without saying for people of normal intelligence but you need to be told"
balidey - 18/4/12 at 08:42 AM
"gets on your pip"
Benzine - 18/4/12 at 08:59 AM
'doubly' sounds wrong. 'Twice as' sounds right.
Most annoying of them all: 'off of'
"I got this clutch off of ebay" Just 'off' is fine, or 'from'
karlak - 18/4/12 at 09:04 AM
"absolutely"
kipper - 18/4/12 at 09:06 AM
F1 american ............Strightaway???????? do they meen now? or the back stright?...........Grrrrrr.
Comentators who cannot pronounce sixth and it comes out sickth..
Stop me now or I will be here all Day
blakep82 - 18/4/12 at 09:10 AM
let me pick your brains...
eeeew, no thanks! boke!
yeah, and 'gets on your pip lol
r1_pete - 18/4/12 at 09:12 AM
'in the same ball park' wtf is a ball park?
'To cut a liong story short' then no one ever does.
We used to play bulshit bingo a lot on management briefings, great fun but remember to mute the phone line.
MikeRJ - 18/4/12 at 09:19 AM
quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
'in the same ball park' wtf is a ball park?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_park
JoelP - 18/4/12 at 09:23 AM
Language is largely based on expressions with an understood meaning that isnt what they actually say. My lad has started saying he's 'fed
up', maybe meaning he's just eaten.
Benzine - 18/4/12 at 09:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by karlak
"absolutely"
BAM
karlak - 18/4/12 at 09:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
quote:
Originally posted by karlak
"absolutely"
BAM
LOL - Git
You must have a lot of time on your hands to do an indepth search like that
Nice try, but i didnt mean it in that context anyway - lol 
Benzine - 18/4/12 at 09:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by karlak
You must have a lot of time on your hands to do an indepth search like that
Search for: absolutely By Username: karlak. Takes seconds
TimEllershaw - 18/4/12 at 09:39 AM
Conversely, I'm quite amused by the spread of the 2 new verbs : to medal and to podium.
as in : "If training goes well I am expecting to medal in the Olympics"
It will undoubtedly become more common in the next 100 days.
Language evolves, learn to love it.
karlak - 18/4/12 at 09:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
quote:
Originally posted by karlak
You must have a lot of time on your hands to do an indepth search like that
Search for: absolutely By Username: karlak. Takes seconds
OK,, Whatever !!
Edit: oh crap thats another phrase i dont like.....
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 10:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
'in the same ball park' wtf is a ball park?
'To cut a liong story short' then no one ever does.
We used to play bulshit bingo a lot on management briefings, great fun but remember to mute the phone line.
At one of my last management briefings 13 years ago, I heard what I consider to be the best put-down I'd ever heard. I still snigger about it now
whenever similar circ's come to mind.
We had a visiting 'professional trainer' who frankly was a bumptious, late twenty-something, know-all. We were in a board-room meeting, 20
of us and all older than our 'trainer chum.' As a point of illustration, he decided to use metaphor, (big mistake!)
In full flow, (b/shit), he said, "well, out of interest, how many people here have tried creme brulee?" (condescending b'tard). He then
went into a three minute description of the said sweet, even though all present knew precisely what it was.
Warming to his theme, he said, "well, my wife and I went to the Aubergine (namedropping Gordon Ramsay's gaff) and had such a delicious creme
brulee, that my wife described it as a 'mouth orgasm.'"
Quick as a flash, Dougie, (our resident wit) chirped up, "Does that mean she spat it out?"
Priceless. The trainer never appeared again!
jeffw - 18/4/12 at 10:34 AM
'my bad'
Your bad what ? Hate that expression as it means nothing at all....
loggyboy - 18/4/12 at 10:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by tasmod
The phrase beloved of Formula 1 and now starting to appear elsewhere.
"For sure" instead of "definitely" or other suitable English words used in the correct context.
On and F1 note -
'Nip and Tuck' - since when has a phrase relating to a cosmetic procedure come to mean 'very close'!
'on the bubble' - thats just made up rubbish, but i think it refers to being fast at that moment in time AND/OR being close to being knocked
out of qualifying. It seems to be used for both.
[Edited on 18/4/12 by loggyboy]
jeffw - 18/4/12 at 10:41 AM
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
'on the bubble' - thats just made up rubbish, but i think it refers to being fast at that moment in time.
It refers to the person in 10th place in a qualifying session if only the top 10 go through...so the one likely to miss out if someone goes faster. I
think it comes from Indy500 qualifying
[Edited on 18/4/12 by jeffw]
loggyboy - 18/4/12 at 10:44 AM
quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
'on the bubble' - thats just made up rubbish, but i think it refers to being fast at that moment in time.
It refers to the person in 10th place in a qualifying session if only the top 10 go through...so the one likely to miss out if someone goes faster. I
think it comes from Indy500 qualifying
[Edited on 18/4/12 by jeffw]
Yeah, I edited mine just as posted cuz i recal it being used for that too.
Daddylonglegs - 18/4/12 at 10:46 AM
"On the same page" or "Singing from the same hymm sheet" 
Rod Ends - 18/4/12 at 10:58 AM
"very unique" 
omega 24 v6 - 18/4/12 at 11:26 AM
quote:
Quick as a flash, Dougie, (our resident wit) chirped up, "Does that mean she spat it out?"
You barsteward there's raviolli spray all over my monitor now PMSL.
Back to the post
" at the end of the day"
" In reallity "
and the list could go on.
I also hate the words
Navy Blue ( just the sound a voice makes saying it )
And Pashmina ( its a fecking scarf wise up)
A1 - 18/4/12 at 11:28 AM
for free - its not even correct english
off of
I was at a course the other week and the guy kept saying 'more safer'
blue sky thinking
ringfence
etc
omega 24 v6 - 18/4/12 at 11:33 AM
quote:
I was at a course the other week and the guy kept saying 'more safer'
Surely its " safererer"
Anyone else thinking Mr Henderson would have loved this thread??
r1_pete - 18/4/12 at 11:38 AM
[quote
Priceless. The trainer never appeared again!
Brilliant, one of those moment 'you had to be there'
scootz - 18/4/12 at 11:55 AM
Letters that open with, "I am writing to... ".
I know you are! It's a feckin letter!
mad4x4 - 18/4/12 at 11:59 AM
Anyone that calls you Luv or Duck
The word "practicable" in all the HSE stuff if should be practical.!!!!
Lush - Grass is a Lush green -----> is correct
This tastes is Lush ----- is CRAP!
ashg - 18/4/12 at 12:01 PM
"Thanks A Million" makes me want to execute the whole population of Ireland just to stop those words being muttered again.
SeaBass - 18/4/12 at 12:09 PM
"That's the way the cookie crumbles"
I prefer cookies that are soft and pliable.
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 12:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
Anyone that calls you Luv or Duck
The word "practicable" in all the HSE stuff if should be practical.!!!!
Lush - Grass is a Lush green -----> is correct
This tastes is Lush ----- is CRAP!
I'm no apologist for the HSE wallahs, but there's a distinct difference between the two words.
I use practicable where appropriate. More than once, someone's rejoindered with, "don't you mean practical?"
I won't print my reply.
http://grammarist.com/usage/practical-practicable/
Neil P - 18/4/12 at 12:14 PM
"Gotten" - hate it, hate it, hate it!
TAZZMAXX - 18/4/12 at 12:14 PM
Surprised no one has mentioned 'back in the day' or 'knock yourself out'
Another one I used to dislike intensely, although don't hear it much now is when someone said they were 'made up' instead of happy
about something.
There's loads, I could carry on with this all day sadly.
Benzine - 18/4/12 at 12:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
Lush - Grass is a Lush green -----> is correct
This tastes is Lush ----- is CRAP!
I forgot 'lush', really hate that. Also 'mint', 'legend' and 'simples' can all jump off a cliff.
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 12:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
[quote
Priceless. The trainer never appeared again!
Brilliant, one of those moment 'you had to be there'
Pete,
I couldn't look at the trainer without busting into fits of giggles, which set everyone else off. The last 20 minutes of his miserable
presentation took place without any eye contact whatsoever and the skin from his collar-line upwards, never once dropping below a shade of fire-engine
red.
Serves him right, the condescending little twerp. (I took early retirement a year later, so I've something to thank him for).
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 12:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Neil P
"Gotten" - hate it, hate it, hate it!
Neil,
You see this in written work by seemingly perfectly normal, well educated people. (the late C. Hitchens peppered his weekly submissions to
'Slate' magazine with the word).
It appears, either subliminally, (forgivable), or deliberately, (unforgivable) Brits who write for an American audience adopt slovenly and
unacceptable stardards of English. (though I wouldn't have dared write in to criticize Hitch' whilst he was around).
("Go figure," or "do the math."
mangogrooveworkshop - 18/4/12 at 12:31 PM
It's the worlds fastest growing sport seems to apply to all the sports so none ever get bigger or faster
beagley - 18/4/12 at 12:37 PM
"It is what is is......"
HATE this phrase, to me it means you've given up and won't bother trying to change. I try to keep the mindset of you can always improve.
Beags
adithorp - 18/4/12 at 12:44 PM
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by tasmod
The phrase beloved of Formula 1 and now starting to appear elsewhere.
"For sure" instead of "definitely" or other suitable English words used in the correct context.
On and F1 note -
'Nip and Tuck' - since when has a phrase relating to a cosmetic procedure come to mean 'very close'!
'on the bubble' - thats just made up rubbish, but i think it refers to being fast at that moment in time AND/OR being close to being knocked
out of qualifying. It seems to be used for both.
[Edited on 18/4/12 by loggyboy]
As I understand it...
"Nip and tuck" used to describe close racing, is a far older expression than cosmetic surgery. Refers to nipping in front of each other and
tucking in behind.
"On the bubble" , refers to things being finely balanced between survival and failure. the bubble in question being in a spirit level.
My pet hate is Americans inventing words, like Climate when they mean acclimatise... and they'd even spell that witha Z!
A1 - 18/4/12 at 12:56 PM
thanks for reminding me - shimples is possibly the most irritating thing in the world, im sure Ive had it in emails from employers before, its just
not cricket :p
Slimy38 - 18/4/12 at 01:02 PM
I think most of the ones I detest are already listed, 'fairly unique' and 'for free' being my highest two.
Another one is the use of quality, for example 'quality goods'. Does that mean good quality or bad quality?
Not necessarily a fault of expression but more a fault with punctuation, has anyone noticed the BBC news website's overuse of 'quotes'?
Out of the few times during the day I go and see what's wrong with the world, the Read section will contain a handful of titles with wrongly used
quotes. For example, here are a couple of current ones;
Swedish MP carves 'racist cake'
Drinking water 'improves grades'
liam.mccaffrey - 18/4/12 at 01:23 PM
I lived in the states for a while and the one that got me was winningest, I nearly fell over laughing the first time I heard it.
gunman - 18/4/12 at 01:48 PM
The one I hate the most is "There's nothing worse......"
I wouldn't mind if it was used to describe the worst thing imaginable but usually you hear something trivial like "There's nothing
worse that cold toast", Oh, is that right? What about Testicular Cancer, Starvation or having your short and curlies pulled out slowly, one by
one? I know which I'd choose, and theres worse things than that about too !
Also hate when people shorten words into ones that dont exist, such as " you look Gorge", if you can't be bothered saying the whole
word just keep quiet!
Ninehigh - 18/4/12 at 02:11 PM
"The bubble" also refers to poker tournaments, with the last person who has to get knocked out before the paid positions being the
"bubble boy"
The one I really hate is "more better"
I've taken to flat refusing to understand a word the idiot says when they pull that one out. Also when they shorten words like the prementioned
"gorge" and "jel" get the blank stare treatment (or when I want to be a smart alec "Es tut mir leid, verstehe Ich es
nicht" )
SALAD - 18/4/12 at 02:22 PM
'I ain't done nuffin'.....there is so much wrong with this.
Despite the dropping of letters and the obvious pronunciation laziness coupled with the use of 'ain't', it is a double negative which
actually suggests you HAVE done something!!
There is a lot of laziness with the English language these days and I don't like it, I don't like it at all
adithorp - 18/4/12 at 03:24 PM
People using the wrong but similar sounding word can wind me up. I can cope with mistakes between, there, their and they're, although I seem to
(not too) remember hundreds of lessons at school covering that.
Recently I had an e-mail from an old friend who said "WERE all well and but the kids are growing up OFF course". Maybe they were involved in
last years riots? I had another from an American cousin that took me an hour to interpret.
Proby - 18/4/12 at 04:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
'doubly' sounds wrong. 'Twice as' sounds right.
Most annoying of them all: 'off of'
"I got this clutch off of ebay" Just 'off' is fine, or 'from'
The "off of" really pisses me off too!
along with 'Can I get .....' instead of 'Can I have....' for example in the chip shop to the assistant 'Can I get some chips
please?'. Ggrrrrr
David Jenkins - 18/4/12 at 04:37 PM
I spent a large part of my working life reviewing documents for spelling, grammar and readability - oh, and also whether the words make sense!
I listen to all of the slang, bad grammar and laziness and downgrade the speaker/writer accordingly... a bad habit, but it keeps me happy...
Macbeast - 18/4/12 at 04:47 PM
" Going forward " - perhaps this will be seen less in future ?
Remember, in good English, avoid cliches like the plague
David Jenkins - 18/4/12 at 05:14 PM
I should also add that I do overlook any dodgy English where it's clear that the writer/speaker is doing their best. It's sloppy and/or
lazy language I dislike.
spiderman - 18/4/12 at 05:36 PM
From America, where else? "most winingest driver" driver with the most wins, will do.
& "in back of" not sure but I think it means, behind.
gingerprince - 18/4/12 at 05:44 PM
"...that is to say..."
Had you articulated yourself clearly in the first instance, you would have no reason to rephrase what you were trying to say initially!
gingerprince - 18/4/12 at 05:45 PM
Some management speak is the worst. A few doing the rounds at our place at present: -
Low hanging fruit (i.e. easy fixes)
Black sky thinking (evaluating worst case scenarios)
It's in your gift (feck off and just do it!)
[Edited on 18/4/12 by gingerprince]
NigeEss - 18/4/12 at 06:53 PM
"Know what I mean" and "Like"
And I'm with Salad on the hatred of 'Double Negatives'
AdrianH - 18/4/12 at 07:56 PM
"Well good"
Adrian
TAZZMAXX - 18/4/12 at 08:04 PM
Cold callers who say "I won't keep you long as I know you're busy".
How do they know that? What's to say I'm having a lazy afternoon watching some internet porn?
foskid - 18/4/12 at 08:14 PM
"Lessons will be learned" or any variation thereof
Ninehigh - 18/4/12 at 08:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gingerprince
Some management speak is the worst. A few doing the rounds at our place at present: -
Low hanging fruit (i.e. easy fixes)
Black sky thinking (evaluating worst case scenarios)
It's in your gift (feck off and just do it!)
[Edited on 18/4/12 by gingerprince]
I'm sure some managers are trained in BS.. Half the borrockings I've had have left me with no idea why they're shouting at me
MikeR - 18/4/12 at 08:32 PM
"Can you borrow me five pounds" ......... when you mean "can i borrow" or "will you lend" and variations of
..........
I have to bite me tongue not to correct people (and if i've met them more than 4 or 5 times i do correct them).
One that used to do the rounds at my place as "it is what it is". I didn't dislike it as it summed up the situation very well but i
suspect lots here would hate it.
Xtreme Kermit - 18/4/12 at 08:55 PM
One that 'gets my goat' is 'We are where we are'
i.e I've royally f'd this up consistently and ignored your input for 6 months, now I need you to sort it out...
Ninehigh - 18/4/12 at 08:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
One that used to do the rounds at my place as "it is what it is". I didn't dislike it as it summed up the situation very well but i
suspect lots here would hate it.
Ooh ooh, "That's the way it is"
No, that's the way YOU do it.. Maybe if I punched you repeatedly and told you I couldn't stop because "that's the way it is"
you'd change your tune
bobinspain - 18/4/12 at 09:22 PM
A belter on 'Four Rooms' tonight on ch4.
In describing a hideous chandelier, the narrator made a comparison thus: "A similar art-deco one went for £10,000 and that was twice as small as
this one."
What's wrong with 'half the size?'
Humbug - 18/4/12 at 09:32 PM
"110%", "1000%", etc. e.g. the judges on Britain's (not) Got Talent
"as we go into the overnight period" instead of "tonight" - some weather forecaster uses it a lot, though I can't remember
which one.
Neil P - 18/4/12 at 10:56 PM
quote:
The "off of" really pisses me off too! along with 'Can I get .....' instead of 'Can I have....' for example in the chip
shop to the assistant 'Can I get some chips please?'. Ggrrrrr
Equally, "Have you got some chips?".
If I was the server - "Yes, poo loads. Do you want some?
Neil
Neil P - 18/4/12 at 10:57 PM
Ha, ha, I've been auto edited!
TheGecko - 18/4/12 at 11:04 PM
One that's bugged me recently is this construction (seen in eBay eds etc):
"needs painted." or "needs cleaned."
Surely they mean "needs to be painted" or "needs to be cleaned"? <shakes head>
And the next person who calls me "Pal" or "Buddy" can have a free punch in the chops!
Dominic
slingshot2000 - 19/4/12 at 12:15 AM
quote:
'Can I get .....' instead of 'Can I have....' for example in the chip shop to the assistant 'Can I get some chips
please?'. Ggrrrrr
What is wrong with; 'Please may i have some chips please Mr Shopkeeper?'
Is nobody taught any manners these days ?
Regards
Jon
slingshot2000 - 19/4/12 at 12:20 AM
quote:
Back to the post
"at the end of the day"
Yes sir, that one really gets to me! It was my (late) father-in-laws favourite, and since he passed on my OH has has picked it up and carried the
baton! GRRRRR
[Edited on 19/4/12 by slingshot2000]
[Edited on 19/4/12 by slingshot2000]
RK - 19/4/12 at 12:34 AM
"Your call is important to us". Just not enough to bother actually answering your phone.
Macbeast - 19/4/12 at 05:03 AM
" Our thoughts are with the family at this time "
Your thoughts should be on how to catch the low-life who did it
scudderfish - 19/4/12 at 05:57 AM
"Can I ask you a question?"
Obviously it's within your skill set to do so, as you have just ably demonstrated the capability. Now wee off, I'm busy.
TAZZMAXX - 19/4/12 at 06:04 AM
'Roll out' instead of launch a product. Oh, you're going to roll it out are you? Is it a large cheese?
The entire vocabulary of estate agents maybe worth including? A gem that never fails to raise a smile is 'generously appointed'.
bobinspain - 19/4/12 at 07:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
" Our thoughts are with the family at this time "
Your thoughts should be on how to catch the low-life who did it
Political-speak needs a whole website to itself, let alone a thread. The disingenuous manner in which commiserations to service families who have lost
sons/daughters/fathers etc in action are delivered makes my flesh creep.
I watched PMQs yesterday. An utter disgrace to democracy. Braying, sneering, gesticulating morons. (and we pay 'em). They should be lashed. Every
last one of 'em.
Apropos of an earlier post re' bull$hit. 42 years ago, in my early RAF days, we were busy getting accustomed to formal dining-in nights. Full bib
'n' tucker mess dress, dickie-bow etc. Formal dos for 200 officers with all the top brass there can be pretty impressive, with lots of
pre-prandial drinks,(dry sherry or g&t), gallons of wine to accompany the excellent food, followed by port/madeira after the meal, cigars and
outrageous 'war stories'.
A pal of mine grew tired of a cabal of young officers whose tales of past exploits seemed increasingly embroidered with each successive Guest Night in
an effort to outdo each other. He therefore went to a local printers and got some embossed-script calling-cards produced, which in addition to
displaying his personal details, contained in large print, the message: 'Do Carry On With Your Story, I'm Something of a Bull$hitter
Myself.' He would await a momentary lull in conversation and deftly pass his card to the young officer holding forth, and await a reaction.
[Edited on 19/4/12 by bobinspain]
kipper - 19/4/12 at 07:19 AM
Why are things "up to half price" surely it should be down.
Denis.
Alan B - 20/4/12 at 05:06 PM
So many to choose from living in the US...but currently I hate with a passion the misuse of the word anniversary.....as in "it's our 5 year
anniversary".......what's wrong with 5th?...........would you say it was your 40 year birthday?...of course not.
Also agree with gotten, for free etc...
iank - 20/4/12 at 07:16 PM
While I accept a lot - living languages like English evolve over time if they didn't we'd still be be talking like Chaucer and writing the
letter s so it looks like an f without the bar. So like it or not some of the idioms and language in this thread are likely to "stick" to
the language and become "correct" over time, though most will die.
But I do object to commentators using golf as a verb. It's a noun not a verb, morons!
Peteff - 20/4/12 at 07:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kipper
Why are things "up to half price" surely it should be down.
Denis.
And why have things become "better than half price" instead of less than half price and I "would of done" instead of "would
have done" and at this moment in time as a few others have mentioned. What else can you have a moment in ? Let me just run this past you, alright
I'll give you ten yards start. I have to calm down now.
bobinspain - 21/4/12 at 09:38 AM
I noted Nichol at it again on Sky News thursday, "in actual fact."
Macbeast - 21/4/12 at 11:35 AM
" I got an invite "
No you didn't - you got an invitation.
sebastiaan - 21/4/12 at 11:58 AM
People that have just "brought" things. Really? What did you do; pRay for it? (<-- see what I did there? ;-))
SALAD - 22/4/12 at 04:17 PM
I have another.....Why is it acceptable to now start written sentences with 'And'?
When I was younger, not that I am that old, we were taught not to do that.
Peteff - 22/4/12 at 04:29 PM
Why has obliged now become obligated as well ?
Alan B - 22/4/12 at 04:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
Why has obliged now become obligated as well ?
Similarly, normacly seems to be replacing normality. Another annoying misuse from over here is the stock market expression "uptick" in place
of increase or upturn.
David Jenkins - 22/4/12 at 05:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SALAD
I have another.....Why is it acceptable to now start written sentences with 'And'?
When I was younger, not that I am that old, we were taught not to do that.
There is no such rule, and has never been - but it's a bad habit to use it too often as it makes your writing look childish. I think that's
why teachers discourage it.
I suggest that you look at the first few verses in the King James Bible - there are dozens of sentences there that start with 'And'.
See also World Wide Words
[Edited on 22/4/12 by David Jenkins]
MikeRJ - 22/4/12 at 06:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by TheGecko
One that's bugged me recently is this construction (seen in eBay eds etc):
"needs painted." or "needs cleaned."
Surely they mean "needs to be painted" or "needs to be cleaned"? <shakes head>
This has to be top of my hate list, just above people using "of" when they mean "have".
Stott - 22/4/12 at 08:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by slingshot2000
quote:
Back to the post
"at the end of the day"
Yes sir, that one really gets to me! It was my (late) father-in-laws favourite, and since he passed on my OH has has picked it up and carried the
baton! GRRRRR
Everytime she says it chip in with "it goes dark" or "I go to bed" or similar, usually winds people up.
Peteff - 23/4/12 at 09:10 AM
Just found another and realised it is getting into everyday use. Definitely needs nipping in the bud
Strangely a lot of people using spell check find the option "defiantly" fits their description best.
[Edited on 23/4/12 by Peteff]