English Grammar Pet Peeves

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I'll bet most native speakers aren't even aware that the preposition 'to', not the conjunction 'and', precedes an infinitive that follows the verb 'try' - "We can try to see if it's still there tomorrow." "If I try to help him, he just scowls at me."

Thank you! You have answered a question I've had for a long time.


One that used to confuse me:

"He should of told me" for "he should've told me".
"I could of said" for "I could've said"
... and the like.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I'll bet most native speakers aren't even aware that the preposition 'to', not the conjunction 'and', precedes an infinitive that follows the verb 'try' - "We can try to see if it's still there tomorrow." "If I try to help him, he just scowls at me.".

Sorry Rusty, I can't agree that 'try and' is actually wrong, because it is arguably recognized as an idiom and enough good writers use it:

J.R.R. Tolkein, 1954: I will try and answer any question you may have.

The BNC has 8707 hits on 'try to' and 3901 on 'try and'. Obviously 'try to' is correct, but 'try and' doesn't sound wrong to me. It has a parallel with 'go and' as in "It's late, child, go and get some sleep".

Originally Posted by Rusty

"You're" and "your" are pronounced exactly the same way everywhere I've been. They're considered to be homonyms, just as "they're," "their" and "there" are.

Who considers these as homonymns? I for one certainly differentiate between "You're" and "your". As for "their" and "there", these are true homonyms, but I pronounce "they're" differently. Perhaps another BrE/AmE thing?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Who considers these as homonymns? I for one certainly differentiate between "You're" and "your". As for "their" and "there", these are true homonyms, but I pronounce "they're" differently. Perhaps another BrE/AmE thing?

I do, it's not just a trans-Atlantic difference.

[Rusty]

True, 'try and' is VERY popular. I hear and see it used all the time.
There are many who argue that it's an 'idiom', so you shouldn't feel bad about quoting them, but many of those proponents also suggest that 'to' should be used in formal writing.
I know I'm not supposed to get worked up about it, or so my therapist says , but I just can't bring myself to use a conjunction where a preposition is supposed to be.

Be sure and let me know what you think.
Another idiom? All I understand is that the speaker is asking someone to do two things - 'be sure' AND 'let me know'. Therapy needed. I'll be back ...

...

OK.

Everywhere I've been in America, "you're" and "your" can be pronounced exactly the same way and no one will bat an eyelash. (The same goes for "they're" and "there/their"). That's the preferred pronunciation in AmE. Once in awhile I'll hear someone pronounce "you're" as if it rhymed with "fewer," but the single-syllable pronunciation makes more sense to me. That's why the contraction exists in the first place, right?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Once in awhile I'll hear someone pronounce "you're" as if it rhymed with "fewer," but the single-syllable pronunciation makes more sense to me. That's why the contraction exists in the first place, right?

I suppose the 'fewer' is the way I pronounce it, and it sounds quite normal to me. I think there is a lot of regional variation even in the UK, but I don't have any regional accent. But I am amazed how frequently I see "your" for "you're" in forum posts of all kinds, even quite literate ones.

I'll try and investigate regional usage in the UK .

[Awaken]

I saw this same thing on Facebook too. Technically #8 is wrong. Effect is both a noun and a verb. The noun usage is just more common.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Awaken

I saw this same thing on Facebook too. Technically #8 is wrong. Effect is both a noun and a verb. The noun usage is just more common.

Yes, the verbs have different meanings. To effect means to bring about, so "A single glass of brandy may effect his recovery".

They are both nouns with different meanings, though effect is much more common.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I don't have any regional accent.

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by Perikles

...but I don't have any regional accent. ...

That's what we all think....until we travel to someplace else and make a comment to a local resident about how quaint his or her accent is.

[Thomas]

You hang up your clothes, but your mother used to tell you hang them up.

I turn on the light, but I turn it on.

And let's not get into spelling....