Ghastly expressions you want to see the back of in 2011
- Thread starter TheDecameron
- Start date
MikeMA
pfm Member
Google is my friend - I'm on a learning curve.you gonna get me salty
I will countenance "reaching out" if it's a collective thing, so "I'm organising a reunion for such and such so I'm *reaching out* to everyone who was there, or who knows someone, or can help, etc. That's fair enough, because there is an element of exploration and extending enquiry to capture something without knowing the full outcome. By the same token at work you could "reach out" to anyone who may have experience of XYZ because you are setting up a project to fix XYZ and you need some help but you don't really know who to ask. But "reaching out" to someone you see every day at work and know exactly where to find, bollocks.
Nic Robinson
Moderator
This thread came from the olden days.
While we're here, pfm specific:
Fishies & Chaps.
While we're here, pfm specific:
Fishies & Chaps.
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
They should be shopped. Then taken away.
Don't see a problem with that to be honest. It's okay English, isn't any longer than its counterparts.... no issues there.
But anyone, and I mean absolutely anyone (aside from the aforementioned Four Tops), who uses the expression 'reach out/reaching out' goes on my 'what a pretentious ****' list!
Nic Robinson
Moderator
I am a hopeless case as I still bristle when I hear "enjoy" which now seems to be in everyday use by the whole human population except me!
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
What should be the preferred, equally brief, alternatives to the expressions we dislike? I think it's incumbent on the objectors to offer an alternative. For example:
'Can I get...' - replace with 'Please can I get...'
'Can I get...' - replace with 'Please can I get...'
ks.234
Half way to Infinity
That’s you banned!
Dozey
Air guitar member
I would like? Please may I have?
eternumviti
Insufficient privileges to reply.
It should, of course, be '(please) can you get...(for me). Now!'
narabdela
who?
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
I quite like 'gotten' in some circumstances. It feels more appropriate to me where the getting might be ongoing, ie it's more than just a past participle. So, for example:
'Cars have got more complicated over the years' vs 'Cars have gotten more complicated over the years'. To me, the second version implies that cars are still in the process of getting more complicated, whereas the first example suggests that they got more complicated but that process has stopped. I know there's nothing specific in the grammar that supports this take on things, but if I want to make the sort of distinction I'm talking about, I'd consider using 'gotten'; either way, it's nice to have the option.
cutting42
Arrived at B4 Hacker Ergo
I heard/read somewhere that this is grammatically correct. I don't like or use it as it sounds horrible to my ears.
ks.234
Half way to Infinity
Surely, ol’ chap, it should be! ‘NOW. Oik’!