I have recently prepared a list of things that annoy me, and all of the above are on it, allong with many, many others. I shout at the radio and TV and if I wasn't so polite (ahem) I'd do it in real life. Am I a grumpy old man?
Smoking, and people that smell of it, and drop their cigarette ends on the ground
People giving precedence to answering their ’phones (particularly mobile ones) while they’re talking to me
And people shouting into their mobile ’phones, especially if being abusive
People shouting at each other generally, for that matter
Unnecessary waste. Any waste, come to that.
A computer answering the telephone when I ’phone up a business and the subsequent rigmarole of pressing buttons instead of talking to people
People I don’t know addressing me by my first name (particularly those young enough....)
A whole load of things on TV & radio
Oft-repeated trailers
Continuity announcers repeating information from trailers immediately
Trailers for programmes already under way – or already over
Use of ‘plus’ instead of ‘and’ or ‘also’ in TV commercials and elsewhere
Omission of the word ‘pounds’ when quoting prices in commercials
Documentaries chopping and changing between different aspects of their subject
Rachel Riley on Countdown saying ‘times it by…’ instead of ‘multiply’
Artificial enthusiasm shown by TV presenters
Cameramen/directors pointing the camera at people’s faces when we need to see what their hands are doing
Cosmetics that are claimed to ‘absorb’. What do they absorb? They mean ‘are absorbed’ (by the skin, presumably).
Cosmetics generally, for that matter. And claims that protein and other stuff can do things to DEAD hair
Unexplained pseudoscientific claims in general
“the exact same”. If it’s the same, it’s the same. If not, it’s similar.
Misuse of the English language, particularly by those who should know better, such as teachers, journalists and broadcasters. In particular (but in no particular order),
Mispronunciation of the name of the eighth letter of the alphabet. It’s ‘aitch’.
Repeated use of the word like when not appropriate
American pronunciation of English words by the English (e.g. scheduled)
Being greeted with ‘you alright?’ or ‘how are you?’ instead of ‘hello’ or ‘good afternoon’ (Or maybe we’re returning to ‘how do you do’?)
Omission of the definite article when referring to musical instruments (“I play piano” instead of “I play the piano”) Americanism.
Apostrophes. Why can’t people use them properly? It’s really not that difficult.
Use of the words media, data, bacteria, algae and agenda as if they were singulars (and while we’re on the subject, please will somebody explain why the plural of ‘referendum’ is not ‘referenda’?)
Pronunciation of kilometre with the emphasis on the second syllable instead of the first. We don’t say kiloton or kilogram, so why kilometre? It’s kilometre.
Use of disinterested when uninterested is meant (OK – this is slightly difficult, but if you don’t know what a word means, don’t use it.)
The rising inflection of the voice at the end of a sentence which makes it sound like a q
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So... obviously we need to, like, chillax, innit?
I have recently prepared a list of things that annoy me, and all of the above are on it, allong with many, many others. I shout at the radio and TV and if I wasn't so polite (ahem) I'd do it in real life. Am I a grumpy old man?
Steve, I remember when " grumpy old men " the TV series started and my kids were watching with their mother..
" that's Dad, that's Dad too, erm, Dad does that, Dad says that" etc etc.
Language develops and changes. I might use a new word for a while but then I get bored with it (not of it).
But I never tire of the word 'egregious' .It's my favourite
Do you want them all at once, drip fed or not at all?
Go for it, Steve!
Pitamog (pain in the arse miserable old git) should cover it.
OK - you asked for it......
Things that annoy meditto to most of the above.
I could go on. In fact I probably wil....