this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2025
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Please state in which country your phrase tends to be used, what the phrase is, and what it should be.

Example:

In America, recently came across "back-petal", instead of back-pedal. Also, still hearing "for all intensive purposes" instead of "for all intents and purposes".

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago

People capitalizing Random Words for emphasis, as if they're Proper Nouns.

Also getting 'a' vs 'an' wrong. It follows pronunciation, not spelling; so it's "a European" and "an honor".

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

Oh my goodness, someone pointed this out on Tumblr years ago, but it desperately needs repeating:

Dear English Language Fanfic Writers,

  • Wanton: an unrestrained desire, usually of a sexually nature.

  • Wonton: a type of dumpling found in Chinese and East Asian cuisine.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 hours ago

I wanton for wontons

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

In the USA and other English-speaking countries: weary =/= wary.

For example, I'll see someone write something like: "I am weary of the campfire because it is so hot"

You aren't tired of the campfire! You are wary of it!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago

Bet, i absolutely grow weary of sitting in the hot! Gotta go cool off by the river or something.

But your point stands.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 11 hours ago (3 children)

I don't generally correct people's spelling or pronunciation but something I've noticed occurring more and more lately is people using "loose" when they mean "lose" and it gets under my skin for unknown reasons

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 hours ago

Don't forget that sale/sell constantly get mixed up.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 hours ago

It's a loose loose situation.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

It's because your skin is too lose, it's easy to get under it.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

I ~~could~~ couldn't care less

Hold ~~down~~ the fort

The proof ~~is in the pudding~~ of the pudding is in the eating

~~elon musk~~ Twat

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

"Hold down the fort" and "the proof is in the pudding" is how those phrases are currently used in the US, regardless of their origins, and they still make sense. "Could care less" is objectively wrong unless you're trying to indicate that you do kinda care.

The last correction is accurate.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago

Sometimes I like to be extra specific about how it is physically impossible for anyone to care less than I do about .

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