Internet Grammar Pet Peeves

[delericho]

It's voila. A viola is a musical instrument. A small violin IIRC.

Yes. I looked it up before I posted.

(I was actually reasonably sure, but I didn't want to rely on memory and make a mistake, especially when complaining about other people's mistakes.)

 

[Agamon]

If you think this doesn't drive me crazy, you've got another thing coming.

Another thing? Is he ever lovin' and blue eyed?

More misconception than grammar, but still...

 

[Nyaricus]

Edit: fixed to remove only instance of punctuation.

Indeed

cheers,
--N

 

[Atavar]

I just thought of one that I've been trying to remember for days now. It's more something I've heard people say than I've read on the Internet, but anyway....

Incidents v. Incidences

"The last political debate contained only five incidences of bovine scatology."

"Incidents" is the plural of "incident." "Incidence" is another word entirely. I'm not sure that "incidences" is even a real word (although my spellchecker doesn’t complain about it).

Anyway, my ears always twitch when I hear "incidences."

Later,

Atavar

------

At 90th level, you are the poo.

 

[Hypersmurf]

"Incidence" is another word entirely. I'm not sure that "incidences" is even a real word (although my spellchecker doesn’t complain about it).

2. a falling upon, affecting, or befalling; occurrence: The incidence of murder that Sunday afternoon shocked the sleepy village.

-Hyp.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Lite Brigade -> a third less calories than a normal brigade.

That one used to drive my father absolutely crazy. Back in the '70s and '80s, Miller Lite ads always said, "A third less calories than a regular beer." My father would yell at the TV: "FEWER CALORIES!! NOT 'LESS'!!!"

How about the checkout lines in the grocery stores that read "15 Items or Less"? It should, of course, read "fewer." Only one grocery chain in the USA has the grammatically correct sign: Albertsons.

No, it doesn't make me shop there more often.

---
"If I were you..." is correct, but Jimi Hendrix's song is "If Six Was Nine."