Learning to spell

[TexasMetallic5.0]

Tints is what gets me. "What tints should I go with?” It’s window tint.

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[Jimmy Dean]

What particularly annoys me is the habit of using incorrect words in order to appear smarter - a disease that, sadly, is starting to leak from corporate environments into everyday language.
Like, "I've sent you an invite". No, you haven't. "Invite" is a verb, you can't send it. What you've sent me is an invitation. Or, "I'm a team lead". No, you're not. "Lead" is a verb. It's something you do, not something you are. You can't be one. What you are is a leader.
Or my favorite one, which really gets on my nerves, "this product will be sunset on December 31st". Huh? Not only is "sunset" a noun, so using it as a participle is already a major flaw to begin with, but its meaning has nothing to do with this context. Unless you're specifically talking about the disappearance of the Sun behind the horizon, the word "sunset" has no place in your sentence. Discontinued, you pretentious show-off, discontinued is what it's going to be! Or killed off. Or whatever. But not sunset. Whoever coined this stupid expression in the corporate world deserves to be lapidated.

hate to burst your conceited bubble, but language is somewhat fluid. and both of your terms were co-opted generations ago to the usage you are using in your example. Lead as shorthand for a person who leads a group, and sunset as a verb for the act of a final ending.

So, get off your shitty high horse and get with the program.

 

[Vlad Soare]

hate to burst your conceited bubble, but language is somewhat fluid. and both of your terms were co-opted generations ago to the usage you are using in your example. Lead as shorthand for a person who leads a group, and sunset as a verb for the act of a final ending.

So, get off your shitty high horse and get with the program.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this argument. I could have bet that sooner or later someone would bring it up.
Yes, language is fluid, but that doesn't mean it's OK to mutilate it indiscriminately. All languages evolve, but natural evolution is one thing, while change fueled by laziness and/or failure to grasp the subtleties of the grammar (or worse still, just by a self-centered desire to sound smart) is another.

This isn't just about English. It's a generalized disease. I see it all the time in my own language as well. It keeps degrading at a steady pace as time goes by, mainly because more and more people are exposed to corporate English and start using verbatim translations which sound like shit. For instance, "to make sense" is perfectly fine in English, but saying the exact same thing in Romanian, or German, or you name it, sounds stupid. Surely the language must evolve, but this isn't natural evolution.

Anyway, all I said was that it bothers me. If it doesn't bother you, that's fine, good for you. We don't have to agree.

hate to burst your conceited bubble

No, I don't buy that for a second. Going by your condescending and aggressive tone, I have no doubt that you really, really enjoyed bursting it.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

No, I don't buy that for a second. Going by your condescending and aggressive tone, I have no doubt that you really, really enjoyed bursting it.

looks like I dropped this '/s' but then, seeing as how you have a lackluster grip of the English language on which you are attempting to lecture people over...

 

[Tinpot]

looks like I dropped this '/s' but then, seeing as how you have a lackluster grip of the English language on which you are attempting to lecture people over...

Oh, I dunno. Considering that English isn’t Vlad’s first language you’d never guess. His English is far better than some for who’s native tongue is English.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

Oh, I dunno. Considering that English isn’t Vlad’s first language you’d never guess. His English is far better than some for who’s native tongue is English.

I fully agree, but just because it is not his first language does not put him in the position to lecture others on it.

 

[Vlad Soare]

Ah, now I get it. I was wondering what on Earth may have triggered you so badly. It's all clear now.
OK, never mind then. You're right. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[Strokerswild]

English has an interesting characteristic that sets it apart from most other languages. You can get very quickly to a point where you can make yourself understood. Even misspelled words and badly formed sentences can convey your message just fine. Then, as time goes by and you gradually learn its subtleties, your spelling and grammar get increasingly better and better.
Many people think English is an easy, simple language. It's not. It has some extremely fine subtleties. A lot of them, actually. But interestingly, these subtleties aren't strictly required for pure communication purposes. This is what makes it so suitable as an international language.
In other languages you must first learn the subtleties, and only then can you hope to stand a chance to communicate something meaningful.

I minored in English, and the spelling and grammar of some on the net still drives me batshit crazy....

 

[20ducks]

I moved to England and worked for a German computer company. For a dozen years I was learning all that I didn't know. Every day I was taught a different lesson. I'm glad I eventually returned to some level of normalcy.

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