A levels day

Today is the day when the results of A level exams are released.

That seems to mean that one has to post uplifting, congratulations-but-don't-worry-if-you-didn't-succeed messages on social media and blogs.

In a spirit of being contrary I won't do that.  The same will go for GSCE day next week (or whenever it is).

Bad language

There are many things that wind me up.  One of the regular irritants is the use and misuse of language.

I will say before I go any further that I have no special education or training in language or grammar, and that I was taught only the basics in my bog-standard comprehensive.  I make no claims about my abilities being massively better than anyone else, and I'm sure that those with more talent than me will be able to pick many holes in my writing.

I have particular problems with the correct use of "its" and "it's".

However...

There are some basic mistakes that are frequently made, and there are more and more changes that I feel are simply lazy or slavish copies of the way that other countries use English.

I don't blame Americans for "Americanisms"; it's up to them how they do things and I think that we could all be happier if we just let them get on with things their own way, while we do things our way.  I'm not just talking about language here.

There's an argument that "English is an evolving language".  That's true to an extent, but it's also used as a catch-all excuse for all sorts of poor habits.

There's also the knee-jerk reaction that "you're just a grammar-Nazi".  That's just lazy.

My argument is that (in theory at least) we are all better educated than ever before, and that there is therefore no excuse for bad habits or not even knowing that you're wrong.

Here are some of my pet hates.  I'm sure that more will be added:

• Starting a sentence with "So..."
• Ending a sentence with "...or whatever."
• Treating the word "that" as if there's a world shortage of it.
• Inventing ugly new words such as "Brexit" that just allow you to keep your sentences short.
• Calling any group of people "guys" no matter what their age or sensibilities.
• Waiting staff instructing you to "Enjoy" rather than hoping that you do so.
• Answering the question "How are you?" with "I'm good".
• Saying "Chats/talks with" instead of "Talks to".
• Using "boxset" instead of "boxed set".  I don't (usually) want a set of boxes.
• "Reaching out" instead of just "asking".

My blog, my rules

There is no format to this.

I'm going to post on any old rubbish as I think about it.

I make no promises about how often they'll appear.

I'm sure that you don't care anyway as you're not reading this.