The (grammar) bitch is back ...

[leethet]

I'm reading quite a bit of fanfic right now and although I am enjoying it, I've got to gripe:

The noun is exhalation or inhalation. Exhale and inhale are verbs. For fuck's sake, don't they teach kids anything in school any more? Is this like "That was a hard ask," which I keep seeing in formerly legitimate newspapers where people who are not illiterate would have written "That was a hard question"?

Sam Waterston did a Calvin and Hobbes about "verbing" language, but I thought it was a joke.

OK. I feel better. Thank you for listening (assuming someone is). As ever, anyone who wants to post a pet grammar peeve here is welcome to do so - I always find them interesting.

Comments

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

I have an irrational hatred of "Math"

[frau-flora.livejournal.com]

I read an otherwise interesting and entertaining article yesterday in which the author constantly used "then" when he actually meant "than". English is not my first language but I don't find it that hard to distinguish one from the other. *shakes head*

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

I dislike intensely the transformation of the noun 'medal' into the verb 'to medal,' not least because the pre-existing verb 'to meddle' sounds identical, but has very different connotations. I also dislike the 'new' verb, 'to ruggedise.'

[elmey.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced that texting and tweeting with their need to limit word use are partially responsible for things like verbing and the growing lack of proper sentence structure.