Getting Technical About Stupid Things

Very much so, I'm very uncomfortable with certain types of slangy expressions. I don't call San Francisco Frisco and once I learn a person's name one way, I have trouble learning it another way (nickname, name change, whatever). And I even if I understand another person who uses an incorrect word, I will make sure that I use the correct word myself.

I am like that when talking about citizens of the US. I won't call us Americans because I learned when living in Venezuela that South Americans are Americans, too. We're North Americans who live in the US. Canadians are North Americans who live in Canada. Mexicans are North Americans who live in Mexico. But, we're ALL Americans because we live in the Americas. I was just 10 when a Venezuelan neighbor boy I was playing with brought that to my attention and I've never forgotten it. So I am careful to call us US Citizens, NOT Americans.

I have things I am particular and precise about, and so do my children. I do prefer children to kids, or even better, adult children are nice. I am more likely to SAY kids than to type kids. I thought of something while reading what was written by others, but it has slipped my mind, perhaps it will come back. I am particular about describing person's emotions. Oh, I just thought of one that gets to me--people from Scotland are not Scotch, that is something you drink and from Finland they are not Finnish that is the surface of flooring or wood.They are Scots and Fins and can be Finlanders. I always have to clarify if I say some one is Indian whether they are East Indian or Native Americans. I do not like the term alien for two reasons. The first is that it conjures up pictures of little green men with one eye and funky skin. The second is that at one time we were all aliens. My daughter, in particular, has always been very precise.

The men around me call my SUV a truck and thats on the title too. altho I call it a vehicle when talking to my grand daughter so she call all of them vehicle except her daddys truck. ANd i know I dont use good grammer AS I told myself when I got out of school I could talk the way I wanted too lolololol

hi ambie pam I do the same thing, children not kids, angry not made, vehicle, and television instead of TV those are things I have always done, as children are not baby goats, and I may look a little looney when I am angry but I am not mad. So I guess we are stuck with it, and I had teachers when I was little that always corrected me too so the lessons really stuck. Oh and as my dad was a d octor I will not say Doc when I mean doctor as I think its disrespectful, I like my doctor very much , he is kind and takes good care of me, he always shakes my hand when I leave but I would never think of calling him Doc Schreiman at all, probably would shock him if I did.he he. I do however call the television the boob tube as I think it does sort of make boobs of us at times.

Hey Amber! That's another thing that we both have in common! I do the same things, and with the same words! I say them and stop myself, the same exact way for the same words, as if it really mattered! English was my best subject, but it you heard me talk you'd never know it! I have a "filthy mouth" as quite a few of my friends and boyfriend tell me! I do curse a bit and I don't know why! Even my Mother, who's 80 uses the F word all the time! She never used it when I was growing up. In fact, she didn't start using it until she met my Step-Father from Hell! But, yet when I'm writing or having a conversation where I have to be civil and watch my language I will change certain words because of the way I was taught, as in the examples you gave!

I'm also uncomfortable using some incorrect expressions, such as butter for margarine, but the SUV/car one wouldn't bother me. I am even more particular when it comes to the English language. It really grates on me to hear people compare TO instead of compare WITH, or to say something is different TO instead of different FROM - and apologies to my American friends, but how can something be different THAN? I constantly corrected my sons when they used used the wrong words, but with other people, I just ignore it - but it does grate.

Well actually AmbiePam I think I'm pretty relaxed and laid back about things like that, but I too have an SUV and I call it a truck I guess because I always drove cars before! Some words in the English language I can't stand like if someone says I took out the chicken to un-thaw for supper tonight! Wouldn't un-thawing in fact be freezing? I say kids all the time and it doesn't bother me any and as far as I know the people I say it in front of!

Well I can't stand it when you are sitting at a table in a restaurant and they call you "guys"....the slang is so accepted but I am a woman....not a man!

I am not extreme about it but there are words I don’t like to use either. Sometimes it’s names, for example my husband’s name is Andrew but his family call him Drew. I refuse to do so because his name is not Drew! The same goes for my daughter’s friend Felicia who everyone calls Licy, her name is Felicia darn it! In Australia we have a lot of ‘slang’ words, for example “I’m crook” means “I’m not well”. I love Australia but some of the ‘lingo’ as they call it is just over the top sometimes! Check some of these out: (THIS IS NOT A REFERRAL LINK) http://raindael.tripod.com/australian/slang/strine.html

LOL..I know what you are saying about the SUV, since I drive one too. It's not really a car, nor a station wagon or minivan. I usually call mine the UTE (from back when they were referred to as 'Cute Utes'). My neighbor in Massachusetts had some pet goats, and of course had 'kids' too. I used to love watching them. Boundless energy, single-purpose ambition for whatever was on their mind at the moment, they always struck me as being fueled with joy. So while I know that human children are not goats, the phrase 'kids' to me was more of a comparison of behavior and attitude, than just comparing children to animals. The term really doesn't bother me, I guess. The words that drive me bonkers are: m'am (should be reserved for women in their 90's who act in a doddering fashion), irregardless (not a word) and ajar (my mother used to have a talking car, that constantly told her that her 'door was a jar' and I wondered where the cover was).

Yes, I have a few of those that I have to bite my lip on. My new hubby is wonderful and I would not trade him for the world. And, His family is the best group of ppl you would want to ever meet. They are nice and helpful when you need it but not pushy or over baring. With that said, there is this one thing that they all do I can't stand. They kill the English Language! I was an Interpreter for two years. I had to listen to kids speak English and correct them if they where wrong. I am not staying I am perfect on it. But, I can't stand when ppl say things like, "I'z got to get me some milk from the stor." Or, me young'n bee fo termorrow! Uze wont to come by fo a while tu catch-up on the outhers? Sometimes, my husband has to tell me what some of his family says! I just don't know what some of the words are. It is across of Hilly-billy and Red-Neck with a touch of Dip in the Lip! lol Do you know what I mean? Just listen to the web site below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwbUCI9bEvA Home is where you make it You can find this on You Tube-joe dirt home is where you make it This is how some of my hubbies family looks and sounds.lol *Peace and Love get's you through everything in Life*

Hi ambie To be honest,I often confusion about the words which is slang or correct expressions.I'm a non-native speaker,sometimes I'm not very clearly about that.For example,when I read discussions from mylot,I always using dictionary,because somewords is very authentic.Although,I just read your discussiones without say anything.There has a lot of native english speakers and I can learn more and more,whether slang or officals'. Even a new word,is also a harvest. I enjoy the learning process.

Your posts and these friends's comments are good stuff to learn standard English .LOL.For me ,i don't really know the difference of these words.HAHA Now ,I understand.

You are semantically correct.

I am all about getting technical over things, but I don't consider them stupid when I do, because they THEY win hahaha. I hate when people say the word "ironic" wrong. Almost no one uses it correctly, which peeves me like crazy. And I really hate it when people can't get your vs you're correct or anything like that.