Things you have an irrational hatred of

[epilogue]

Here's something that bothers me about the English language. Very commonly you'll see something referred to as "one of the single most important [things]," "one of the single most amazing [things]," "one of the single most impressive [things]." And it bothers me because in my brain something should either be "the single most important thing" (emphasis on SINGLE, as in, it's exceptional and there is no other at its level), or "one of the most important things" (as in it's one of a group of greatly important things). To me they contradict each other, like you can't be both "one of" and "the single most." I think I'm the wrong one here because of how common "one of the single most" is, but it really bugs me whenever I hear it. It feels wrong!

I'm not sure that it's an English language issue as it is a slang issue.

[Jorge]

Does that qualify as slang?

[tree_]

It's more like a "figure of speech"

[BurtReynolds]

Probably started as a joke for emphasis, then everyone forgot that it was a joke.

[The Argonaut]

Like saying "very unique" or "the most unique". Unique already means one-of-a-kind. It can't be qualified as more or less unique.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Thanks Argo. That’s the best and only explanation I’ve heard.

[tree_]

I still hate when people say "two pair" instead of "pairs"

Also, "I text him yesterday". They think that because there's an "ed" sound already you don't have to say "texted"

Also, "warsh" instead of "wash". I actually asked someone to spell it for me and they didn't spell it with an "r", even though they pronounced it that way.

[96583UP]

i try not to hate things

bad for the soul

[Ello Sailor]

Jorge is right in that it's stupid, but I think the fault lies in English speakers rather than the language itself.

[Ello Sailor]

Irregardless, I could care less what your single most hated things are.

[96583UP]

For all intensive purposes, Ello and I ain't seen nothin' wrong with this

[dad]

<same difference has entered the chat>

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Ruf instead of roof

[tree_]

"my bad"

[epilogue]

Does that qualify as slang?

Maybe "slang" isn't the right word. Colloquialism? Figure of speech? Whatever. It isn't proper English.

[epilogue]

Jorge is right in that it's stupid, but I think the fault lies in English speakers rather than the language itself.

Yeah, this is what I was getting at.

[Ello Sailor]

Jorge is right in that it's stupid, but I think the fault lies in English speakers rather than the language itself.

Yeah, this is what I was getting at.

Absolutely. I should've just co-signed. My bad.

[doug rr]

people saying anyways always drives me mad

[Chris_H_2]

Irregardless, I could care less what your single most hated things are.

i see what you did there

[JuanHamm]

Irregardless, I could care less what your single most hated things are.

i see what you did there

Let's kill him