Page 71 of 198
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 12:21 pm
by epilogue
Jorge wrote: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.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 1:49 pm
by Jorge
Does that qualify as slang?
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 1:52 pm
by tree_
It's more like a "figure of speech"
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 4:10 pm
by BurtReynolds
Probably started as a joke for emphasis, then everyone forgot that it was a joke.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 4:12 pm
by 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.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 4:13 pm
by lennytheweedwhacker
Thanks Argo. That’s the best and only explanation I’ve heard.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 4:31 pm
by 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.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:01 pm
by 96583UP
i try not to hate things
bad for the soul
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:18 pm
by Ello Sailor
Jorge is right in that it's stupid, but I think the fault lies in English speakers rather than the language itself.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:19 pm
by Ello Sailor
Irregardless, I could care less what your single most hated things are.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:27 pm
by 96583UP
For all intensive purposes, Ello and I ain't seen nothin' wrong with this
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:52 pm
by dad
<same difference has entered the chat>
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:53 pm
by lennytheweedwhacker
Ruf instead of roof
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 5:55 pm
by tree_
"my bad"
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 6:01 pm
by epilogue
Jorge wrote:Does that qualify as slang?
Maybe "slang" isn't the right word. Colloquialism? Figure of speech? Whatever. It isn't proper English.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 6:02 pm
by epilogue
Ello Sailor wrote: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.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 6:05 pm
by Ello Sailor
epilogue wrote:Ello Sailor wrote: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.
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 6:06 pm
by doug rr
people saying anyways always drives me mad
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 7:01 pm
by Chris_H_2
Ello Sailor wrote:Irregardless, I could care less what your single most hated things are.
i see what you did there
Re: Things you have an irrational hatred of
Posted: Tue April 18, 2023 7:05 pm
by JuanHamm
Chris_H_2 wrote:Ello Sailor wrote:Irregardless, I could care less what your single most hated things are.
i see what you did there
Let's kill him