language matters

[deird1]

Dear shopping centre:
There is, to my knowledge, no such thing as a "ladie". Therefore, there should not be a selection of shops for "ladie's".

Dear tv newsreader:
I'm having trouble believing that you're about to interview "a couple who have literally been to hell and back".

Dear random internet person:
There is a big difference between "Providing school students, from children to young adults..." and "Providing children to young adults..."

Comments

[velvetwhip]

*giggles madly*


Gabrielle

[redsixwing]

Ahahahahahah.

Words mean things.
So does punctuation.

[fenchurch]

*headdesk* on that first one. I saw something similar at a supermarket recently... they'd just finished a complete remodel of the building and their new restrooms were labeled "Women's" and "Mens" -- yeah, it's just an apostrophe, but they got it right on the other one, so it really stands out when you see it. Okay, when I see it. :-p

LOL to the other two!

[angearia]

I'm having trouble believing that you're about to interview "a couple who have literally been to hell and back".

...Buffy? Angel? Toto?

[speaker_to_customers]

'm having trouble believing that you're about to interview "a couple who have literally been to hell and back".

It's a very small town in Norway which has become a minor tourist attraction because of the name. Quite a few people have literally been there and back. Not really newsworthy, though.

[brin_bellway]

There's also one in Michigan.
Come to think of it, wouldn't that then be a capitalisation error instead of a misuse of "literally"?

[speaker_to_customers]

Yes, indeed, a capitalisation error. Really the couple had gone to Oslo.

[marinarusalka]

And one on Grand Cayman Island. That newsreader really needs to be more specific.

[vass]

I'm having trouble believing that you're about to interview "a couple who have literally been to hell and back".

OTOH, if they have, I'd like to see that interview.

[guy-who-reads.blogspot.com]

"so, Mr. Smith, just between us, what is Satan REALLY like?"

"Well, Mark, he's just a guy, y'know? He likes footy and a cold beer. His favorite song is that one by Midnight Oil. The only thing is, he drinks his beer out of a severed head, watches the game one a tv made of bones, and has his stereo tuned so that everything is a little screechy."

"uhuh. Mrs. Smith, is the road to Hell really paved with good intentions?"

"well, Mark, that was a little disappointing, really. It used to be, and you can still see them in places - 'won't someone think of the children,' that sort of thing. But due to budget cuts, there are big patches that have been filled with the souls of the damned, and just tarmaced over. It's very smooth, but it lacks ambiance..."

[zeborah]

I'm having trouble believing that you're about to interview "a couple who have literally been to hell and back".

I giggle when I see things like this. And then I think of the etymology of "very" and "really". And then I start looking around for a new word to mean "no, I mean exactly what the words I'm saying mean", because you can't fight language evolution.