Overused words - - -
#63
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
I know my grammar is not perfect, but bad grammar, diminishes my opinion of someone. With the caveat that I find regional linguistic traits and dialects to be wonderful.
I recently joined an online dating site. If a fellow has more than two typos or poor uses of grammar in his profile, I stop reading. If I get a message asking to meet with spelling and grammatical mistakes I politely decline.
I know I am guilty of saying "I was thinking in my head." I am trying to break that habit.
I recently joined an online dating site. If a fellow has more than two typos or poor uses of grammar in his profile, I stop reading. If I get a message asking to meet with spelling and grammatical mistakes I politely decline.
I know I am guilty of saying "I was thinking in my head." I am trying to break that habit.
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 673
I bristle when I see or hear "gifted." (Sorry, folks. I know a lot of you use it.) "Give" or "gave" sounds more natural. We know you didn't take money or you'd say "sold."
"Gifted" also carries an extra layer of self-congratulation to my ear. (Lest you have any doubt whatsoever about my generosity, I want to emphasize it. This, of course, doesn't apply when you're on the receiving end, but what's wrong with "given"?) I realize there are many kind and generous people out there. Please don't taint your good works and actions with this word. What's really nice is to find a way that avoids transaction details altogether. For example, "The quilt is now with my nephew at college." A saying I learned years ago that has stuck with me is: "Do good by stealth and blush to find it fame."
"Gifted" also carries an extra layer of self-congratulation to my ear. (Lest you have any doubt whatsoever about my generosity, I want to emphasize it. This, of course, doesn't apply when you're on the receiving end, but what's wrong with "given"?) I realize there are many kind and generous people out there. Please don't taint your good works and actions with this word. What's really nice is to find a way that avoids transaction details altogether. For example, "The quilt is now with my nephew at college." A saying I learned years ago that has stuck with me is: "Do good by stealth and blush to find it fame."
#67
#70
My writing skills are not too bad, but if I am giving a speech or instructions, I find myself saying "OK" all through whatever I am saying. I am well aware of the problem however, my mouth spits it out before my brain can stop it from doing so.
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