![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Linguistic gripes
Mar. 5th, 2004 09:54 pmYes, I do talk about things other than metal and computers. Occasionally.
I hate it when people use the term 'spend' as a noun, as in "reduce your spend". I mean, the words "spending" and "expenditure" work just fine, as would use of the word "cost", but no, they have to pervert an existing word because 8 letters is too many. Sometimes, a verb and a noun are the same; eg. 'fight', 'light', 'run', etc. 'Spend' is not one of those.
And when people say "I just did it to show willing". That makes no sense; you can "show will", you can "show willingness", you can "show that you are willing", but you can't "show willing". The existence of "willingness" means you can't use "willing" as a noun like that. Similarly, you don't "show tender" towards someone, nor do you "spread happy throughout the world" or "demonstrate careless in all you do". Add that '-ness', damn you.
Oh, and I hate the expression "My bad" too. It's nonsensical. How did an adjective become a noun? Does anyone say "My good"? You can just about get away without a verb in some sentences but doing away with the noun phrase too is pretty odd.
I won't even comment on 11,000 web references to 'burglarize'.
I don't mind language change as such - in fact, I actively participate in re-changing the meaning of 'gay' every day - but I wish people wouldn't change it in ways that totally break the rules. Think of the young school kids of tomorrow!
I hate it when people use the term 'spend' as a noun, as in "reduce your spend". I mean, the words "spending" and "expenditure" work just fine, as would use of the word "cost", but no, they have to pervert an existing word because 8 letters is too many. Sometimes, a verb and a noun are the same; eg. 'fight', 'light', 'run', etc. 'Spend' is not one of those.
And when people say "I just did it to show willing". That makes no sense; you can "show will", you can "show willingness", you can "show that you are willing", but you can't "show willing". The existence of "willingness" means you can't use "willing" as a noun like that. Similarly, you don't "show tender" towards someone, nor do you "spread happy throughout the world" or "demonstrate careless in all you do". Add that '-ness', damn you.
Oh, and I hate the expression "My bad" too. It's nonsensical. How did an adjective become a noun? Does anyone say "My good"? You can just about get away without a verb in some sentences but doing away with the noun phrase too is pretty odd.
I won't even comment on 11,000 web references to 'burglarize'.
I don't mind language change as such - in fact, I actively participate in re-changing the meaning of 'gay' every day - but I wish people wouldn't change it in ways that totally break the rules. Think of the young school kids of tomorrow!
