Pet Peeves

I assume anyone taking time to read this blog has some sort of vested interest in language. We write, teach, or edit. For that reason, I also assume we each probably have our personal grammatical pet peeves. You know what I mean, those words or phrases that, when used incorrectly, run chills up your spine. We get our peeves from different places. Some of our peeves we inherit. My mother was always annoyed when anyone used the word ‘podium’ when they meant ‘lectern.’ She always said, “One stands on a podium, one stands behind a lectern.” So, of course, I don’t care that Merriam Webster and Random House dictionaries both say the words are interchangeable. In memory of my mother, I still roll my eyes me when people use ‘podium’ for anything other than the raised stage on which a speaker stands.

Some of our linguistic pet peeves were instilled in us by teachers. ‘Can vs. may’ is traditionally a favorite of first and second grade teachers and often sticks with kids into adulthood. And some of our pet peeves just develop as we expand our vocabularies. Some of you may have have had that boss who used the phrase ‘mute point’ when he meant ‘moot point’ and so that has been added to your list of annoyances.

I try not to be too obnoxious about my pet peeves. I seldom correct anyone when they say ‘the person that’ rather than ‘the person who.’ I would just annoy the person rather than educate them. However, many of you are in positions where your linguistic authority is requested and respected. I encourage you, use your power for the good of the world! Please use your editing skills to keep people from saying the flag was at ‘half mast’ when what they mean is ‘half staff.’ Please never let the word ‘irregarless’ pass by your red pencil. And most of all, please don’t let the word ‘literally’ come to mean anything other than actually or exactly. I will literally die if you do!

What are some of your pet peeves? I need to know so I don’t use them in future posts.

Jo Klemm has worked as a librarian since 1985, with the exception of the eight years she raised her three girls. She has worked in public, medical school, university, and community college libraries and is currently working at Tarrant County College in Arlington, Texas as a Public Services Librarian and doing coursework on a doctorate. In her spare time, she is a professional storyteller, focusing on western and Texas stories and Arthurian legends. The written and spoken word has always fascinated her and, though she embraces technology, she worries that it is moving us away from appreciation of the power of the written word. In her teaching, storytelling, and writing, she tries to inspire and empower students to learn from great authors, old and new, and to find their own voice on the page.