What mis-stated phrases or words do you feel still need to be corrected (online or in person) in 2025?
What mis-stated phrases or words do you feel still need to be corrected (online or in person) in 2025?
Please state in which country your phrase tends to be used, what the phrase is, and what it should be.
Example:
In America, recently came across "back-petal", instead of back-pedal. Also, still hearing "for all intensive purposes" instead of "for all intents and purposes".
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I know someone that says 'Pacific' instead of 'specific'. The man has his talents & his place in the world, food man, but yes that is infuriating.
I know someone who calls it the “Specific Ocean”
This specific ocean!!
Definitely acceptable if they point every time they say it.
So this brings up an interesting question: when or when not to point people's error to them. I'd hate to think that someone would keep repeating their error simply because they've never been told the correct way.
If you claim to be someone's friend, there is a small obligation & duty to try & keep them from embarrassment. I have tried. 🫠
I am serious, this man is 33. I have in the most friendly of ways stopped our private conversation (no one else was around), and I said very pointedly: "You keep saying Pacific. You mean to say specific." I think I've even done it on two separate occasions. He sheepishly smiles and says, "Uh, yeah" and we continue talking because I'm not going to be a total dick about it.
The man hasn't ever claimed to be much of a scholar (he isn't), and he's got depth of knowledge on other things & he's my friend. But every time he randomly says Pacific instead of specific my brain goes fuuuuuuuuuuck, dude, whyyyyyyyy? Thankfully that word doesn't come up much organically; he said it a week & a half ago. Before that it's been many months. A small price to pay for a lovely friendship.
I see. It sounds like it's deeply ingrained then. I think you've more than done your job and it's all you can do.