These are things that really bother me. So, be sure to avoid these to have a chance to be on my top ten favorite people list!
Others – must have, not must of!
10) People who park in handicapped spaces that are not handicapped – wow!
9) Supposed to – if it is past tense – it is ‘supposed’ not ‘suppose
8) They’re, their, there – please know when to use each one!
7) Lectern versus Podium – A podium is a raised platform. Most of the time, the thing you are speaking behind and setting your notes on should be referred to as a lectern.
6) Barbecue – This is NOT just grilling food! According to my dictionary (Webster’s), barbecue is when you smoke or cook over an open fire any whole animal. In Whitman’s world, barbecue is a special sauce or flavor. If you mean a “cookout,” call it a cookout, not a barbecue! By the way, Wiktionary is WRONG on this one!
5) Emails without a subject heading (or worse with an incorrect subject heading – please who reply to an email from you because they are too lazy to find or type your email, but don’t change the old subject heading)! [corollary: webpages (and documents) that are not dated]
4) Buffalo – There are NO buffaloes on the American continents. Those animals that you call buffaloes are Bison! Yes, University of Colorado, you are a fine institution of higher learning. From Wiktionary, “A bison erroneously called buffalo, (historically various) Bison bison, Bos Americanus or Bisonte americano.”
3) Dotted lines – Most of the time when people use the phrase, “Dotted Lines,” they really mean “dashed lines.” See below:
…………. = dotted lines
– – – – – – = dashed lines
2) Methodology – Very abused phrase from the public at large. “ology” means, “study of.” So, “are you studying a method”? I do not think so. You simply mean the word, “method.” So, use the word, ‘method’ when that is what you mean. Very good usage note from Dictionary.com. Disclaimer: I have a published paper using the word methodology when I did not know it was wrong. I have grown since then.
1) LEGOS – Very abused word from most of the people I know. LEGO is an adjective, not a noun; e.g., LEGO bricks, The LEGO group, LEGO MINDSTORMS. If you try to go to www.legos.com, you will be redirected to www.lego.com. Note from trademark law that you do not use a trademark as a noun, but always as an adjective (even true for ROLLERBLADES and ESCALATOR). Search for LEGO on this page. Also, note that LEGO and MINDSTORMS should be in ALL CAPS. Disclaimer: I have a published paper using the word LEGOS when I did not know it was wrong. I have grown since then.