Equestrian Court of Grammatical Peeves

[Scribbler]

A current new usage is when people say mortified to mean horrified. Its original meaning was deeply embarrassed and humiliated.

[S1969]

@Scribbler

A current new usage is when people say mortified to mean horrified. Its original meaning was deeply embarrassed and humiliated.

OMG yes! Although that isn’t even new. My college roommate (who has an English major) used to say this. I went so far as to create a skit where I pretended to be her, and would ask her questions about why she was mortified (embarrassed). I seem to recall it being a long story about a grasshopper in food (that horrified her)…but…alas it eludes me.

But yes - I’ve heard it a lot lately too. Must be time for me to rewrite that script.

[Mondo]

@sparkygrace

Maybe I’m not understanding what you are saying. That was my point. When I taught, I always told students not to depend on spell check because properly spelled, but incorrect words would be missed.

Sorry. I reread your post and realized I was just saying the same thing.

[Alterration]

@Scribbler

A current new usage is when people say mortified to mean horrified. Its original meaning was deeply embarrassed and humiliated.

It doesn’t…still mean that? Wow…that may change my understanding of a few conversations.

[NoSuchPerson]

My Mom does that and it drives me nuts. Every time she says it, I hear Inigo Montoya’s voice in my head saying, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

[equinelibrium]

Here’s a COTH specific one I just thought of.

Better a day too early than a day too late

I always thought the phrase was supposed to be “better a day too early than a minute too late.” Using a smaller measurement of time for the “too late” part emphasizes the importance of euthanizing the animal before something tragic happens.

[SillyHorse]

One that I have been hearing and reading in the past few years is to “step foot.” The expression is to “set foot.”

[fledermaus]

I was in Sears looking for a wheelbarrow tire and the clerk couldn’t find anything on the computer because he was spelling it wheelbarrel.

[anon40672407]

Here’s a new one. I’m browsing used tack ads and I see an advertisement for a Horse Chair. Yep, that’s what they called a saddle.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/677552523750372/?hoisted=false&ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A5fd3b731-880a-4de1-b5b9-25ac3f7cc7b5

[Event_Horse]

@bugsynskeeter1

You sell a horse that is for sale. You do not have to sale your horse that is for sell.

Oh, this one drives me nuts! I see it on horse ads and non-horse ads. I guess I should be thankful I have not seen a horse for “sail” and have not seen anyone “sailing” a horse!

[BatCoach]

My idea of a grammatical nightmare sale ad:

Thoroughbread phillie colt horse. 16.1hh tall. Rides good. Need gone by Saturday. No buck bolt or spook.

[Paint_Party]

@BatCoach

Thoroughbread phillie colt horse. 16.1hh tall.

I can do one better: 16.5 hh tall. Which is a mathematical cousin to measurements such as 14.6.

[Mondo]

@anon40672407

Horse Chair. Yep, that’s what they called a saddle.

I want to add a facepalm gif here, but I’m too technically inept.

[anon40672407]

@Mondo

@anon40672407

Horse Chair. Yep, that’s what they called a saddle.

I want to add a facepalm gif here, but I’m too technically inept.

I figured it was just one of those senior moments. You’ve scrambled around taking a photo and uploading it and trying to figure out what a buyer might want to know, and it comes time to title the ad, and you’re going: “Dang. What’s it? It’s a… it’s a…starts with an h, I think…and it’s got that belt thing…”

[BatCoach]

haha I’ve seen that a few times! What goads me is also using “tall” after “hh” since “hh” = hands high. No one would say hands high tall, so why write it?

Horse Nation used to have a funny column called Best of Craigslist

It was a mix of sad and funny. Funny for atrocious spelling, sad since the condition of some of those poor horses was downright inhumane. It was the best of the best or worst of the worst of bottom rung internet sales.

[Tarlo_Farm]

@McGurk

In case you missed it in my post;

PHONICS IS NO LONGER THE BASIS FOR READING INSTRUCTION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC (AND SOME PRIVATE) SCHOOLS.

I think it’s a tragedy, too, but there it is.

Interestingly, it doesn’t impact reading comprehension, but it does impact spelling and the ability to pronounce new words correctly.

As a retired high school Science and English teacher still active as a volunteer, with little buddies in elementary school, I can say Phonics comes and goes and depends on the state. Our area is teaching phonics as part of their learning to read program.

[blue_heron]

The second to last one made me LOL. I could have written that ad a few times.

[SillyHorse]

@Mondo

@anon40672407

Horse Chair. Yep, that’s what they called a saddle.

I want to add a facepalm gif here, but I’m too technically inept.

Here you go!

[anon40672407]

This one isn’t equine related, but I did find the horse chair so I beg your indulgence.

Just heard a news reporter talk about how the damage is ‘exasperated’ by further rains.

Exacerbated!!! GAH!

[skydy]

I read a post on the forum that used the term “upmost importance”.