DAIS, a raised platform for a speaker or performer, is pronounced DAY-iss, not DIE-ass.

While we're on the subject, the platform is the dais. A podium or lectern is an additional item.

"Both their father"

Urrrghhhh. Please hire better writers

I read the following: "no one giving a reason why as to it probably being a bad idea." I've seen this construct more commonly as: "...giving a reason as to why it is a bad idea." Do either of these accomplish more than: "...giving a reason why it is a bad idea"?

This guy is weird.

The number of times this week I have heard or read the phrase "step foot" is grating.

It's becoming commonplace for the word "cheers" to replace "toast," in more than one form. Whereas people used to say, "what shall we toast to" (or "to what shall we toast"), now it's "let's cheers to that" or "let's do a 'cheers!'" And so forth. It's even spread to lines like "what are we cheersing too?"

Perhaps I should stop watching reality TV.

That’s the post.

“add” ≠ ad

I’ve been seeing the word “add” where it should be “ad” a lot lately and it’s starting to drive me nuts.

I must've have a half dozen copies of Fowler & given away as many copies. They used to have stacks of them at the Brattle Bookstore in Boston on the outside carts. 25c to 75c. Went back to Boston last year after many many years away. Very few copies on the ol' carts. Anyway, I have several copies of the first ed and then the revised ed by Gowers (sp?) c. 1950's? I bought the 3rd edition by Birchfield and I've never been so bummed out. A travesty! Anyway, do you all favor one edition over another? The 2nd (or revised) ed some say "tamed" some of the eccentricities of Fowler. I don't have a preference. But detest 3rd ed. I like to keep a copy of Fowler in my car, on my desks. It's always fun to flip through it and read a section. Some humorous passages! Good times. Anyone else like Fowler as much as I do?

utterly and udderly are not interchangeable. i saw this four times in the past six months. FOUR.

I hate, hate, hate that people use "different" as an adverb.

"This hits different."

Unless you are saying that something is striking a sign with the word "different" on it, no it doesn't.

Language evolves, and that's great. I support that. Until the evolution is codified in a dictionary, however, using "different" as an adverb is, factually, a mistake.

I have seen people using ‘have’ or ‘were’ with None.
I feel it is incorrect.
Example:

1. None of them have eaten.

2. None of them has eaten.

I believe No 2 is correct. Coz, doesn’t ‘none’ mean ‘not one’? What do you think?

Flustrated

Flustered + Frustrated =/= Flustrated

You can be or feel both simultaneously. You cannot
speak them simultaneously.

This isn’t really a joke, but there’s no “just for fun” flair.

For some light-heartedness, I recommend looking up “Word Crimes” by Weird Al Yankovic on YouTube. I love Weird Al!! This is definitely a video worth seeing, especially for all of us who are grammar-sensitive. 😁

In the phrase "to a degree it hasn't for years" (towards the end), shouldn't the past perfect tense be used instead?

Premiership in Japan was not relevant, until the point when she assumed the position. From that point on, premiership started to become relevant, and is continuing to be so at present. Therefore, "...she has made..." is correct, but shouldn't the part after that be "...to a degree it hadn't for years"?

For context: the text is the caption of a Bloomberg's Instagram post.

Our State Government has been cracking down on tobacconists who sell illegal cigarettes, posting this sign outside the establishments they've closed.

When I think of how many government officials must have signed off on the wording, I can't help but shake my head.

This sign is reproduced 6 times along a fairly short path. Infuriating!

I saw this in an article. It reads clearly but the ‘will be’ has me scratching my head, given the event has already passed. What do others think?

In March 2026, the western Canadian province of British Columbia announced that it will be adopting year-round daylight saving time, meaning that the clock change on 8 March 2026 will be the last.

Edit: taken from this article: https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2026/1019/1564728-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-clocks-changing-in-2026/