It bugs me when people say “the thing is is that” (if you listen for it, you’ll start hearing it… or maybe that’s something that people only do in my area.) (“What the thing is is that…” is fine. But “the thing is is that…” bugs me.)

Also, “just because <blank> doesn’t mean <blank>.” That sentence structure invites one to take “just because <blank>” as a noun phrase which my brain really doesn’t want to do. Just doesn’t seem right. But that sentence structure is very common.

And I’m not saying there’s anything objectively wrong with either of these. Language is weird and complex and beautiful. It’s just fascinating that some commonly-used linguistic constructions just hit some people wrong sometimes.

Edit: I thought of another one. “As best as I can.” “The best I can” is fine, “as well as I can” is good, and “as best I can” is even fine. But “as best as” hurts.

  • Earl TurletEnglish
    10•2 months ago

    Misusing words like “setup” vs “set up”, or “login” vs “log in”. “Anytime” vs “any time” also steams my clams.

    • @RGB3x3English
      10•2 months ago

      So I use both, depending on context. “Setup” is a noun, “set up” is a verb. “Login” is a noun, “log in” is a verb.

      I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out different proper contexts for “anytime” vs “any time,” but honestly, I can decide one way or the other.

      • @moistclump
        6•2 months ago

        “Thanks” “anytime!”

        “I wish you had done that any time other than right now.”

        Were the first two that came to mind.

      • MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown
        2•2 months ago

        To me, “log in” can only be used verbally as a verbal phrase, but “login” could be used as a noun or verb. Though I still wouldn’t say, “As a lumberjack, I login the woods up north”

    • @Cornucopiaofplenty
      3•2 months ago

      I have a friend who writes ‘a bit’ as one word… '“I was feeling abit weird”. That really peeves me!