People were asked about the grammar hills they’d die on – 17 particularly pedantic (and totally on-point) picks
The internet isn’t exactly renowned for its high grammatical standards, especially when it comes to social media. One thing it has in spades though are vocal opinions about the tiniest of details.
However the realms of passionate takes and linguistics aren’t as removed as you may think. And given that grammar has a degree of wiggle room, the stage is set (if you’ll forgive a mixed metaphor) for people to share their pedantic opinions about words and grammar.
The discussion was, appropriately enough, kicked off by the American dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster.
What’s the word/grammar hill you are absolutely dying on?
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) July 17, 2024
And it wasn’t long until word nerds chimed in with their replies. And far from being just ragebait, Merriam-Webster was on hand to add context to certain contentious suggestions. Here are some of the best.
I love the Oxford comma because I’m sane
— karen (@klsmd12) July 17, 2024
“Begs the question” does not now mean, and never will mean, “raises the question.”
— gdsimms (@gdsimms) July 17, 2024
Not sure if this falls under the same category but gif is pronounced “jif”
— Bandwagon Leafs Fan ⁉️ hockeyphreak.bsky.social (@hockeyphreak) July 17, 2024
2 spaces after a period. It just feels right.
— B.Roll.Benny (@brollbenny) July 17, 2024
People using literally when they mean figuratively. As in, “he literally flew across the room.” Was he on a magic carpet?
— greg cantwell (@gregmcantwell) July 17, 2024
“COULD NOT CARE LESS” > “COULD CARE LESS”
— (@snowbirdb1) July 17, 2024
Conflating “number of” and “amount of”.
“Begs the question” vs “raises the question”.
— Stefan Schubert (@StefanFSchubert) July 17, 2024
If something is not exactly the same, it is not the same, it is similar. Therefore, the “exact” in “exact same” is redundant.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) July 17, 2024