Illogical English

[Jokerman]

People use words in illogical ways. They don't think about what they are saying and have picked up. I look for this stuff. It's one of my interests. People say things like:

ATM machine. The "M" in ATM stands for machine. Redundant.

An armed gunman. He wouldn't be a guman if he wasn't armed.

A free gift- need I explain?

A visual image

mix together

future plans

general public

All redundant. Image, mix, plans, and public would have been enough. My favorite: completely or totally nude (or naked.) Those words already mean completely. And you can't say partially nude. And one person can't be nuder than another.

I found Jessica Sara Parker saying about a photo shoot: "It was the most nude I ever felt." Sorry, Jessica, nudity is an all-or-nothing proposition.

Can you think of any other redundant or illogical expressions?

 

[THA WILD]

Ain't

Many people don't realize it, but the contraction "ain't" isn't proper English. It is a contraction of am not, but people also use it in place of are not (aren't), is not (isn't), has not (hasn't) and have not (haven't).

Anyway, instead of...

..."I ain't", use "I'm not"
..."You ain't", use "You're not"
..."He ain't", use "He's not"
..."She ain't", use "She's not"
..."It ain't", use "It's not"
..."They ain't", use "They're not"

 

[S. Fourteen]

Open Field

 

[CoolWaterz]

jumbo shrimp. these are all just oxymorons...

 

[Illuminattile]

jumbo shrimp. these are all just oxymorons...

People misuse the word oxymoron. An oxymoron is a deliberate use of two apparently contradicting terms for literary effect. Otherwise it's just a contradiction in terms. These aren't oxymorons anyway, they're redudant expressions (the use of which is sometimes called pleonasm)

PIN number
HIV virus
Tuna fish
Added bonus
Advance warning
Bolt of lightning
Close scrutiny
Unexpected surprise
Unintentional mistake
Period of time
Specific example
Prior history
Old proverb
New record
False pretenses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_redundant_expressions

 

[feichen]

old records and expected suprises excist too
if not , then at least its grammar is correct.
so its not completely useless, but really who gives a damn about this
ppl speak how they wanna speak, maybe in a few years what is "wrong" now will be proper english, like "aint" will be integrated into the language....
languages change all the time.
if i wrote english how they spoke it 1000 years ago u'd prolly dont understand me either.

 

[-Daniel-]

I know something you know I don't.

(^ not redundant or illogical, more ambiguous)

Fat boy Slim (Obese annorexic?)

_______________________________________

Language is also one of my interests, noticing its different forms, it is forever changing and evolving. The youth today are modifying their language of their elders, and the dictionary is revised and updated regularly.

One of the fundamental tools of a Philosopher is language, and he would look for truth in statements like all the above (below). There are two types of statements in philosophy: the Analytical, and the Synthetic statements.
The analytical being a true one based on evidence, and the synthetic one which requires an in depth look at the language used and asks questions based on that. So you could say that ' an armed gunman' - what is he armed with? does this imply that the gunman has arms and not just a crotch revolver like on 'dusk till dawn'? Does this mean he is dangerous? Could he be just a person who works on a gunship, with guns, who has arms?
That's what a Philosopher would do, look at what language is being used, ask questions about it, and try and decipher the true meaning of a Synthetic Statement if any is to be found, it will uncover the problems of the language we use.

Saying 'I have had my favourite tune running through my head all day today' would cause great difficulty with a philosopher.

 

[not really ken]

I tend to notice illogical grammer and bastardisation of english. But some would argue that language has always evolved!!

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

People misuse the word oxymoron. An oxymoron is a deliberate use of two apparently contradicting terms for literary effect. Otherwise it's just a contradiction in terms. These aren't oxymorons anyway, they're redudant expressions (the use of which is sometimes called pleonasm)

Correct. I hate it when people fuck around with literary techniques, calling shit something it's not. It's quite simple, if you're unsure - check & thus, learn.

As for ken's comment, a lot of toffs(speakig 'Queen's English) would claim that all other forms of English are bastardization but what you said at the end of your post is right - language has always evolved. I mean, personally I would be (& have been) pissed when people have objected to my use of Scots as if there was some kind of disrespect on my part by not speaking 'proper English'.

 

[Vaudeville]

how about:

cold as hell!

 

[Bina]

Haven't thought about this in a long time!! V. Interesting, thanks for the examples. By the way, i speak Hinglish- not English!haha (Hinglish- kinda slang, or broken English)

 

[Jokerman]

How and when did the word terror begin to replace terrorist as an adjective (as in terror attacks)? Terror is also being used interchangeably with terrorism, as in the war on terror. This needs to be stopped immediately. We need to start a war on terror!

And what's with the phrase sex abuse? I've been seeing and hearing it everywhere in relation to certain scandals. What was wrong with sexual abuse? It wasn't short enough? Same thing with terrorist. We want fast food and fast words.

 

[Illuminattile]

"I bought some CD's, mostly music from the 80's."

How often do you see people misuse the apostrophe like that? Plurals don't need apostrophes.

People often use "aswell" as one word, which it's not.

 

[not really ken]

I practiced football

 

[feichen]

"I bought some CD's, mostly music from the 80's."

How often do you see people misuse the apostrophe like that? Plurals don't need apostrophes.

People often use "aswell" as one word, which it's not.

actually, the apostrophes ARE needed there (at least in Australia it is, because on my test i wrote "CDs" like that and it was incorrect - according to the teachers it had to be CD's.)

 

[not really ken]

No apostrophe? What letter(s) is the apostrophe actually supposed to be substituting?

 

[Illuminattile]

actually, the apostrophes ARE needed there (at least in Australia it is, because on my test i wrote "CDs" like that and it was incorrect - according to the teachers it had to be CD's.)

Print out my post, roll it up into a point and stab your teacher with it.

'CDs' is the plural of 'CD', as 'cats' is the plural of 'cat'. If 'cats' doesn't need an apostrophe, neither does 'CDs'.

 

[Tru Principle]

puff daddy.

 

[Jokerman]

Actually, it's not wrong but optional to use an apostrophe with things like CDs or 80s. It's up to you. I prefer not to because it seems unnecessary. But whichever way you do it, just make sure you're consistent. Don't say 80's in one sentence and then 70s in the next.

But I will use an apostrophe to form a plural when not using it may cause confusion, as in: He got three A's in class. Don't want ppl to confuse it with the word As.

 

[Glockmatic]

Non-permanent tattoo