LANGUAGE IRRITATIONS

As long as I can remember, I have been that annoying person who is always correcting the language mistakes of others. If, then, their, them, I, me, her, they – when people mix those up, my neck hairs stand straight up. When I also started studying Dutch, it only got worse because then I could also recite linguistic theories about why that is all wrong. But people don't like to be corrected, and I don't want to come across as a stubborn language purist, so nowadays I often wisely keep my mouth shut. Not only grammatical errors are annoying, but also, and especially, the use of clichés and constantly kicking in open doors can generate quite a bit of frustration. And because I can no longer correct people, I will now bother you with it and share my biggest language irritations, so at least you will never make them again.

At number 1, none other than Pietje Puk will do this and that. Really, pay attention to how often you come across this word combination.

Gets a good second place. When someone uses “but preferably”, it is often terribly suggestive (Wilders likes to shout that there were “but preferably” 7 Moroccans involved in this or that and conveniently forgets that there were also 560 white brats involved) and secondly, it almost never adds anything. I can decide for myself whether something is a lot, yes.

Especially writers of press releases love this. Then there is yet another event that is completely focused on product X.

I can't quite explain why this annoys me so much, but as soon as someone gives a description of another and characterizes that person as “a creative jack-of-all-trades”, I am out.

And that it is not breaking at all but just super boring.

Or any other sentence in which the personal pronoun ‘me’ is used in place of the possessive pronoun ‘my.’ I get an instant brain hemorrhage when I see this happen. Especially people who talk about “my sweetheart” and “my little man” should be immediately banned from speaking.

Technically, it means absolutely nothing. Just because it can. YES, it can, but that doesn't mean it also MUST. Often it is also something super silly like “drinking nice rosé with my BFF. #omdathetkan.” Vomit puke argh.

Ooooooh, I really have such an indescribable dislike for this. I know that hate is a strong word, but still, it is really true, I HATE people who use WHOOP WHOOP.

Is often used together in combination with WHOOP WHOOP! “Bam” became popular about 4 years ago when the forerunner of what is now the hipster used it, and when Amsterdam advertising guys used it, it was quite funny for a while, but now it really can't be anymore. These kinds of people also like to use all of the above at the same time with the ultimate annoying highlight:

“Drinking nice rosé with my little man. Because it can! #WhoopWHoop #BAM”