I needed some Kirkland toilet paper., but not right away. I put several items in my online COSTCO cart over a couple of weeks until it qualified for free shipping. Place the order, shows up, hmm, smaller box than expected. Turns out the toilet paper was canceled on their part, and I was charged $6+ in shippings for items I really didn’t need right now.
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Knowing Costco, I bet you can get that delivery charge removed and the TP shipped for free when available. Just give them a call. While only $6, I wouldn’t let that slip, but that is me!
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I am very annoyed. My husband just drove over an hour to a condo for a project he’s working on. The management company is a no-show, so he can’t get onto the site. Really? And if he charges them for his time, he will probably be challenged. 
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Came to the surface because of a grammar discussion on another post. I’m sure many people have grammar annoyances, but the one that sends shivers down my spine is…
“Needs fixed” (or any variant, such as “needs moved”, “needs gone”, etc.) I’ve even seen an English teacher send this back as a comment on an essay!
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“Should of”…
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It is a dialect difference in American English that is most common in IN, OH, and western PA. Perhaps @dfbdfb or other linguists can say more.
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The first time I ever saw it was in Ohio and brushed it off as a mistake. Now, I can’t unsee it when I’m in the area and I’ve seen it a few times out of state as well.
People at work who say “What’s the ask?”
No…that’s NOT how you say it! How about “What’s the request?” or “What’s the question?” or “What’s being requested?”
“Ask” is not a noun.
Another reason I’m glad to be retired. Not having to listen to the latest work buzzwords over and over.
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As a native Ohioan, I’m going to need a minute.
Who knew my grammar needs fixed?
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Since my linguist professor self been mentioned, I will describe for you, in full, the test that linguists use to determine whether you’re using good grammar or bad grammar.
Step 1: Do the people you are interacting with understand you?
- If no: You should work on that. First thing to check: Are you actually using the same language? Because if the answer in Step 1 was no, there’s a really good chance that that’s the problem.
- If yes: Congratulations, you are using good grammar!!
Step 2: There are no further steps.
Seriously, there is no such thing as “bad grammar”. Please excise that concept from your brain. It makes no more sense than saying that there’s a “bad shade of blue”.
ETA: And don’t bother bringing up misspellings in response to this. Correct and incorrect spellings are absolutely and completely just historical accidents, and spelling isn’t grammar anyway.
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How (in)consistent is English spelling versus that of other alphabetic languages?
Relatively inconsistent, but that’s simply because English spelling was initially conventionalized so that it worked extremely well for (Late) Middle English rather than Modern English, and we haven’t periodically modernized spelling much along the lines of what, e.g., German has done.
But we’re nowhere near as opaque as, say, French.
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Not just spelling, but use of words can differ a fair bit depending where in the English-speaking world you are. For example, pants, fanny and thongs can all mean quite different things. (I remember us all staring at an Australian classmate who was talking about his thongs being uncomfortable…then we realized he meant his flip flops! One of my UK classmates thought I was being a bit TMI talking about pants color, till she realized I meant trousers and she thought underwear. And fanny…well)
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Until the internet, I had no idea that while folks here use the term “on line” to describe getting in a que “let’s get on line” it’s pretty regional, most elsewhere have been saying “in line” all along. It wasn’t always an easy transition to say “let’s get in line” since in,ine now has another meaning.
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“It is indeed a dull man who can think of but one way to spell a word.”
-Mark Twain-
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Performative Security Measures !!! We’ve been going to the same outdoor, beautiful, in the mountains winery for concerts for about a decade. We’ve gone by our selves, we gone with the kids, we’ve gone with a large group of friends. So many good times. Then..after COVID..NO more tail gaiting. Okay, kinda get that one - the idiots started bringing Hibachis to BBQ on the tinder dry grass. Stupid people ruin things.
Oh..but no sitting in the back of your hatchback car eating a sandwich..no that is tailgating…
Next. No more backpacks…not even small ones. Okay. Cram stuff into a smaller bag…eye glasses…hat…extra clothing (temps can really drop) and the allowed bottles of water. Also take in a smallish cross body bag. Then..no more backpacks. Okay..I’ll cram all my stuff into my purse and fold the backpack into itself (about 5X5). NO..must take BP back to car. Okay.
Followed the next year by no purses larger than 12 x 8 x 2. Okay. Bring the eye glasses, eye drops, phone, Kleenex in the purse. And carry the blanket and jackets.
This year OH NONONONONO purse must be so tiny as to barely be one of those Lululemon butt/chest thingies. Okay. cram everything into pockets - including the thin cotton shopping bag which expands to past the legal limit. Take purse back to car.
But you can bring the clear bags. And I watch..as those clear bags stuffed with the extra jacket, huge wallets, mysterious makeup (?) bags pass thru the scanner. DH goes thru scanner and sets it off due to two metal knees. Security person with hand held scanner stares at him - DH says 'do you want to swipe me?" Security guy - oh…did you set off the alarm?
Me to security guard…can I wear a fishing fly vest - blank stare. You know..the kind with about 25 pockets where you can put all your carry on for Ryan air without using an actual bag or suitcase. Security agent glares.
Add to that the cost of a glass of wine is at least $22. Oh and you need to tip because the person turned around, turned a bottle upside down and filled the glass - after you waited in line for 15 minutes.
MEh..will go is it’s someone we really want to see. Found a great local park with wonderful benches and clean restrooms. We eat, drink and then drive up to park.
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The only time I think that “We need an ask” is appropriate is in the nonprofit world. In that sector, an “ask” is definitely a noun. “We are going to have Joe Schmo be the guest speaker at the gala and he will close his remarks with an ask.”
“Put the ask in at the bottom of the email with a donation button.”
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or “ON accident?” Really, on it?
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