Forum Topic

BBC grammar?

What is it with TV journalists? Tonight on the BBC London news talking about a plan for 'green walls', the reporter informed us one of these walls was going to be installed at 'the MARLEYBONE flyover'. It's driving me nuts, can no-one pronounce Mary-le-bone properly anymore? Unfortunately the Beeb are not alone in this strangulation of the English language, they're all at it.

Vanessa Smith ● 5312d14 Comments

Not so much grammar as jumpting on an american bandwagon. Why have news announcers - BBC and ITV- started referring to "the top of the hour"?  What is wrong with saying 9 o'clock for example.  Drives me potty

Patricia Nicholas ● 5304d

Yes,but it's laziness.Shakespeare did not write Twelth Night.

Keith Iddon ● 5305d

Because it's not easy to pronounce fifth with the f and th stuck together like that.

Susan Kelly ● 5305d

"Third,fourth,FITH,sixth"..Why?

Keith Iddon ● 5305d

The one that really gets my goat, is the use of the word "incidences" when people really mean incidents. I've heard it on the BBC, ITV, SKY News and even from MP's. I think they believe it makes them sound more intelligent but it just makes them sound ill-educated.

Mick Brent ● 5305d

It's not ungrammatical but the phrase that annoys me most is 'Thank you for waiting' after I've been queueing for ten minutes in a shop that has only one till open. In Marks in Ealing this morning, being in grumpy mood, I told the assistant that it added insult to injury. She laughed.

Susan Kelly ● 5306d

Yer no.. I agree wiv ya...yer no...an tha err Sky Sports TV presen..err ou used to keep sayin "that's yer sport.. I got fed up wiv im and cansalled ma subscription.. yer no.God help us! Please!

Jim Lawes ● 5307d

I agree with Vanessa Smith on this issue !

David Giles ● 5307d

Innit.

Phil Andrews ● 5312d

Like,excessive and inappropriate use of the like,word like.

Keith Iddon ● 5312d

As another grumpy, the other one that drives me bonkers is - I am bored of - I've always though it should be I am bored with, but really can any of us be bovvered? Grrrrrr.

Vanessa Smith ● 5312d

wa'evva.

Keith Iddon ● 5312d

Innit.

Phil Andrews ● 5312d

Absolutely right Vanessa.People who use 'less' instead of 'fewer',staff in coffee shops who ask if you want a 'regular'coffee(No just one,once thankyou),people who say 'Can I get?'instead of 'May I have?',people who when asked how they are say'I'm good'..all these things get on my nerves and I know I'm a grumpy old git sometimes but what does one do?

Keith Iddon ● 5312d