Grammar 101, ... or, pet peeves Options

[Imperia]

I hate it when people mix up the words 'except' with 'accept'. For example:

Incorrect:
"I don't know if you can except the consequences of your actions."

It should be:
"I don't know if you can accept the consequences of your actions."

It also irks me when people use they're, their, and there incorrectly.

My third grade teacher indoctrinated another rule into her students that has never left me. It's not really grammatical, but it just makes sense to me:

Instead of asking:
"Can I go to the bathroom?"

...one should instead ask:
"May I go to the bathroom?"

...because of course anyone *can* go to the bathroom! It's whether you may or may not be allowed to go use it that is the issue. That's a stupid little thing that I follow. It really isn't a pet peeve. None of these are major grammatical errors that really drive me mad, really. They're just a little irritating.

[bakbam]

Instead of asking:
"Can I go to the bathroom?"

...one should instead ask:
"May I go to the bathroom?"

I stick with this rule of thumb. I see it a more of a "politeness" rule then anything. Politeness is one thing I stress with my children. I get so upset when I see these young kids who have no manners. Parents don't seem to be focusing on them anymore.

[agrippa]

Technically:

"Can I" means "am I able (physically, mentally, etc.)"

"May I" means "am I allowed, am I permitted"

So when kids ask me, "Can I go to the bathroom?" I usually say, "Well, I hope you're able to go to the bathroom, because otherwise life may be very painful for you."

Then they roll their eyes at me and say "MAY I?" and I say "Sure."

But the two are become more and more interchangable, colloquially.

[zymurgy]

I am still told to say "Might" instead of "may" because it's more polite. So I do. As in, "Might I have another one?" Of course, they always answer with, "You might... but no." It's very irking.

[evlpez]

I stopped using "Can I" years ago while dating my husband. His brother (they shared an apartment in University) would answer the phone, I'd ask if I could speak to his brother, and he'd say, "I don't know, can you?" *Grrrr* I learned.

[zymurgy]

Wouldn't it be rather redundant to date your own husband?
Just kidding. I understood.
Another pet peave of mine is: PEOPLE WRITING IN ALL CAPS! I think that if you can write words that pack a punch emotionally, your readers will know that the character is shouting. Nevermind the fact that you wrote: "blah" shouted Joe.

[pinkpanther]

Sometimes I write in all caps if I'm instant messaging someone who has invoked my wrath, just so that he/she will understand that, if I were actually speaking, it wouldn't be pleasant. Of course, if I'm chatting with more than one person, I usually forget to take the caps lock off and the other person thinks I'm angry for no reason. It's actually quite amusing!

[McGonagall's Cat]

My parents always did just like Agrippa. "I don't know, CAN you?"

{The other fun lesson they shared... I'd be racing around the house trying to school on time and not able to find some integral piece of clothing, like my coat... If asked where my coat was the stock answer, "Last time I wore it I left it out in the barn." Which is incredibly frustrating when what was needed was a little assitance... but it did teach us to put things in their propper places rather efficiently.}

[evlpez]

That's funny. I'll have to use that.
My 2 year old- "Where's my Monsters Inc. toys?"
Me- "Well, the last time I played with them I gave them to your little brother - ask him."


Oooh. Can you say 'tantrum'?

[agrippa]

I am still told to say "Might" instead of "may" because it's more polite. So I do. As in, "Might I have another one?" Of course, they always answer with, "You might... but no." It's very irking.

Isn't "might" just the subjunctive of "may"? (That would account for it being considered "more polite").

[agrippa]

My parents always did just like Agrippa. "I don't know, CAN you?"

{The other fun lesson they shared... I'd be racing around the house trying to school on time and not able to find some integral pice of clothing, like my coat... If asked where my coat was the stock answer, "Last time I wore it I left it out in the barn." Which is incredibly frustrating when what was needed was a little assitance... but it did teach us to put things in their propper places rather efficiently.}

The other thing I like to say when kids say "Can I go to the bathroom?" is to say "Not in here."

Nothing to do with grammar, but very funny nonetheless.

[pinkpanther]

That reminds me of an old Steve Martin movie (can't remember the title). A bunch of guys are at the dinner table and Steve (who is pretending to be crazy as part of a con act) says, "Can I go to the bathroom, please?" and the other guy says, "Yes, you may." Then Steve gets a really peaceful look on his face. It's funny (and gross).

[ronsmyman]

I believe you are thinking of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and that is an excellent example of taking things far too literally. I love that movie too, I was watching it with my sibs and for weeks my mother had to be very careful with us at the dinner table or we'd burst out laughing whenever anyone asked if they could go to the bathroom.

[pinkpanther]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking of! Tee hee, good movie. . .

[evlpez]

I loved it. "Ruprect" was brilliant.

"Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma!!!!" *banging on a pot above his head and running around the tire swing hanging in the middle of his "space"*