Throughout the years I taught, there were a number of misuses of the English language that would drive me crazy. Each instance has been used so frequently that they have become an accepted part of our speech.
The first one that continues to grow in popularity is the use of the phrase “on accident.” Students would constantly use the excuse that something that they did was done “on accident”.
The correct expression is “by accident”. Trying to determine why this error is made, it dawned on me a few years ago that since you do things “on purpose” it would be only natural that you might think that you also do things “on accident”. I can almost see the sense in that, being that the two statements of “purpose” and “accident” describe something that happened. So why not use “by accident” and “by purpose”? Notice how “by purpose” doesn’t even sound right.
From my point of view the use of the word “on” denotes a planned action. “We are stopping at the store, on the way home.” (It’s on the way home, so I plan on doing it) “On account of my alarm not going off, I missed my train.” (One thing occurred so the consequence had to happen)
The word “by” on the other hand, denotes something that was not planned and just happened unintentionally. “By the way, I forgot to get the mail.” (just an afterthought) “By happenstance, I was in the right place at the right time.” (luckily)
Accidents are not planned; therefore you would do something, “by accident.” Doing things “on purpose,” clearly denotes planning and intent.
Personally, this is one error I am not willing to accept.
The second linguistic annoyance lies in the use of the term, “verse”. “Verse” according to the dictionary can be considered a noun. It is defined as: a single metrical line in a poetic composition. There are other similar definitions. It can even be used as a verb, defined as: to familiarize by study or experience, for example, “I’m well versed in that area.” There is also the word “versus”, which is a preposition meaning “against”. “Tonight’s game is the Mets versus the Braves.”
My peeve: Verse now has become a verb with the meaning to “play against.” “I’m going to verse you in a game of tennis.” “Who are you versing in your tournament?”
Though I don’t like this new phrase, I have accepted its addition to the English language since it is now in such common use that it cannot be changed. Many of my colleagues verse me on that acceptance.
My final linguistic peeve has to do with the mispronunciation of a word. I am frustrated to no end when people constantly use the term “fustrated” instead of the aforementioned “frustrated”. Why is it so hard to pronounce the “r” that follows the “f”. Other “fr” words come out fine.
I’m sure there are many other linguistic errors that are made, some that annoy me, some that don’t, no doubt, many made by me in this very piece of writing. But if there weren’t any, what would I have to write about.
