Less vs. fewer Jan 6, 2009
The checkout lines that say "10 items or less" are grammatically incorrect, and the people who know of this like to point it out with much grandeur and pomp.  Less should be used with things you measure (less coffee, less talking, less annoying) while fewer should be used with things you can count (fewer items, fewer baby-eaters, fewer exploding M&M's).  Oddly enough, the opposite of both less and fewer is more, thus adding to the confusion. #language
Organic Jan 5, 2009
These days, the word organic has some very specific connotations concerning health and the environment, while up until about 2004, it simply meant carbon-based. #language
See you next year Dec 30, 2008
I remember being in about third or fourth grade when I first heard someone say, "See you next year!" in reference to the arbitrary calendar event of December becoming January.  It boggled my mind.  What do you mean "next year"?  Are you moving to a different school?  Is school closed for the rest of the year?  What other explanation could there be for why you won't be seeing me until next year?  I don't underst--oh.  I get it.  That's funny. 

Like any kid, I used the saying a few times myself, joining in on the fun that is exposing other people's ignorance of calendar-based wordplays.  Oh the fun. 

Things changed sometime around, oh I don't, the age of 12, when the saying lost its affect on me.  See you nex--yeah yeah I understand.  It's funny.  Look how we're all laughing. 

For the life of me, I can't figure out why grown adults still say this to other grown adults.  "See you next year" should be "See you in one to two days, or whenever you come back from your work-sponsored vacation." #language
Veolia infection Dec 4, 2008
Veolia is a company that manages drinking water testing and wastewater treatment.  But every time I see the company's name on a van or a building, I can't help but think it's some sort of disease or infection, as in "Susie has a bad case of Veolia."  I get the same feeling from the word caucus. #language
You're saying it wrong Nov 19, 2008
It's weird how certain people pronounce certain things incorrectly, and as if it's some sort of cosmic joke, these people are doomed to proclaim their mispronunciation skills on a regular basis. 

Such is the case with most people who pronounce nuclear as "nucular".  In my own life, I would say the word nuclear comes up maybe once every few months, perhaps as I drive past a nuclear power plant or am talking about the idea of nuclear nonproliferation treaties (which, oddly enough, isn't often).  But for people who pronounce it "nucular," the topic seems to come up every day.  Perhaps every hour.  I didn't know this recent presidential election had much to do with nuclear anything, but that Sarah Palin must've said "nucular" at least eight times in every one of her speeches. 

Another example is Wendy's mom and her mispronunciation of the dog breed Lhasa Apso as "Opsa Lopso".  Before I started dating Wendy, I had never heard of this type of dog.  I heard Wendy mispronounce it a few times, and then I heard the source.  I alerted Wendy to the mistake, and she passed it on to her mom, but I swear I hear the woman mispronounce this dog type every time I see her.  I don't understand how this topic keeps coming up. #language
Shorthand Nov 14, 2008
My aunt Mary Jane has a collection of hand-written recipes, sloppily and confusingly encoded in some sort of cryptic alien shorthand.  Apparently, schools used to teach students how to write in shorthand, thus saving time and energy and making everything secretive and weird (though Isaac Newton wrote his scientific findings in shorthand, so that lends a little credibility to it).  Thankfully, Wikipedia has a detailed description, history, and list of the various types, or languages, of shorthand.  Looking at some of the examples (like Melin and Pitman) is like trying to decipher hieroglyphics. #language
Data vs. datum Nov 12, 2008
Technically, the word "data" is the plural of the word "datum," though the former is often used as both the singular and the plural, as in, "The data suggests something" and "New data have arisen."  In everyday usage, you sound smarter if you treat data as a plural. #language
Mildly derogatory names for women Sep 3, 2008
There once was a time when you had to be careful about how you referred to women.  Calling them the wrong thing could get you banned from their presence for life.  Thankfully, the laws have been relaxed a little, so that many previously derogatory names can now be used freely, as long as at least a slight amount of sarcasm is implied.  My favorites: 
  1. Babes
  2. Chicks
  3. Broads*
*Ding ding!  This one's my favorite. #language
No R (5) Aug 12, 2008
The following words do not contain the letter "R", contrary to popular usage: 
  • Oil
  • Wash
  • Alpha/delta (no offense, Asians)
I'm taking a class where the professor mentions Euler angles on a regular basis.  I've heard it pronounced "oiler" and "yooler" but haven't heard a definitive answer as to which is correct.  But one thing I know for sure is that "erler", which is how the professor says it, is 100% wrong. #language
Third person parents Aug 1, 2008
I wonder at what point in the life of a parent the reference to self changes from "I" to "Mommy".  I for one can't remember a single instance of either one of my parents referring to themselves in the third person.  I think that's good.  Referring to yourself like you're the external narrator of your own life story is weird.  And what must kids think? 
Mom:  "Mommy doesn't like cheeseburgers." 
Kid:  Which Mommy is she talking about?  Her name is Mommy, but there are a lot of Mommies out there.
#language