What Americanisms do you dislike in our English language?
Posted by Normal-Internal164@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 458 comments
I have a gripe for ‘gotten’ and ‘anyways’ which seem to be more prevalent these days, particularly with younger people.
Ladyxxmacbeth@reddit
The pronunciation of schedule. It's not skedule. It's schedule.
Flyinmanm@reddit
I try to spell programme, programme for a plan of work instead of program. I'll let it go for a computer program as newer word but computer programs becoming 'apps' also grates.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
"Program" literally means the computer software though, either the verb or noun. A programme is more like an itinerary or a project.
Flyinmanm@reddit
It called a computer program because it's a list of events (or a programme) the computer is told to follow.
"A computer program is a sequence or set[a] of instructions in a programming language for a computer to execute. It is one component of software, which also includes documentation and other intangible components.[1]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_program
Software just indicates parts of the computer that are programmed or stored on alterable storage (ie it's soft, changeable) as opposed to hardware which is what the software runs on (the hard physical element if the computer which cant be changed easily if at all and can be touched).
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
Correct, but nobody calls software a "programme" even in Britain. People do, however, incorrectly call an itinerary or project a "program".
PoppetNose@reddit
As in “school schedule”
Flyinmanm@reddit
Skool skedual. Ugh.
carefuldaughter@reddit
shool shedule
Flyinmanm@reddit
Fo sho.
Ladyxxmacbeth@reddit
...we are British so the rules don't apply or make any sense. Any Americanism where words are spoken incorrectly bothers me. Lieutenant, aluminum, herbs, privacy, laboratoryI could go on 😁
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
What like it's meant to sound German
Ladyxxmacbeth@reddit
I think it comes from the French,
knight-under-stars@reddit
In all honesty I find people getting their knickers in a twist over Americanisms to be fair more irritating than the words themselves.
Language is ever changing, especially in a globally connected world. Correct use of language is not frozen in time at the arbitrary point some sad pedant decides it was.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
No one is lamenting a changing language. Everyone is lamenting a language being taken over by one from another culture, it is undermining our own in the process. If British English changes come from within Britain, I think most people wouldn't mind. You seem to have totally missed the point here.
knight-under-stars@reddit
Big words from someone who can't help but contradict themselves within a single paragraph.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
If you think those sentences contradict each other, you need help with reading comprehension
HamaTakam@reddit
Does it ever get cold on the wishy-washy, guardian reading, why-can't-we-all-just-love-each-other ,touchy feely moral high ground?
OldManChino@reddit
I used to be a prescriptivist, until I actually started learning more about language. Complaining about changing language, which has happened since we had it, is the ultimate yelling at clouds.
Still can't help but mutter 'fewer' when I hear people use less incorrectly though, and 'on accident' still winds me up, even if I understand why that change is happening
rising_then_falling@reddit
Language is ever changing but that doesn't mean all changes to a language are neutral. Some make it more expressive, some make it less expressive.
djwillis1121@reddit
I was going to say this. I really don't see why people get so outraged over it
EyeSpy1359@reddit
ALL of them.
The trouble is, it's only going to get worse with the prevalence of US content on social media so our young people grow up hearing these (often wholly incorrect) words and phrases and automatically use them themselves.
We are doomed.
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
Oh grow up, people have been doom mongering about Americanisms since 1900, you probably use several without even realising it, because they are adopted years ago and you didn’t notice.
“Doomed” 🤦♂️
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
I hate how many people use this argument to diminish so many problems in modern life. "People have always said that!" is not a valid defence of an ogoing problem.
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
It’s a valid way to dismiss a non-problem: by pointing out that this thing that’s a problem has been happening for decades with no measurable nor meaningful negative effect
If you say “there’s too many people wearing blue hats these days, it’s a major problem” and I can point out that people have been wearing those blue hats for decades and nobody can identify any actual negative effects of the blue hats, except that you don’t like blue hats, that’s a perfectly valid argument.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
The effect is the slow erosion of our culture
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
Cultures are never static and never immune to influence from the outside, to think that ossification is degradation is a reactionary and absurd viewpoint
If you sincerely think saying “ok” or “that’s cool” are damaging to our nation, you’re going to be deeply upset when you next eat a potato or wear pyjamas or any of these other damaging foreign ideas
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
Strawmans, red herrings...
AromaticVacation3077@reddit
I agree. It's like the hole in the ozone layer - it's been growing since the industrial revolution and we all contribute to it in ways we're probably not even aware of. I wish people would grow up and stop complaining about it.
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
The difference: the hole in ozone layer hurts people
People from the uk saying “ok” gets nobody except the most tedious pedants. The kind of weirdo who insists that gay still means happy
AromaticVacation3077@reddit
What research are you basing that on please?
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
I’m not having a climate debate with you, nor anyone
Citation; my being an adult with a finite number of years on this earth and not wasting them
TheViscountRang@reddit
My niece calls her mother "Mom". Makes me sick.
TankFoster@reddit
What, she actually says the word "mom"? In her own, English, accent? That must just sound ridiculous, no?
TheViscountRang@reddit
Weirdly she affects an American accent for it, she seems to have some stock phrases that she's picked up from American media that she goes round saying in an American accent. It's terrible. Her mother thinks it's adorable and that it makes her bilingual.
I shall leave you to your own deductions about the sort of person she is.
TankFoster@reddit
That sounds incredibly annoying 😄
Suspicious_Put_5063@reddit
People from the West Midlands say ‘Mom’. My dad who’s in his 70’s refers to his mother as that.
TheViscountRang@reddit
Does he spell it as Mom, or is it more of an accent quirk?
Same as up my way lots of people say Mam but will still tend to spell it as Mum
Suspicious_Put_5063@reddit
He would spell it as Mom. He refers to my Mum as ‘Mom’ too, both vocally and spelling.
Prof_Hentai@reddit
I get called out as a yank all the time for using “Mom”, I’m from the Black Country. That said, that’s probably worse than being a yank.
Suspicious_Put_5063@reddit
Is it heck 🤣 nothing wrong with Black County folk! Am yam a yamyam 😁
jimmyjammy6262@reddit
I agree Hate mom, it's mam or mum not mom
West-Season-2713@reddit
Couple of places here say mom too.
joeChump@reddit
It depends as it is a thing in Birmingham/The Black Country and has been for a long time and I think has nothing to do with Americanisms. If I hear from anyone else though I cringe.
Dangerous_Bed2566@reddit
Mom is not necessarily an Americanism. Mom can be Irish or from the black country
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
That’s just how people in the West Midlands do it, I’m sure your niece hasn’t trying to offend your delicate stomach
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
🤮
Octoboy1@reddit
My Mrs owns a nursery. Alot of the kids put on American accents when saying certain words, its nuts
Moron-with-a-drill@reddit
"Can I get", rather than "Please could I have".
Sean Lock had a great rant about this once, so I feel justified in my disgust.
HotelPuzzleheaded654@reddit
I use “can I get” I think it’s fine as long as it has a please on the end.
I’ve never actually heard anyone say “I’ll do” but that is intolerable.
LeonsFloppyHair@reddit
It's not fine, it's dirty language.
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
It’s literally the standard in Scottish English.
LeonsFloppyHair@reddit
For real? Gonna need a source for this one.
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
I’m Scottish and I’ve grown up my whole life saying this. Ironically, you’ve just used an Americanism while calling it a dirty language.
LeonsFloppyHair@reddit
How old are you? If younger than thirty you might not be aware. Which Americanism did I use?
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
I’m 30, everyone around me says “can I get”, also multiple Scots on this thread agreeing. For real is an Americanism.
LeonsFloppyHair@reddit
Oh for real lol.
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
“Can I get” is the standard in Scottish English, it’s not strictly an Americanism.
Esexboy101101@reddit
And in Ireland
Snappy0@reddit
Yeah I worked for a national food bakery chain in Scotland for some time, and I heard "Can I get" all the time.
To be fair, one of my more "sassy" colleagues hated it and she'd come back with "I don't know, can you?".
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
Yeah I’ve literally never heard anyone ask any other way. To me “please may I have” sounds weird, like you’re begging for permission to get something.
Obvious-Water569@reddit
"Can I get" has devolved into "I'll do" in recent years.
I hate that even more.
AbsurdGonzo@reddit
This is the most egregious one
zapering@reddit
I'll do the lasagna.
No, just no.
PuddingBrat@reddit
"I'LL DO" FUCKS ME OFF SO MUCH. ARE YOU BACK THERE IN THE KITCHEN, SANDRA? NO? THEN FUCK OFF!!
AirBiscuitBarrel@reddit
Yep, I run a pub and sadly I've become accustomed to "can I get", but "I'll grab" still fills me with rage.
Particular-Bet8730@reddit
My ex girlfriend was American and I always used to make fun of her for saying this, she agreed it sounded ridiculous but couldn’t stop saying it
Suspicious_Put_5063@reddit
Or, ‘I’ll go for’
moanybastard@reddit
"Give me the".
Oh fuck off.
Throwaway6765656@reddit
It’s mad to me that it’s seemingly too long for them to add in a please or a thank you yet when the British shorten a phrase and say they’re having “a Chinese” for dinner and not “Chinese takeout food” it’s apparently offensive that we haven’t made it clear we’re not eating a person
andyone100@reddit
I was once in the buffet car of an intercity trainand a young American dude came along and asked ‘Could I catch a Coke?’
The Geordie barman threw a can of Coke in the air and the dude tried to catch it and it fell on the floor.
Geordie barman said: ‘No, you can’t!’
HistoricalCoconut2@reddit
You mean “please may I have”
RepublicWarm2383@reddit
This!
adam190990@reddit
Sean Lock had THE BEST rant about this.
Loved it.
MJLDat@reddit
It is so rude and is disrespectful!
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
Absolutely
nacnud_uk@reddit
Get.
Fyonella@reddit
All those already mentioned and I will add:
‘Off of’.
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
I am curious. How would you rephrase, "He got off of the bus"? I guess technically "He alighted from the bus" is there just waiting to be used, but is it a realistic option?
Fyonella@reddit
He got off the bus. Why on earth do you need the ‘of’ in there at all?
Oh and ‘burglarize’ what fresh hell is that word?
blanketred4@reddit
He got off the bus
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
It's so funny how simple the correct version is
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
Yeah fair enough. Didn't even occur to me.
beereviver@reddit
It’s usually “based off of” so they’ve added a word, infuriating.
zoltan_g@reddit
"Bi weekly" No mate, it's fortnightly.
Grand-Enthusiasm5749@reddit
Store = shop
Tires = tyres (I get Americans correcting me all the time on this one)
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
"Tires" is another stupid one yeah, why don't they just spell it properly? All it does is confuse things by moving it from a homophone to a homonym.
Grand-Enthusiasm5749@reddit
Yeah ik it’s bare annoying 😭
busytransitgworl@reddit
It's corner shop, not convenience store. There's nothing convenient about kneeing down for some crisps or having to wait ages in a queue because of someone playing some lottery game.
bearbfc@reddit
People using "can't" instdad of "can"
Example: "let's see if I CAN'T catch some fish for dinner"
Acceptable_Car_1833@reddit
To be fair, someone fishing is discovering if they can or can't catch fish for dinner.
bearbfc@reddit
You don't try to not be able to do something, you try to succeed in doing it, so "can't" should never be used in that situation.
:)
Acceptable_Car_1833@reddit
I was trying, and apparently failing, to be humorous.
bearbfc@reddit
You can't be humourous on thks thread! Or can you?
NoisyGog@reddit
Oof yes. That’s migraine fuel.
bearbfc@reddit
They have no idea how ridiculous the statement is 😅
RonSwaffle@reddit
All of them, but especially “all of the sudden” and “I could care less”.
khazroar@reddit
They're not Americanisms, they're simple mistakes (though the latter is increasingly seen as a valid turn of phrase)
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
"I could care less" is absolutely an Americanism
khazroar@reddit
It's a mistake that spread there before it spread here, but it's absolutely a mistake. American's also say "hare's breath" more often, doesn't make it an Americanism, it is simply and entirely a mistake, not a legitimate turn of phrase.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
If that was correct, some Americans would say "couldn't care less" which they do not
InfiniteComedian7172@reddit
Could care less absolutely kills me
BadahBingBadahBoom@reddit
I could care less about Brits using this.
Street-Frame1575@reddit
It makes zero sense to me that one.
How can "I could care less" and "I could not care less" mean the same thing?
Do they think that "I could run a marathon" and "I could not run a marathon" mean the same thing?
Assuming not, how did they all just collectively agree that this particular phrase could lose the 'not' without losing its meaning?
Waits-nervously@reddit
Both mean “I care very little about this”. The British use hyperbole, to say that they don’t care at all about something that they do care enough to talk about. Americans use dry understatement to emphasise that no matter how little they care about something now, they can still change their position to be further from yours if you insist. Ironically, given the usual prejudices, the Americanism is closer to the literal truth, and demonstrates a dry, understated, ironic wit that the Britishism lacks, in favour of unsubtle bombast.
Street-Frame1575@reddit
"I could not care less" means my "caring score" is already zero - any new information you give me cannot change how much I care about this situation, as I'm already bottomed out.
"I could care less" means my "caring score" still has room to drop further. I currently care about this situation to some extent, but I could care less if new information is provided.
There's no need for dry, understated ironic wit when explaining how you feel in these examples.
veggiejord@reddit
Eh? But they use it to mean 'I don't care at all', no? Not to express that they could care even less if provoked.
Throwaway6765656@reddit
Still makes no sense. If they could change their position to care less then it means they didn’t care the least possible amount in the first place, which directly contradicts the point of saying it.
joeChump@reddit
I hate ‘on accident’.
Doobalicious69@reddit
I genuinely always thought that people were taking the piss saying that because it's incredibly moronic.
RepublicWarm2383@reddit
By purpose
Throwaway6765656@reddit
This one grinds my gears no matter who says it. It completely contradicts whatever point they’re trying to make yet so many are oblivious to it
SpudFire@reddit
The mental gymnastics they perform trying to explain how "could care less" means they don't care at all is hilarious.
No... if you could care less about something then it means you care about it to some degree.
Throwaway6765656@reddit
Exactly, it makes zero sense.
If you were to ask someone if they’re bothered about what X person has said about them, to me:
“I could care less” = “I am, at minimum, mildly bothered”
“I couldn’t care less” = “I am not bothered at all and there is no way I could be less bothered”
Not sure why it’s so hard for people to grasp lol
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
I thought that was a typo that just happened a lot, like no one says it surely
Obvious-Water569@reddit
They're not really appearing in British English though are they? I know they're prevalent in America but they're pretty contained.
snapper1971@reddit
They're really not. Social media is putting more idiotic Americanisms into the mouths and lexicons of young British people than you realise.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
I hear people saying "gen zee" more than "gen zed" nowadays. "Ass" is probably more common than "arse" now too.
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
"All of the sudden" I suspect is - as are many Americanisms - the result of translating Italianisms word-for-word. "All'improvviso" includes the article (though Italian articles are weird so it might look like it doesn't).
zoltan_g@reddit
Not sure that it's an Americanism or not but "can I get?"
"Key takeaways"
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
“Can I get” is the standard in Scottish English.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
It's grammatically incorrect though. If they say yes it means you go get it yourself. The waiter gets it for you - you should say "can you get", but even that would be somewhat rude.
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
You’re talking about semantics, not grammar. It’s not ungrammatical as it’s produced and acquired by native English speakers. Believe it or not, there is semantic variation between varieties of English too.
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
I say it and I'm in Northern England, never thought it was weird, pretty sure loads of people say it, I've never really thought about it
Lieffe@reddit
"I'm gonna do"
By far the worst phrase used to order stuff.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
People order from a restaurant menu by saying that? Like "I'm gonna do a burger and chips"?
grumblingegg@reddit
Obligated
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
Much obliged
Fudgeyman@reddit
I mean gotten existed the entire time in scotland
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
Gotten is completely fine
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
It used to be the standard past participle in British English but fell out of use. Obviously it’s stayed in some varieties, but people will still be hellbent on insisting it’s bastardised English.
sodsto@reddit
Yeah, confused by this one. I've used 'gotten' my entire life.
AgingChris@reddit
Someone at work recently used "y'all", i recoiled in horror and disgust
astralwisdom7@reddit
Yeah i hate y'all. I've seen British people use it online too more recently, its cringe
ChoiceD@reddit
The problem with this is saying "it's cringe" is also very cringe.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
Cringe is a verb
astralwisdom7@reddit
Bet you say yall don't you
Flippanties@reddit
Y'all is like the one good thing America has given the English language, best possible answer to a second person plural we have.
SuddenlyDiabetes@reddit
Yous.
You lot.
Personally I prefer either!!
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
You lot sounds like yall about to call the cops on someone and yous sound like one person
WackyWhippet@reddit
Or since y'all is a contraction of "you all" just say that 🤷♂️
Flippanties@reddit
See I think 'yous' only works in certain accents and I would cringe if I heard it come from someone down south, but honestly I can totally understand someone saying the same thing about 'y'all'.
'You lot' isn't bad but maybe this is just me but it feels passive aggressive?
Tachanka-Mayne@reddit
We already had ‘yous’ though
nomadic_weeb@reddit
"Yous" already exists as a second personal plural, so "y'all" definitely isn't the best possible answer
ParpinOver@reddit
Yuk!
Oohoureli@reddit
"Gotten" isn't strictly an Americanism. It's actually the original (pre-American) past participle of "get", and can be found in Shakespeare and other historic English writings. We're so used to "got" that "gotten" sounds alien, but it isn't.
MGSC_1726@reddit
Tbh, a lot of things people crash out about came from us first lol.
Andros25@reddit
Can I add crash out to the list
zapering@reddit
I don't think this one is strictly American though, more of a gen-z/gen alpha slang
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
It's all brainrot social media shite though and almost invariably will come from American influencers. It's a shame no influencers have a positive influence on people, just encourage degeneracy and anti-intellectualism.
MGSC_1726@reddit
Nope as it’s a term in all English languages
NoisyGog@reddit
It doesn’t mean what you just used it to mean, though.
snapper1971@reddit
Which until very recently meant to take a nap or a sleep.
zagblorg@reddit
This confused me for ages. To crash out meant to go to bed/go to sleep when I was younger!
WeeklyPermission239@reddit
I will accept "ill-gotten gains" which is a great phrase - I use it in reference to my partner getting to the last square of chocolate before me.
But "I had gotten tired" etc turns my stomach.
MrsStinley@reddit
Also still exists in “forgotten”
Sad_Pie_3862@reddit
Misbegotten.
CactusClothesline@reddit
I'm trying to think of the Americanism complaint for this one. Maybe I just haven't encountered it yet.
"It's gotten a bit warm in here, hasn't it?" Doesn't seem especially American to me. Or is this not how they're using it?
SoggyWotsits@reddit
People aren’t reviving Shakespeare though. They’re copying what they’ve heard from American TV and films.
Oohoureli@reddit
I'm merely pointing out that the original past participle of "get" was "gotten". We have \~\~got/gotten\~\~ become used to the contraction "got" in the UK, but it's by no means an American neologism like so many other examples in the thread.
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
100%
PuddingBrat@reddit
Dropping the ordinal suffices on dates.
It's the 12th of May, NOT MAY 12!!!!!1
BenRod88@reddit
Its even funnier when they say their big day as the 4th of July but none of the other dates
PuddingBrat@reddit
Oh. My. God. I hadn't even realised this. Omg, it pisses me off even more.
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
All of them if I’m being honest.
I’ve noticed my nephew and nieces have picked some up from watching crap on YouTube. I just jump all over it and make sure they understand we don’t speak like that.
the_state_monad@reddit
I’m a native English and Spanish speaker. I’ve lived in Mexico, Spain, the US (for many years in each) and now in the UK and I couldn’t care less now less lol. American English, Uk English, Spanish from Spain, Mexico, IDC
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
Good for you!
the_state_monad@reddit
Hehe glad I managed to piss off at least 1 person 💪🏼.
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
You haven’t pissed me off lol I simply don’t believe you’re a native English speaker if you’re writing things like ‘I couldn’t care less now less’ - so whatever you’re trying to say isn’t really relevant to what I said.
the_state_monad@reddit
Oh your pissed… nitpicking on typos??? perhaps just a little bit pissed but pissed for sure. 🙏
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
Nope, not even a little bit. Also, you’re* not your!
the_state_monad@reddit
lol dude just ignore me.
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
Will do 🤘
the_state_monad@reddit
And he waddled away angrily… 🪿
WesternUnusual2713@reddit
Playing with language, especially slang within your peer groups, is a normal part of growing up.
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
Agree, but calling a biscuit a cookie or saying I need two dollars isn’t playing with language, it’s plain wrong where we live. There’s a difference between playing with language or developing your own language use and being susceptible to an invasive, bastardised language!
Hot_Direction_4120@reddit
Based off of instead of based off.
YragNitram1956@reddit
When people ask for something, I often hear: "Can I get a..." It infuriates me. It's not New York. It's not the 90s. You're not in Central Perk with the rest of the Friends. Really." Steve, Rossendale, Lancashire
The next time someone tells you something is the "least worst option", tell them that their most best option is learning grammar. Mike Ayres, Bodmin, Cornwall
The phrase I've watched seep into the language (especially with broadcasters) is "two-time" and "three-time". Have the words double, triple etc, been totally lost? Grammatically it makes no sense, and is even worse when spoken. My pulse rises every time I hear or see it. Which is not healthy as it's almost every day now. Argh! D Rochelle, Bath
Using 24/7 rather than "24 hours, 7 days a week" or even just plain "all day, every day". Simon Ball, Worcester
The one I can't stand is "deplane", meaning to disembark an aircraft, used in the phrase "you will be able to deplane momentarily". TykeIntheHague, Den Haag, Holland
To "wait on" instead of "wait for" when you're not a waiter - once read a friend's comment about being in a station waiting on a train. For him, the train had yet to arrive - I would have thought rather that it had got stuck at the station with the friend on board. T Balinski, Raglan, New Zealand
"It is what it is". Pity us. Michael Knapp, Chicago, US
Dare I even mention the fanny pack? Lisa, Red Deer, Canada
"Touch base" - it makes me cringe no end. Chris, UK
Is "physicality" a real word? Curtis, US
11. Transportation. What's wrong with transport? Greg Porter, Hercules, CA, US
The word I hate to hear is "leverage". Pronounced lev-er-ig rather than lee-ver -ig. It seems to pop up in all aspects of work. And its meaning seems to have changed to "value added". Gareth Wilkins, Leicester
Does nobody celebrate a birthday anymore, must we all "turn" 12 or 21 or 40? Even the Duke of Edinburgh was universally described as "turning" 90 last month. When did this begin? I quite like the phrase in itself, but it seems to have obliterated all other ways of speaking about birthdays. Michael McAndrew, Swindon
I caught myself saying "shopping cart" instead of shopping trolley today and was thoroughly disgusted with myself. I've never lived nor been to the US either. Graham Nicholson, Glasgow
What kind of word is "gotten"? It makes me shudder. Julie Marrs, Warrington
"I'm good" for "I'm well". That'll do for a start. Mike, Bridgend, Wales
"Bangs" for a fringe of the hair. Philip Hall, Nottingham
18. Take-out rather than takeaway! Simon Ball, Worcester
I enjoy Americanisms. I suspect even some Americans use them in a tongue-in-cheek manner? "That statement was the height of ridiculosity". Bob, Edinburgh
"A half hour" instead of "half an hour". EJB, Devon
A "heads up". For example, as in a business meeting. Lets do a "heads up" on this issue. I have never been sure of the meaning. R Haworth, Marlborough
22. Train station. My teeth are on edge every time I hear it. Who started it? Have they been punished? Chris Capewell, Queens Park, London
To put a list into alphabetical order is to "alphabetize it" - horrid! Chris Fackrell, York
People that say "my bad" after a mistake. I don't know how anything could be as annoying or lazy as that. Simon Williamson, Lymington, Hampshire
"Normalcy" instead of "normality" really irritates me. Tom Gabbutt, Huddersfield
As an expat living in New Orleans, it is a very long list but "burglarize" is currently the word that I most dislike. Simon, New Orleans
"Oftentimes" just makes me shiver with annoyance. Fortunately I've not noticed it over here yet. John, London
28. Eaterie. To use a prevalent phrase, oh my gaad! Alastair, Maidstone (now in Athens, Ohio)
I'm a Brit living in New York. The one that always gets me is the American need to use the word bi-weekly when fortnightly would suffice just fine. Ami Grewal, New York
I hate "alternate" for "alternative". I don't like this as they are two distinct words, both have distinct meanings and it's useful to have both. Using alternate for alternative deprives us of a word. Catherine, London
"Hike" a price. Does that mean people who do that are hikers? No, hikers are ramblers! M Holloway, Accrington
32. Going forward? If I do I shall collide with my keyboard. Ric Allen, Matlock
I hate the word "deliverable". Used by management consultants for something that they will "deliver" instead of a report. Joseph Wall, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
The most annoying Americanism is "a million and a half" when it is clearly one and a half million! A million and a half is 1,000,000.5 where one and a half million is 1,500,000. Gordon Brown, Coventry
"Reach out to" when the correct word is "ask". For example: "I will reach out to Kevin and let you know if that timing is convenient". Reach out? Is Kevin stuck in quicksand? Is he teetering on the edge of a cliff? Can't we just ask him? Nerina, London
Surely the most irritating is: "You do the Math." Math? It's MATHS. Michael Zealey, London
I hate the fact I now have to order a "regular Americano". What ever happened to a medium sized coffee? Marcus Edwards, Hurst Green
My worst horror is expiration, as in "expiration date". Whatever happened to expiry? Christina Vakomies, London
My favourite one was where Americans claimed their family were "Scotch-Irish". This of course it totally inaccurate, as even if it were possible, it would be "Scots" not "Scotch", which as I pointed out is a drink. James, Somerset
40.I am increasingly hearing the phrase "that'll learn you" - when the English (and more correct) version was always "that'll teach you". What a ridiculous phrase! Tabitha, London
42. Period instead of full stop. Stuart Oliver, Sunderland
My pet hate is "winningest", used in the context "Michael Schumacher is the winningest driver of all time". I can feel the rage rising even using it here. Gayle, Nottingham
My brother now uses the term "season" for a TV series. Hideous. D Henderson, Edinburgh
Having an "issue" instead of a "problem". John, Leicester
I hear more and more people pronouncing the letter Z as "zee". Not happy about it! Ross, London
To "medal" instead of to win a medal. Sets my teeth on edge with a vengeance. Helen, Martock, Somerset
"I got it for free" is a pet hate. You got it "free" not "for free". You don't get something cheap and say you got it "for cheap" do you? Mark Jones, Plymouth
"Turn that off already". Oh dear. Darren, Munich
"I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less" has to be the worst. Opposite meaning of what they're trying to say. Jonathan, Birmingham
From the BBC.
nick9000@reddit
You've never played meeting bingo? The idea is to get as many clichés into your contributions as you can. 'Win win situation' was a favourite of mine.
YragNitram1956@reddit
Here are a few ways to say "just need to strim the edges" using professional, "office-speak" jargon, depending on the tone you want to set:
"Just putting the finishing touches on the site perimeter."
"Completing the final border detailing to ensure a crisp finish".
"Executing the perimeter manicuring for a pristine look.
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
Train station 😅 wtf
YragNitram1956@reddit
Railway station?
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
I've never anyone say "I'm off to the railway station" 😅 not even old people
YragNitram1956@reddit
I say it because I do not want others to think bus or coach station. I am old.
pslamB@reddit
Leverage is just a fancy word for 'use' when I've heard it used in businessspeak in the wild. "Can we 'leverage' that data for our process?" As with all of it, it is made to sound more pompous and important than it is (often by people who have no idea what they're actually talking about).
matto1985@reddit
On accident. Doesn't even sound right!
Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit
Oh god I feel sick hearing and reading it that way around
bix_box@reddit
But don't you say you did something 'on purpose'? So I guess the opposite, you did something 'on accident' isn't out of the realm of possibility.
InspectorOk2454@reddit
I don’t like it in America either. It’s wrong. Supposed to be “by accident.” Prepositions gone wild.
zapering@reddit
I think people get confused because we say "on purpose", so it makes sense to them.
Busy-Ad7936@reddit
I've never hgeard/seen that before. Is it a thing? What does it mean? Or rather what is it supposed to mean?
Gnomio1@reddit
Yes, incredibly common.
See: https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/pardon-the-expression/by-accident-vs-on-accident/
Americans seem to also now like saying “on line” rather than “in line”, when referring to being “in line” (queueing) for something.
Direct_Highlight_118@reddit
Actually what y0ure hearing is me saying en accident. it's French. I'm very cultured.
Craig1974@reddit
Many of you sound like snobs. Maybe thats why you lost your empire. Sticklers about speech.
Throwaway6765656@reddit
Another frustrating Americanism is when they think a British person in the year 2026 gives a rats arse about the loss of the empire
Ok_Corter5831@reddit
'In shambles'. No siree, it's 'in a shambles'.
OK_LK@reddit
Two times instead of twice
Conversate instead of converse
deadwoodgleaming@reddit
Addicting instead of addictive.
fartmaxxer420@reddit
Yes, this drives me nuts! "This is so addicting!" Who is it addicting?? Do people not realise it a verb and not an adjective?
I think any time when English is misspoken in a way that shows that the (native) speaker doesn't actually understand the words they are using (e.g. Could of) annoys me greatly.
daveoxford@reddit
It's a present participle of a verb, which is an adjective.
BadahBingBadahBoom@reddit
No a present participle of a verb that can be used as an adjective (verbal adjective) would be something like smile -> smiling -> smiling person.
Addicting is only a present participle verb.
It is wrong to use addicting as a verbal adjective the same way it is wrong to use impressing as a verbal adjective.
'That was an addicting cake.' 'That was impressing cake.'
vs:
''That was an addictive cake.' 'The was an impressive cake.'
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
Again I always thought this was a typo didn't realise people say irl
Maybe it's how it and others started lol, people are suckers for copying stuff especially on reddit
jonny-p@reddit
Like nails down a chalkboard. Not sure why this particular one fills me with rage, but it does.
Mispict@reddit
Oooooh, is that an Americanism? My son says it and I wondered why
Ok_Corter5831@reddit
"I could care less."
veryordinarybloke@reddit
'impacted by' to mean affected by
rndltr@reddit
I have a theory that “impact” became popular because people forgot the difference between “affect” and “effect”.
Hot_College_6538@reddit
I dislike the word Americanism, which is an Americanism.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
There isn't really an alternative word for it though
RepublicWarm2383@reddit
Not Americanizm?
Meat2480@reddit
Gotten, lazy grammar
Taking....a shower...shit.. where are you taking it,you should be having a shit in the toilet etc etc
Sad_Pie_3862@reddit
I don't give a single fiddler's fart about words Americans happen to use also being used by people in other countries. Language is like a virus, it adapts and changes with use all the time. Trying to stop that happening is a foolish waste of time.
Elephant-Pants-11@reddit
For me it’s when they say New Years!
It’s New Year, 1 year not several. My daughter picked this up from the shitty American show Friends. Makes my teeth itch 😬
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
Friends is the most overrated show in history
Hill_Reps_For_Jesus@reddit
My biggest gripe with Americanisms is the people complaining about them.
It is such an unbelievably tedious complaint. Brought to you by the same sort of people who find it endlessly fascinating to talk about what a bread roll is called in their town, or what they call their evening meal, or what order you put stuff on a scone - or even how to pronounce scone.
Impossible_Policy_12@reddit
Nothing wrong with preserving language of the regions. Why is it okay to sound like a country that's thousands of miles away when we have a perfectly good way of expressing ourselves already? Homogeneity is a bad thing if it's not milk.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
It's not really tedious, it's a far more complex issue than how to pronounce scone as it is an erosion of our culture.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
I agree, especially on British subs like this. It is like people are obsessed, we get this kind of thing daily now. Some are a bit grating but we don't really hear people say "could care less" particularly often in reality do we. How many people whinging are perfectly fine with terms like "OK" or "cool" that came generations prior. The funniest ones are where they were originally British terms anyway - like "gotten" in fact.
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
You’ve gotten me confused now. Anyways you’re super angry. I don’t agree with a bunch of what you say. Y’all have a good day
MJLDat@reddit
All of them.
Have a look at r/drivinguk
It’s all American. License this, hood that. Everyone is running red lights on main street.
I always say, nothing wrong with the American language but it is for them. We have our own.
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
How do you say running a red light then
MJLDat@reddit
Go through a red light. Running is very American.
SoggyWotsits@reddit
Don’t forget the dreaded ‘curb’! I correct people on there all the time, much to their annoyance.
Gnomio1@reddit
Kerb your enthusiasm.
SoggyWotsits@reddit
Then get it refurbished?!
busytransitgworl@reddit
They pump gas at the gas station...
SoggyWotsits@reddit
I might go and annoy them a bit more. Not ‘some more’!
ShelecktraYT@reddit
Had someone reply to a comment I made and they were stating 'intersection' in their reply.
That's the sign to not reply again 😂
Luvlymish@reddit
Symbology rather than Symbolism. Symbology is the *study* of symbols but in America apparently not.
UKinDXB@reddit
“I was waiting online” when they describe standing/waiting in a queue.
NoisyGog@reddit
Oh, I’ve heard that, and just assumed they were sort of skipping over pronouncing “in line”, like an accent thing.
sodsto@reddit
"waiting online" is a weird one, and it's hyper-specific to NYC
rndltr@reddit
When did Brits stop “turning up” and started “showing up” instead.
Sometimes, people even “show up for themselves”
What does it even mean?
esper_wing@reddit
Pronouncing the letter Z as 'zee' instead of 'zed', and referring to the ground floor as the first floor.
BenRod88@reddit
I’m all for zee at the end of the alphabet though as it rhymes with tee, vee, zee. Zed just seems like it’s out of place
zero_iq@reddit
How do you feel about the letters fee, gee, hee, jee, kee, lee, mee, nee, ohee, quee, ree, see, uwee, wee, and xee? For consistency
Barn_Brat@reddit
My partner is amazing in every way… but he says ‘movie’ instead of film and it hurts my soul every time
terryjuicelawson@reddit
I dislike both, it should still be "going to the pictures".
NoisyGog@reddit
Movie and pictures are both just different parts of the same thing. “Moving pictures” got shortened to “movies” and “pictures”.
Film is a funny anachronism, since it’s incredibly rare to shoot anything on film now, but we still use “films” “film” and “filming”. Even “filming a video” which technically makes no sense at all.
joeChump@reddit
I get it but I do use both. To me film would be some thought provoking artistic work, whereas a movie would be some ADD bollocks shat out by Marvel or Micheal Bay to make moolah.
benoirdo@reddit
"How the turn tables"
BigOlPristineRange@reddit
You can blame their version of The Office for this phrase. I use it as a sign of watching streaming services too much. It's not even that version's best joke, yet they love quoting it.
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
In an actual adult, so I’m but going to throw a tantrum because someone says schedule the other way.
That kind of pedantry is the shit that life is far too short for.
NoisyGog@reddit
Fucking what? Do you need a to call you a bondulance?
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
Some people say “skedule” some people say “shedule” - one of these is an Americanism and because I’m not a vaguely xenophobic weirdo, I don’t know nor care which.
But the “we must keep English sacred and pure” brigade get very twitchy about these things.
Ladyxxmacbeth@reddit
Yes we do. I will find you ...
Caveman1214@reddit
I reject Americanisms in our language so I correct them when I can, otherwise what language will there be for the future
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
One with American influences, Indian influences, French influences etc. All languages change over time, indeed as do cultures.
I’ll keep saying ok (American) and pyjamas and jungle (both Indian)
You’ll have to be ok playing king Cnut.
Caveman1214@reddit
America is a hostile state.
Losing ourselves, however little in your eyes is a disgrace.
May as well start slapping in “zees” into your words
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
Ol, next time someone in your life says “ok” tell them what a disgrace they are, explain how they’re aiding American hostility
If you sincerely believe that, you need help
TheViscountRang@reddit
"Season" instead of "Series" for TV shows has become dominant with the streaming age and it can firmly get in the bin.
busytransitgworl@reddit
Trash can instead of bin, also something Americans love to say.
NoisyGog@reddit
Americans can say whatever they like, they have a different version of the language (or “their language is more different than ours” in US-parlance).
This ranting is specifically about those US-isms that are being uneasily found in British speakers/writers.
busytransitgworl@reddit
Trash can instead of bin is still a valid example.
ShitpostingWhatIDo@reddit
These have different meanings for me. Series refers to the show in general and season is for each grouping of episodes within the series
renzxlst@reddit
Over here, it used to be a thing where a new season was called a new series.
I actually think I prefer the Americans with this as the show itself should be the series and the new group of eps should be the season. Imo anyway.
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
Another one I overlooked!
PM_ME_UR_VULVASAUR_@reddit
Americans.
Typingdude3@reddit
British.
Impossible_Policy_12@reddit
- "You got this" - you can't say that until I actually DO have it
- "A couple seconds" - it's a couple OF seconds, ffs.
- "reach out" - contact is way better. Reach out has a pathetic begging quality to it.
- "911" - it's 999 in the UK, you dolt.
- "grill" and "broil" - don't come here with that confused nonsense language.
- "dude" - needs to go. Bored of it.
I hate how English people who live in America, or hang around Americans, start to make Ts into Ds, like "budder" for "butter", etc.
It's hilarious watching teenagers think it's cool speaking with American accents and language to their mates, but, as soon as a US girl/guy fancies one of those English teenagers and the US girl/guy thinks and English accent is cool, the UK teenager suddenly sound like they were having elocution lessons from the King himself.
nick9000@reddit
I don't know if it's an Americanism but I find 'uptalk' irritating? When everything is infected as a question? It's really annoying?
carefuldaughter@reddit
imo there's a certain australian dialect that goes super hard on the uptalk but i've never been able to figure out where they come from.
McKendrigo@reddit
Y'all is my most recent pet peeve.
"What do y'all think about the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre?" 🤮
rndltr@reddit
Traders need access to Dixons.
okizubon@reddit
Excuse me while I go stick forks in my eyes.
AskUK-ModTeam@reddit
This topic has been discussed either too often over time or recently.
Please search the sub or Google instead.
Esexboy101101@reddit
''LIKE" mid sentence with no meaning/purpose/ use
Maquinito22@reddit
‘Takeout’ for me. Heard it enough in tv and films that it sounds aggressively American
Agitated_Ad_361@reddit
All of them, especially working with iPad kids.
busytransitgworl@reddit
Do they have an American accent?
I've heard from American iPad kids that got an Australian accent because of Bluey.
jamelfree@reddit
I saw a hilarious video from this American mum who was concerned that her daughter had developed a southern English accent - which she absolutely had - because she watched too much Peppa Pig.
Of course, the mum called it a British accent because she was American.
busytransitgworl@reddit
At least she knows that Europe isn't one singular country, please give her that!
And I'd rather have my child speaking in some posh Southern English accent rather than some Southern US accent
jamelfree@reddit
I do have to give her that. She largely found it amusing, and seemed most concerned people would think she’d kidnapped some posh English kid!
busytransitgworl@reddit
Alright, that got a chuckle out of me :D
One_Assistance_9332@reddit
my cousin has an american accent and says dollar.. :,)
busytransitgworl@reddit
DOLLAR?! Has he ever had some proper money in his hands?
It's pounds, pence, and polymer bank notes. Not dollars, nickels (or whatever they say), and some damp paper bills.
Agitated_Ad_361@reddit
There is a creeping twang, yes.
Silmarillien@reddit
When people shorten words like: guac (for guacamole), mozz (for mozzarella), parm (for parmesan). These sound so lazy and cringe to me.
I'm not a native English speaker so I'm not entirely sure if it's an Americanism (although I've mostly heard Americans saying these).
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
In linguistics, this is called clipping. We do it all the time in the UK, weird how it’s only annoying when Americans do it.
Silmarillien@reddit
Tbf there is something about certain American accents that sound a bit annoying.
Ahleanna-D@reddit
Oh, Brits are known to do that too, but with different words - and it tends to be cuter.
eris13@reddit
I’ve seen ‘bangs’ getting used instead of fringe, even in hairdressers. :(
Thrilltwo@reddit
It really annoys me how many restaurants - even independent or British chains - have started calling chips "Fries".
Lshamlad@reddit
People saying 'chill' ('I'm chill")
beereviver@reddit
Normalcy
karamazovmybrother@reddit
but normalcy isn't an Americanism
Pokesabre@reddit
"straight up", and "on accident" particularly annoy me, as do "do it quick" rather than 'do it quickly'
Antique-Mission-7310@reddit
Starting a sentence ‘no but why is…’, though perhaps this is just an international influencer thing
World_wanderer12@reddit
Saying the month before the day, everyone seems to do it now. June tenth instead of tenth of June.
Also this is unpopular as one could argue movies are inherently American but I prefer to say film.
Also everything else everyone has already commented
Waits-nervously@reddit
Please join me in my lifelong campaign to normalise, for example, “ten June”.
TankFoster@reddit
I completely agree about this one, it does my tits in.
rndltr@reddit
“On the weekend” or “on Christmas”
yesbutnobutokay@reddit
I'm not keen on sentences like 'this car needs restored' rather than 'this car needs restoring' which seems to be creeping in, especially in advertising copy.
Swimming_Crow_9853@reddit
Invite as a noun
BigOlPristineRange@reddit
Not the language specifically but very irritated at how they write their hesitations online as if they're writing dialogue for a script. We don't need to read "Like," at the beginning of your sentence after you've made a point. Just make your point!
Ecstatic_Effective42@reddit
The one that really gets on my tits is putting a degree on an absolute.
This is more unique This is the most unique thing I've seen.
It's unique or not. It can't be more one of a kind than something else for crying out loud.
jamelfree@reddit
The prevalence for “it was very terrifying” on American YouTube videos irrationally annoys me. ‘Very scary’ is fine, as lots of mild things might be scary in the moment. Terrifying already implies it’s pretty extreme.
madjackslam@reddit
This was my dad's favourite pet peeve (ie, the one he loved to hate!). I'm not convinced it's an Americanism, though. The OED has it used in a London publication from 1792.
thatguysaidearlier@reddit
It's SHed-ule not sKed-ule
carefuldaughter@reddit
the only american who has ever pronounced it like this was rush limbaugh.
PoppetNose@reddit
Pronounced like “school”
thatguysaidearlier@reddit
No hard K sound like school though.
It's either /ˈʃɛdjuːl/ SHED-yool or /ˈʃɛdʒᵿl/ SHEJ-uhl in British English
rndltr@reddit
A “couple things”.
Ivy_Sinclaire@reddit
All of them!
turbo_dude@reddit
All of the management bullshit
NoFewSatan@reddit
Uber to meaning super. Utilise to mean use.
kewl_as_fuck@reddit
That's a Germanism
turbo_dude@reddit
Germ + organism = germanism
WesternUnusual2713@reddit
Uber is German and I remember it getting super cool to use in what, the late 90s/early 00s!
ccj-1996@reddit
Saying 'ass' instead of arse, especially if you come from up north. Doesn't sound right at all
BenRod88@reddit
Wait until you them say ahh instead of ass
ValenciaHadley@reddit
My friend says ass instead of arse, he's got a Cornish accent and it just sounds weird.
DistributionTop1479@reddit
"Gifted".
Oh fuck off. You either gave or received something.
liamrich93@reddit
...as a gift
EmbroidedBumblebee@reddit
One that drove me crazy in lockdown was 'normalcy' The correct word is normality
LuciusGaga@reddit
I wasn’t aware of this one - disgusted and appalled at myself for using it 🤮
Illustrious-Sort-953@reddit
Missing 'a' and 'of' from a sentence i.e. rather than "a couple of weeks ago I saw a friend" it is "couple weeks ago I saw a friend". It's completely irrational but it winds me up so much.
ImpKing0@reddit
Don’t a lot of northerners from like Yorkshire naturally do this? I notice they’ll skip an article.
“I’m going to the town” becomes “I’m going town”. I mean this might be a poor example because I’m a southerner and I will say casually “going town” instead of “I’m going to the town”. Think it’s just casual phrasings right
SoggyWotsits@reddit
Also, “I hate when” instead of “I hate it when”. It’s like they’re rationing letters and words!
jamescisv@reddit
This is mine. I'd just about made my peace with it in speech, but now I'm seeing it in newspapers and books too.
Please, somebody just give me a couple of minutes alone with these copy editors.....
krs360@reddit
Yes, that's top of my (very long) list.
snakeoildriller@reddit
#GOTTEN really grinds my gears 😡
pip_goes_pop@reddit
"Grinds my gears" is an Americanism in itself, I hate it.
Boogaaa@reddit
Same. I hate it.
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
I've seen this mentioned several times but it's such a weird one. "Gotten" was the standard past participle of "get" in English up to the seventeenth century. Shakespeare used gotten (though he also used "got"). Not using "gotten" is actually a Britishism deviating from older English.
Sasspishus@reddit
Gotten isn't even an Americanism though. People have been saying gotten for centuries.
Ok-Middle8656@reddit
It’s gotten out of hand for sure!
(Also: “for sure” !)
Hello_Panda99@reddit
Brits are to blame for that one. You all just don't use it anymore (except regionally).
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
I’m with you 😡
Top-Car-808@reddit
A small amount of creep to the west is understandable.
But when I hear people saying 'sidewalk' or the double 'off' it does sound horrible.
I still hate it when I hear people using 'invite' as a noun.
V8boyo@reddit
Two weeks instead of fortnight.
geometricbeetle@reddit
Saying “Good job” to children when they achieve something.
BenRod88@reddit
Even worse when they’ve achieved nothing
chefshoes@reddit
fries.. no theyre chips
pip_goes_pop@reddit
I know what you're saying, but I tend to think "fries" is a differentiator to mean thin chips.
YeahIKnow_IMadeItUp@reddit
Fries and chips are different. If you don't think so then a roastie is also a chip
chefshoes@reddit
yes but the word is used to describe both.
and crisps are crisps not chips
TheHawkinator@reddit
All fries are chips but not all chips are fries. I tend to use fries when it comes to fast food when they're clearly fries, but otherwise tend to use chip. Also I think variations such as curly or waffle sound better as curly fries or waffle fries than curly chip or waffle chip would.
Easy-Plant-8783@reddit
Every single one of them
This_Suit8791@reddit
This
West-Season-2713@reddit
I am a linguistic descriptivist first and foremost. The distinction between less and fewer is really not that important. No one needs to use ‘whom’. Split every infinite you please.
With that being said, I will not surrender our language to the bloody yanks.
aaarry@reddit
This is exactly how I feel. I studied linguistics and German at uni, and I can speak Spanish quite well too so I have had the whole “prescriptivism is bad” thing drilled into me for ages but I still make an exception to this rule whenever I hear anyone using verbal yank wank in public.
snapper1971@reddit
/thread
deHaga@reddit
Jabroni
steveakacrush@reddit
Agreed
MuayJudo@reddit
Ditto.
EyeSpy1359@reddit
Came here to say the very same!
ImpKing0@reddit
Can you elaborate on “anyways”? I was not aware this was an Americanism
m_leo89@reddit
As an American, I could get annoyed by this. Then I think to myself that you all could be like the French and pretend not to understand us when we don’t use “proper” language.
sophiexjackson@reddit
Taking a shower - you have a shower, not taking it. Getting off of something - just say get off me?
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
“Off of” is standard in Scottish English.
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
Surely ‘getting off of’?
Sufficient-Treat-794@reddit
Haven’t seen “see if we can’t” be mentioned. It’s just too negative for me I’d rather see if I can
Parker_Borders283739@reddit
Uh yeah can i get a yoghurt?
tharrison4815@reddit
I’m not sure if this is American or not but the phrase “I want to say” when trying to remember or guess something really annoys me.
Background_King_3551@reddit
Saying something is off with them. We say food has gone off. I find it weird and quite rude to say it about a person.
Wonderful-Cow-9664@reddit
Skedule. It’s not even a big deal but it’s sad EVERYWHERE and really bloody irritates me 🤣
KiNGJDoGG@reddit
All of them.
NoisyGog@reddit
Things like “more different” along with “different than”.
It just reads/sounds wrong, like a decent effort by a second language user. But so strange for a native English speaker.
Ok-Rain6295@reddit
‘Could care less’ is the only one because it doesn’t make sense. All the others are just differences in language usage- not incorrect, just different.
ByEthanFox@reddit
True, but I've never actually heard a UK person say that (outside of making the example, like David Mitchell's video).
I still remember the first time I heard it, in the original Metal Gear Solid. I remembered wondering if it was a translation error!
Mister_Sith@reddit
Use of program instead of programme for things like 'a programme of work' or 'tv programme', not 'computer program'. I've even seen British companies use the former instead of the latter.
Waste_Locksmith_4299@reddit
All of them.
elbapo@reddit
I dislike that British people - particularly in the online space are rapidly becoming briddish people.
Like say your ts, man. Or at least put in global stops like a proper bri'
Caveman1214@reddit
“Aging”
Ironic.
YeahIKnow_IMadeItUp@reddit
Bri'ish people have been talking like that since that middle ages they have
Cro-magnolia@reddit
'I can't speak to....' then going on to mentuon something that you would speak ABOUT not 'to'. For example "I can't speak to the experience of post- colonial blah de blah de bla...."
We speak to people, Alexa, and maybe the odd robot or animal. General concepts are spoken about, unless you want to sound incredibly pompous. Presumably this is an American import.
Haunting-Incident266@reddit
Gotten, whilst I understand this to be used in old English, it has crept back in due to modern Americanisms creeping into our language. Totally with others on the "can I get" it's please may I have
sarahlovesjourney@reddit
All of them really but obligated just irritates me more. Obliged is just better.
TheRiddlerTHFC@reddit
On accident
Could care less
Hold down the fort
Aluminum
TuffB80@reddit
Addicting
Flyinmanm@reddit
Leftist.
Never heard anyone in the UK use that term before all the US anti woke bs came over here.
Addicting.
Just want to throw my monitor out if a window if I see that used.
Purposely.
Instead of deliberately or on purpose.
Nimble_Natu177@reddit
Default browser language corrections.
Swimming_Crow_9853@reddit
People are saying invite as a noun instead of invitation a lot these days. That's very American. ,e.g. "Thank you for the invite to the party", or "I'll send you an invite to the meeting."
Obvious-Water569@reddit
"Addicting"
I can't help but angrily correct it whenever I see it.
tileadhesive@reddit
I hate this one so much
NuisancePenguin44@reddit
"I forgot my wallet at home"
Hate it so much.
Professer-blue@reddit
One of my kids said “could care less” instead of “couldn’t” and i cant lie it triggered me. I went on a rant and now they say it all the time to wind me up. I’ve learned a lesson.
busytransitgworl@reddit
"line" instead of "queue"
It just bothers me.
Jxlynerah@reddit
The way they write the dates
daniluvsuall@reddit
Center is one that annoys me, it is centre. But that's more spelling than anything..
High school, albeit I have learned that some schools were called high schools here - but referring to secondary education broadly as it really annoys me.
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
"Meter" instead of "metre" is becoming common from what I've seen - all it does is potentially confuse things. Why do Americans insist on changing words to make them LESS clear?
AlucardVTep3s@reddit
“Y’all”
Numerous_Shallot373@reddit
Normalcy. SHUDDER.
AdGroundbreaking3483@reddit
Zee, instead of Zed, in particular right now
Opposite_Radio9388@reddit
"Bias" instead of "biased" and "cliché" instead of "clichéd."
-secretsocietytattoo@reddit
"Can I get a coffee/ whatever.. " I'd like to bring back "may I have.."
Alarmed-Newspaper994@reddit
The correct response for "can I get?" is "no" - the waiter or bar staff or whatever will get it for you, so that you may have it.
TheRealElPolloDiablo@reddit
"Apple cider vinegar"
throwawayinfinitygem@reddit
Parking spot in the parking lot. And gotten, of course.
IndigoQuantum@reddit
I'm not sure of the correct grammatical description of it, but I've started to hear people in the UK talk about having Apple iPhone or driving Ford Focus rather than an Apple iPhone or a Ford Focus.
busytransitgworl@reddit
The iPhone thing is thanks to Apple, I think.
They don't say "the iPhone" or "a MacBook", it's in their design manual and I think it's ridiculous.
Special-Audience-426@reddit
I really hate that they add "at" to where are you?
"Where are you at?" Just sounds like a stupid person asking rudely.
They don't know any better so they're probably doing it on accident rather than by purpose.
GeneralBroccoli9019@reddit
And if you point it out they'd probably say they could care less
Ok-Middle8656@reddit
I’m hearing “gotten” all the time now and it needs to stop. Also “Gen Z” (as in “Gen Zeee”). Also hate “can I get..” when ordering, instead of “could I have” or “I would like”.
But the worst offender for me is “I guess” instead of “I think/suppose/imagine..” - it just makes you seem less educated and intelligent because you’re just guessing instead of reasoning.
TheRealElPolloDiablo@reddit
The Rest Is Politics recently did a special series on Gen Z and I can't listen to it because they say "Gen Zee".
YOU ARE BRITISH. IN BRITISH ENGLISH THE 26TH LETTER OF THE ALPHABET IS PRONOUNCED ZED AAAAHHHHHHHHHH
ThePeake@reddit
I'll say Jay Zee, Dragonball Zee and ZeeZee Top, but think I need to put my foot down on Gen-Zed.
BenRod88@reddit
Gotten, off of, any of the food variations. There’s more but I’ll start to get irrationally angry
snakeoildriller@reddit
"Feeling pissed" when they really mean "pissed off". As a Brit, if I'm pissed, the room is starting to wobble, as am I.
SUMMATMAN@reddit
Had a few Brits say to me that the American version of this is widely used recently. When tf did that happen? Pissed is drunk, pissed OFF is angry!
DiabolicallyOrange@reddit
I've noticed more people using "could care less" instead of "couldn't care less" and it always irritates me!
You're trying to show you don't care at all. If you "could care less" then you have at least some degree of caring to begin with, meaning you do care!
New_Cap3283@reddit
“Math”. It’s Mathematics or Maths
EasyCheesecake1@reddit
Can I get a latte?
No. No. You can't get one. You don't work there.
TheRealElPolloDiablo@reddit
Gen Zee
Rbullen3@reddit
Could care less
AromaticVacation3077@reddit
The 'feds'
RowRow1990@reddit
Could care less.
I can't stand it.
LazyLady68@reddit
'a bunch of' for any grouping
Spottyjamie@reddit
Skedule
thickwhiteduck@reddit
Bruh
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
"Complicated" when someone means "complex". And all the other forms Americans use to make words longer than they need to be because they think long words sound clevererer.
RealWalkingbeard@reddit
Expiration. Addicting.
I don't know which version came first. Maybe it varies with the word. Do I care? Nuh!
IndigoQuantum@reddit
People adding 'already' to the end of stuff, like "enough already", "stop already", "do it already". They just come across as a 12 year old who's been watching too much Friends
mailywhale@reddit
All of them except canola oil. They’ve undeniably won there
CmdretteZircon@reddit
Ngl, as an American I was blown away by ‘a field of rape’ when I first moved here. Even rapeseed is a bit icky but of course I use it now.
ConfusedMaverick@reddit
What?
There's nothing wrong with rape!
LeonsFloppyHair@reddit
'Can I get?'
Shops marketing t-shirts as tees
loveyouronions@reddit
One I don’t hear talked about much is ‘whenever’ in place of ‘when’, e.g. ‘whenever I went to load the car, there was an iguana on the windshield’. I always find that one odd.
the_jaynerator@reddit
"Can I get" - i refuse to use this term and always lead with "please can I have"
InnocentInvasion@reddit
Right wing left wing politics
Petrichor_ness@reddit
I have a few American clients I talk to on Slack, it's not the language per se that I struggle with, it's just the enthusiasm in general.
11:00am on Tue is too early for so many flashing emojis.
tetlee@reddit
"Headed"
"An historic"
Snecklad@reddit
All of them. But especially 'slaw'. That one really fucks me off and I don't even like coleslaw.
Also not American but 'Sando'.
Maybe I need to get a life.
Lammtarra95@reddit
Third year anniversary instead of third anniversary.
datguysadz@reddit
God this thread is infuriating me. So many I hate.
Speaking 'on' something rather than speaking 'about' is one I've noticed more recently. Also 'Tottenham is shit' instead of 'Tottenham are shit'.
Anyone who uses 'y'all' under any circumstances... urgh
Normal-Internal164@reddit (OP)
Literally just talking about that with my brother. A massive gripe!!
0901Boi@reddit
Some people really need to touch grass. Quite a significant part of Americanisms are actually the proper use of British English we no longer (emphasis on no longer) use. Just because you lack the ability to conjugate does not mean that “gotten” is wrong.
KingKhram@reddit
Literally and super
nextmilanhome@reddit
I really hate when people use “like” in the same sentence as “how”, such as “this is how it feels like” or “this is how it would have sounded like”. You use “like” if you’re saying “what” (“this is what it feels like”) but not if you’re saying “how” (“this is how it feels”)
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
I find it far more enjoying when people complain about supposed “Americanisms” that are actually standard in regional varieties spoken in the UK.
Sweet_Focus6377@reddit
Finishing sentences with already for emphasis
MrTickles22@reddit
Anything relating to US politics.
Suspicious_Put_5063@reddit
‘a.m in the morning’. STOP IT
idonthavebroadband@reddit
Gotten is a bit pedantic. If it's good enough for Shakespeare it's good enough for me.
veryordinarybloke@reddit
'named for' instead of ''named after '
ismawurscht@reddit
Gotten, restroom and douchebag. Americans can't swear to save their lives, and I don't care for the puritanical sanitised term for toilet. Call it what it is or go even more ridiculous and call it a "retiring room".
Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit
All of them 100%
IndigoQuantum@reddit
I've started to see 'A £xxx value' rather than 'worth £xxx' appear in the UK. I mean WTF?
BerlinSam@reddit
You Guys...
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
You would hate me saying y'all 😅
Particular-Bet8730@reddit
‘Can I get’ when ordering food. Always strikes me as bizarrely rude and, this may seem an exaggeration, non-human?
porcelain_toenail@reddit
People who pronounce beta as "bayta". It sounds so wrong and I cringe whenever someone says it with an English accent.
IndigoQuantum@reddit
And 'Darta' instead of data
andyone100@reddit
‘Hard agree’, hard disagree’, and any of the other related phrases that confuse me.
Also, ‘I could care less’ wtf!
Blearyhyde@reddit
All of it!
OwnRhubarb3075@reddit
Personally, I think 'gotten' is really beautiful. Forget (present), forgot (preterit), forgotten (present perfect), => get, got, gotten. I mean why not.
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
Ox -> oxen so box -> boxen and fox -> foxen.
mumble mumble something cox -> coxswain mumble
aaarry@reddit
All of them.
oh_f-f-s@reddit
All of them
Ikr_12@reddit
when ppl say bozo
Remarkable_Clue_9084@reddit
Cart instead of shopping trolley
AllTheRubbish@reddit
Americanizm
Upstairs_Hope_2297@reddit
Super
frogfoot420@reddit
Any that feel disrespectful / mannerless. The rest don't really bother me.
Rico1983@reddit
I could care less, to be honest.
MJLDat@reddit
r/angryupvote
notthedoodaa@reddit
All of them!
Single-Position-4194@reddit
The one I dislike most is the word "junk" for the male genitals. Women would never allow any part of their bodies to be described in that way.
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