"I could care less" and more goofs

[karolinka]

What a fun thread this is! I don't have any of my own to add, but I've heard some in the past that have been written about here already. Thanks!

[lucymn11]

My son said one the other day while he was playing basketball: "out of bounce!", instead of "out of bounds". I didn't correct him, I loved it!

That's a funny one! I see why he said "bounce", it makes some sense.

[ramblinggnomes]

I'm so glad I've found this post! Hearing 'I could care less' has been driving me mad. I was starting to doubt myself and was wondering if it was some American/British English difference. Now I couldn't care less if someone tries to correct me on this one again!

[E_MarMatt95]

Grammar goofs really irk me. When the words wander and wonder are switched in context or defiantly is used in place of definitely. I've also read "mute point" instead of "moot point". I will literally stop reading if "there" is used to encompass all of the ways to spell (they're, there, and their) or if your and you're is used incorrectly.

[MrsCatInTheHat]

I will literally stop reading if "there" is used to encompass all of the ways to spell (they're, there, and their) or if your and you're is used incorrectly.

It drives me crazy when my phone autocorrects me and puts in the wrong there, their, they're.... and I don't notice it until it has gone out, making me look stupid.

[mjames20]

I hate when people mistake literal for figurative and vice versa. And I can't tell you what a joy being multilingual is for many reasons, not least of which is learning all sorts of idioms!

[DATo]

Here's a goof that my husband informed me of that I have said. Only, I'm not so sure I'm wrong. Maybe someone could shed light on this.
"It's a down hill battle from here" instead of "Its an up hill battle from here" meaning it will be easier from here on out. I point out that it is easier to travel down a hill than up a hill. So I say "It's all down hill from here" My husband says that I'm saying this backwards.

Actually I think you could use it in either contest (<-- hee, hee, hee) with accuracy. An uphill battle suggests that things are going to get harder and a downhill battle suggests just the opposite; therefore, the situational context in which the phrase is chosen would define the meaning.

My son scored exceptionally well on his SAT tests. It should now be a downhill battle to get him into a good university.

Mom caught me coming in late after curfew. It's now going to be an uphill battle to talk her into letting me go to the party on Saturday night.

[Zeenada]

Using "could of" instead of "could've" always bugs me. This is by no means news but Allie Brosh wrote a blog post about the Alot and ever since reading that "alot" has been my favourite goof to come across.

[MsMartha]

Using "could of" instead of "could've" always bugs me. This is by no means news but Allie Brosh wrote a blog post about the Alot and ever since reading that "alot" has been my favourite goof to come across.

"Could of" would bug me, too--because "could've" means "could have". I think when this is done incorrectly, somebody is thinking more about how it sounds than what it means.

[abhishek7081]

didn't knew that this phrase is so easy to get wrong... you all are clearing up my doubts...thanks for this..

[Serena_Charlotte]

I recently read an online novel that was updated every week. The author had not been able to update on one of those weeks and so she posted a "snip-it", rather than a snippet. I just found that extremely amusing.

[Yolanda Denise]

One goof I often hear from people is "Where is ______ at?"

When people ask where someone or something is at, it's a little bothersome.

[adampaarma_1]

Thats good.

[WordHound]

I'm a writing tutor, so I seen tons of goofs like this. I saw "patience" instead of "patients" the other day.

[Antares]

My favorite one is 'I seen it the other day.' makes me want to kill someone!