Could everyone on the internet get off it right now because my internet is slow.
kthxbye.
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I really hate the expression “Off of” like in that sentence above, it would be written:
Could everyone on the internet get off of it right now because my internet is slow.
We don’t NEED that extra word there. It doesn’t make MORE sense to put that word there. It’s decidedly an American expression but it’s permeating into our unadulterated Australian/English language!
Oh and another one – “in and of itself”
I don’t know if that one is American English but it’s also a pet hate of mine. See, the way I was taught we would use the expression like so: “…which is not a problem in itself but….”
but nowadays I’m hearing this abomination:
which is not a problem in and of itself…
IN AND OF? IN AND OF? Just read that there. IN AND OF? Can something be IN AND OF?
I am not saying that it’s incorrect (like I’m the Professor in English language and linguistics) but it just annoys me no end. So the ofs get put in where they probably don’t belong like some nosy neighbour or meddling auntie but then there’s the of that is like the absent uncle, who never turns up when he is invited to family gatherings.
I say, “a couple of things..”
I’ve heard it and I’ve read it like this
“couple things”
So I think we really need to sort this out once and for all. Is of invited to the party or is he bound to stay at home all by his lonesome? We can’t keep sending the invites and then get angry when he turns up!
OVER AND OF OUT!
