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Speakers of non-English languages, what common mistakes do native speakers make that drive you crazy? (infosec.pub)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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For example, English speakers commonly mix up your/you're or there/their/they're. I'm curious about similar mistakes in other languages.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Thank you! I often feel the urge to use "less" before a countable noun despite knowing that I'm supposed to use "fewer." Good to know that it isn't just me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I see your point, but my personal view is that I like order. I don't even care too much about specific kind of order. Chaotic-looking things can also be in-order (my favourite example is Vietnamese traffic).

I would argue at least is not equal to the least. It's a different word, despite being spelt the same. There are a few examples like that which, unfortunately, escape me at the moment.

Also, don't mean any offence, but text is difficult to relay that - I've literally loled at you mispelling grammar in the sentence talking about grammar and spelling :D

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I'm actually with you - building out our plural system would be a satisfying direction for English to go. Unfortunately, I don't see "at fewest" catching on. Maybe I'll try it out a few.

If you look at non-standard dialects of English, it seems like the most natural thing is for the aspect system to grow out as the language evolves further (and unfortunately lose some of it's symmetries).