Bring and take

[alicambs]

Is anyone else beginning to wonder if the words 'take' and taken' have got lost somewhere in the ether? I am reading the word 'bring' and brought' used when I expect to read 'take' and 'taken'. I recall my son saying "I'll bring that to Uni" and I said quite defintely (being the pedantic mum I am), "No, love, you'll take it to Uni but you could ask

Comments

[byslantedlight]

Oh gawd, I know... I've not especially noticed that one, but I probably don't have those kinds of conversations much at the moment... *g* There's so many other kinds of changes that I want to bash my head against things though. Academic writers starting sentences with "Besides..." in formal writing is one of my bugbears, meaning "In addition" or even "As well as"... For chatting, yes, but not formal writing - until the day I give in and stop correcting it cos I've seen it too often in other academic journal articles...

I think they're picking it up when they learn English from places outside formal lessons, and not realising that it's only used in some situations - then native English speakers whose strength isn't actually written English pick it up in the same way, cos they're being asked to write their own reports etc. instead of having them knocked into shape by secretaries in between writing and submission, and the more of that is out there, the more often it's copied...

...and that's even before you get the spellcheck in Word etc that says it's correcting into UK English, but is actually perfectly accepting of half the Americanisms out there... *sighs* *shuts up* *goes to work correcting more English*... *g*

[alicambs]

I'm rather glad I don't have your job! My red pen would be exhausted. :-)