Generation X, the cohort sandwiched between the baby boomers and millennials, has been quite vocal lately about their concerns regarding the grammatical skills of younger generations, namely millennials and Gen Z. They’ve identified a plethora of grammatical issues that, from their perspective, tend to be rather vexing and troublesome. This article will delve into these linguistic challenges and explore why they’ve become such hot-button topics for Generation X.
Txt Spk Is Da Wrst!
“I don’t know what it is about our generation that makes us hold on to proper written communication,” muses one Gen Xer, who also points fingers at baby boomers for their questionable grammar in texting. They confess, “I can’t help but text the way I write, you know, full sentences spelled correctly.” Expressing their dismay, they compare some people’s texts to “the SMS equivalent of the crayon-written nonsensical scribbles and misspellings of a 5-year-old.” For this Gen Xer, clear and correct communication remains a priority, even in the world of texting.
Join Us or Say Goodbye Cursive
A commenter implores the Gen X community not to tell the original poster “about what’s going on with cursive.” Another person adds, “My 25-year-old son can read cursive, but my 18-year-old stepson cannot. Some time in between the two, they reduced the cursive curriculum in our area.”
There Always Making Spelling Mistakes
“They’re/their/there and too/to/two” stand out as some of the most egregious grammar mistakes younger generations tend to make, according to one commenter. They remark that constructing a sentence like “They’re too lazy to retrieve their two balls that landed over there” seems daunting for many from the younger generations. The confusion surrounding these homophones and their incorrect usage continues to raise concerns about language proficiency among the youth, at least in the eyes of this particular commenter.
This Royal Throne of Kings, This Sceptred Aisle
The misuse of words like “isle” instead of “aisle” is a commenter’s most significant linguistic annoyance, closely followed by the error of saying “being apart” when they should be saying “a part.” They emphasize that these common mix-ups can be pretty frustrating when encountered in written or spoken communication. Another user humorously chimes in, saying, “Gilligan walked down the isle a lot,” playfully highlighting the error while referencing the fictional character’s frequent misadventures.
No Paragraph Breaks
“The worst is a wall of text with no paragraph breaks,” emphatically states one Gen Xer. They, like many from their generation, find it exceptionally irksome when encountering a continuous stream of text devoid of any paragraph breaks. Such a monolithic text block can be visually overwhelming and challenging to digest, making it a readability nightmare. The absence of paragraph breaks hampers the reader’s ability to navigate and comprehend the content efficiently. It’s no wonder that this Gen Xer laments this particular formatting issue, as it disrupts the flow of information and makes for a less enjoyable reading experience. In an age of information overload, proper formatting and readability are paramount for effective communication.
Be Weary
Indeed, one person comments, “Yes, Gen X is the last generation to care about grammar,” they express concern that the state of grammar seems to be deteriorating “by the year.” They highlight a specific error that frequently appears online, where “weary” is mistakenly used instead of the correct term, “wary,” especially when describing a sense of suspicion. This individual shares the sentiment that preserving good grammar is becoming increasingly important, especially in the digital age.
Breaks on a Car
One commenter proudly emphasizes that “good grammar is a way to identify ourselves,” specifically referring to Gen X. They express frustration over common errors like using “defiantly” instead of “definitely,” mixing up “breaks” and “brakes” in the context of car maintenance, and the confusion between “peeked/peaked my interest” and the correct term “piqued.” These grammar pet peeves serve as clear markers of linguistic distinction for this Gen Xer, who values precise language usage as a generational identifier.
Goodbye, Oxford Comma
The potential demise of the Oxford comma leaves one Gen Xer feeling quite strongly about it, stating, “mad, angry, and sad.” This punctuation mark, which separates items in a list, holds significance for them, and they express a range of emotions concerning its diminishing usage. The Oxford comma debate remains a topic that sparks passionate opinions, and this Gen Xer is no exception, firmly advocating for its continued relevance.
CAPITALS ALL ROUND
One commenter points out that using all capital letters for everyday words is a common grammar mistake they’ve noticed among millennials and Gen Zers. They exemplify this by saying, “It was a damp and chilly afternoon, so I decided to put on MY SWEATSHIRT!” The emphasis on “MY SWEATSHIRT” in all caps underscores their frustration with this typographical choice, highlighting the importance of proper capitalization in written communication.
Should What?
The misuse of “should of” instead of the correct “should have” is a grammar error that deeply frustrates a Gen Xer. Additionally, they find it bothersome when younger generations incorrectly interchange “your” and “you’re.” These common language mishaps are on their radar, and they are eager to emphasize the importance of proper grammar, especially in the case of these frequently mixed-up phrases.
A Pacific Example
A Gen Xer who originally penned the witty one-liner “I took that for granite” ignited a chain reaction among commenters. One person humorously inquired, “Can you give me a pacific example?”. At the same time, another playfully remarked, “I see what you did their.” These amusing wordplay instances illustrate how minor language slip-ups can lead to lighthearted banter, showing that even Generation X can find humor in grammar and spelling mishaps.
Loudness Wars!!!!!
“It’s like the loudness wars in the recording industry but for text,” remarks a Gen Xer, sharing their thoughts on the excessive use of exclamation points. They find it puzzling that anyone would be excessively enthusiastic, especially regarding mundane tasks like paying for dry cleaning. The comparison to the recording industry’s loudness wars adds a touch of humor to their observation, highlighting their perspective on this text-related issue.
Taking Advise
For one Gen Xer, a pet peeve that drives them absolutely mad is when people confuse the words “advise” and “advice.” To them, it’s crystal clear that these two words aren’t interchangeable. They’re eager to convey this message to millennials and Gen Z. The distinction between the verb “advise” and the noun “advice” remains a significant linguistic concern for this Gen X representative. They’re determined to set the record straight.
You’re Such a Looser
The persistent mix-up between “loosing” and “losing” serves as a considerable source of irritation for many within Generation X. One commenter humorously points out, “You sound like a real looser,” shedding light on this widespread mistake. This grammatical pet peeve holds a prominent place in the list of concerns for Gen Xers, regularly fueling discussions and even eliciting some lighthearted laughter in the context of online conversations where the battle against grammar gaffes rages on.
Apostrophe Sadness
The excessive and insufficient use of apostrophes truly gets under the skin of many Generation X individuals. “It’s a shame that they don’t give grammar its due,” lamented one participant in the online forum that ignited a discussion, drawing nearly 1,000 comments on Gen X’s frustration with grammatical errors. Another commenter humorously said, “I see what you did there.”
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