Common English Blunders

“400 Pair of Copper Wiring”

Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Number

I saw this in a company presentation.

Problem:
“Pair” is a singular noun being used incorrectly as a plural noun.

Explanation:
Two of anything together is a single pair. Multiples of this means multiple pairs. Note, however, that if you were talking about the size of a cable, then it would be correct to say, “a 400-pair cable“; note the hyphen, which joins “400” and “pair” to form a modifier of “cable”. Similarly, “a twenty-foot ladder” would be correct, and “twenty foot of ladder” would be incorrect.

I also believe that use of “pair” instead of “pairs” helps to prove my “Devolution toward Simpler” linguistic hypothesis. It is simpler to say “pair” than to say “pairs”.

Solution:
“400 Pairs of Copper Wiring“

“The cases display below the search criteria.”

Common English Blunders, Verbs

I saw this in a training manual.

Problem:
“Display” and “Appear” are not interchangeable.

Explanation:
Use “display” when something is displaying something else.

“Display” Examples:
Incorrect: “The faces display on the screen.”
Correct: “The faces display anger on the screen.”

Use “appear” when something is not displaying something else.

“Appear” Examples:
Incorrect: “The faces appear anger on the screen.”
Correct: “The faces appear on the screen.”

Solution:
“The cases appear below the search criteria.”

“I could care less.”

Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Self-negation

I frequently hear this.

Problem:
“I could care less” is the opposite of what is meant.

Explanation:
“I could care less” means that it is possible (“could”) for me to care less. This means that I do care at least a little. When people say, “I could care less,” what they want to say is that they have absolutely no care for whatever the target of their statement is. The only way that this is possible is for them not to be able (“couldn’t”) to care less.

I also believe that omission of “not” (or its contracted form) helps to prove my “Devolution toward Simpler” linguistic hypothesis. It is simpler to say “could” than to say “couldn’t”.

Solution:
“I couldn’t care less.”