'for free'

Hello MaizieD and welcome. Using "for free" annoys me too. It is either free or for x amount. I know exactly how you feel.

I think it is an americanism.

One of my late Scottish granny's favourite sayings was that something was "free, gratis and for nothing"!

Alea I say it. But I'm not your granny. It's usually when I point out that plates should be used when DH is walking through the house with a shedding sandwich.

I'm glad I'm not the only one, then

My Mum used to say 'free, gratis and for nothing' too. (note: not 'for free, gratis etc.)

I first saw 'for free' in the 1970s with Richard Mabey's 'Food For Free' but it didn't catch on then. Why has it suddenly popped up all over the place 40 years later, and why is Gransnet, who really ought to know better, using it?

Money for nothing, chicks for free... As the Dire Straits song goes.Yes, it's an Americanism, one of many that swim over here across the wide Atlantic.

I cant stand "park up". Why can't people just park their cars?

"shedding sandwich"



Love that, stansgran. Consider it purloined for use in my house.

Although, if you have a dog, it will soon be hoovered up!

As for the phrase "for free"... shrug. Use it if you like it. Don't if you don't. Get all het up about americanisms if you want to; don't if you're more relaxed about how the English language is used on another continent and then, as roses said, swims over here.

I don't agree that it's incorrect. Not any more. Not since that Dire Straits song.

I bet phrases Shakespeare used sometimes annoyed people back then. Shrug again.

Why on earth would the fact that Dire Straits sang it make it now 'correct'?

Because Dire Straits are cool.

Maybe not "correct" Maizie but perhaps accepted? By some , at least, can't say I like the phrase though! (Songs alright)

Seems to me that a great deal of space in Pedants' Corner is used for people to complain about how other people speak even when the meaning of what is being said is perfectly clear. I thought pedantry was to discuss uses (usages?) of language that made meaning unclear. Pedantry isn't really just personal preference nit-picking, is it?

Actually nitpicking is probably right. As you were with your nitpicking. #pedantryforfree!

I think I was thinking of a grammarian rather than a pedant.

There are a lot of very easily irritated people about, 'twould seem.

And we haven't even started on Scottish-isms yet, or Welsh-isms or Nothern Ireland -isms.

Or Cornish -isms, or Norfolk-isms, or.........

Wow thatbags - can't believe you were nearly being pedantic about pedantry!

Only nearly, j10? Rats! Another failure to chalk up.

You did retrieve it. Write out must try harder 100 times!

I had supper last night with a friend who has just returned from a convention in Los Angeles. She told me that one event was 'so fun' and I felt like screaming!

Americanisms must be as catching as the bubonic plague.

It was fun. Tick.
It was enjoyable. Tick.
It was so enjoyable! Tick.
It was so fun! Apparently no tick. Why not?

Nobody ever said English grammar was consistent or even logical. We just know when it sounds wrong!