'for free'

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?

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

Because Dire Straits are cool.

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

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.

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

"shedding sandwich"



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

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

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'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?

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.

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

I think it is an americanism.

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