That’s it, I give up….

I’m with you Kate54 sets my teeth on edge !

I quite agree Kate. It is poor coming from a TV news reader. They, of all people, ought to know the difference.

It annoys me, too. I worked for a headteacher who would always say "Hens lay" when someone got it wrong. Consequently I made a point of not making that mistake!

I find that the writers of articles on the BCC News website frequently make grammatical errors but complaining about it is well nigh impossible. On the other hand the Kindle editors must be fed up with errors I point out to them!

Thank you Kate .
It does grate.

Yes, it has been irritating me all week.

And I suppose she has been laying in state.

Was going tp make a 'joke' in past tense- but not appropriate in the circumstances.

Yes this annoys me too. Does nobody proofread anymore!

Maybe the proofreaders (if any) are equally clueless, MarinaL.
I’ve known the odd person with a degree in English who still makes the odd basic mistake, never mind e.g. not knowing the difference between disinterested and uninterested, discreet/discrete, etc.

Our local newsfeed is full of ' had went,I seen, they done 'etc . No proofreading.

That one grates on me too, Kate54, as do the ones in Witzend's post. This sort of error seems almost to be normal now on the media. I know it is the language gradually changing and adapting as it has always done, but I still don't like it!

This came up on Facebook this morning and my husband said “just like you”.

The ever increasing use of the word 'of' instead of have, drives me to distraction.

Another battle lost sodapop I fear. However, listened to the ITV news at 10 last night and ‘lay’ had been changed to ‘rest’ so there is some hope!

Springs eternal Kate54

One that irritates me is "10 items or less" in supermarkets.

i don't think it is a matter of proofreading.
it is lack of knowledge and a gathering shift in the importance attached to such things.
basically, they don't care. they being anybody under about 50 years of age. including officials.
look at the use of floor for outdoor ground.
it's everywhere. education makes no difference.

It has become so common that I think it will soon be the accepted form. I blame pop song lyrics.
The other mistake that bothers me is ".....for you and I " instead of ".....for you and me" - again in so many pop songs!

Now I lay me down to sleep? Just got me wondering.

Oh, no one says ‘me’ any more! Forget the rules of English grammar, ‘myself’ apparently sounds ‘better’….

Yesterday a BBC reporter referred to the people having to finishing filing past the Queen’s coffin as needing to finish ‘in time for the Queen to be cleared away’. As though she were the remnants of a meal.

heard this am on the commentary, re her late majesty,
her and her sister margaret used to go...;
instead of, she and her sister...
that one sounds obvious and simple to me.
similarly one hears so much of,
me and my brother went to...;
and contrary-wise one often hears,
thank you for the gifts you gave to my wife and i. !
i guess if they don't care, it doesn't matter. does it?

oh GSM ! i've given up with the BBC.
that is beyond the pale.
or as they'd probably say, the bucket.

Kalu - I think "Lay me down" is correct because you are placing your body on the bed.
I blame Bob Dylan for "Lay lady Lay". I always pictured a huge hen.