How to live with a pedant?

FranP

Is it an older man thing?

Mine never used to be like it, but he is becoming embarrassing. e.g I could say something like "it happened about six months ago", and he will then say "you are wrong, it was 7 months ago"

I just had the ultimate, having found the front door open and the lid of the tea caddy beside the kettle rather than on the caddy, 'well, it wasn't me'.

You have to laugh.

Is it an older man thing?

Mine never used to be like it, but he is becoming embarrassing. e.g I could say something like "it happened about six months ago", and he will then say "you are wrong, it was 7 months ago"

Sarnia

Smile at him and pat him on the head.

I will try that with mine. Thanks for the idea

Aveline

My husband thought it was hilarious. I thought it was hilarious that he thought that. Total lack of self awareness!

I had that reaction too though it was tempered by an awkward 'were you thinking of me?'
I'm married to a published historian and this morning I got a long lecture about the history of Chinese-US relationships, he doesn't mean it, bless him, but it's like being married to an encyclopedia sometimes! I was eating my breakfast and I just wanted a quick reply!

My husband thought it was hilarious. I thought it was hilarious that he thought that. Total lack of self awareness!

I wonder what her husband thought of that poem?

Romola

Thank you for the wonderful verse by Pam Ayres. It made me howl with laughter.
Emilymaria, just read it to him!

But make sure you say Gaddafi, not Gaddafia - or he be off on one again...

I too love Pam Ayres' poetry. So on the ball.

Try reading the book ‘The Let Them Theory’ by Mel Robbins. “If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words—Let Them—will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others.” Just let him, smile sweetly and ignore him. Good luck!

Ho ho ho - thank you for this, Adeline! Change it to left wing and it’s him. And as for the earlier question ‘why did you marry him?’ - the answer needs a long evening and several bottles of wine. He is also generous, kind, supportive, extremely intelligent- and emotionally dependent on me - but, yes, he has driven a few of my friends away. I have to keep reminding myself that nobody, particularly myself, is perfect. Thanks for your thoughts everyone

I’m all for people having and giving considered opinion's, however experience, knowledge and an evidence base should be a prerequisite when expressing this. It appears that many people are mirroring their mobile phones by exhibiting regular auto-correct behaviour without consideration.
It’s frustrating enough on a mobile where this can be turned off. Does your husband by any chance have an off switch somewhere. In the words of Shirley Valentine tell him to talk to the wall. Perhaps you could suggest he joins a debating or conversation group. Good luck

Thank you for the wonderful verse by Pam Ayres. It made me howl with laughter.
Emilymaria, just read it to him!

Oh dear. When you married Mr Right, I bet you didn’t realise that his first name was Always 😃

My husband does this and when challenged says I do the same. There is correcting a mistake and making you feel small. Why do we have to be 100% correct 100% of the time when we are just chatting? Yes it makes them feel good . I hate more than anything when he does it in front of someone, I feel belittled and when I mention it later he just looks at me!

Yes to Aely

Come on SORES please explain the Pisces reference.

WithNobsOnIt

Just looked up this poem and it is hilarious.Really miss Pam Ayres she was brilliant. Very talented.

The Queen of Everyday Poetry

She’s still alive - and performing!

Just looked up this poem and it is hilarious.Really miss Pam Ayres she was brilliant. Very talented.

The Queen of Everyday Poetry

keepingquiet

I only have a question, not an answer.

Why did you marry him?

More to the point. Why don't you stay with this awful man?

Oh dear! I recognise myself in this. It’s hard to change; once a pedant always a pedant.

And to prove it I had to check to see if the ; was correct or if should I have used a : ?

When my hubby tries this trick I put on the whiney voice of Harry Enfield character Mr Chormondley-Warner. ‘You don’t want to do it like that, you want to do it like this’ … he soon shuts up 😂

Has he always been like this, or is it something new?

If this behaviour has only recently cropped up, tell him you dislike it and ask him to stop it.

If this does not work, then there probably is not much you can do about it, but you might be wise to consider whether other aspects if his behaviour are or have changed recently.

If he has always tended to do this, but you did not mention how long you have been married, then I doubt you can do anything about it now.

I was married to one of those. I just started to say OK to every argument. Drove him mad I found it rather funny.

I have a very, ahem, adult strategy to cope with this bully:-

1. Tell him to shut the eff up.

2. Tell him to stick his 'opinions' where the sun don't shine.

3. Divorce him.

4. As you said he's moved you to manslaughter, 'unalive' him.

Sorted 🤣

Emilymaria

Almost every political or intellectual comment I make is corrected, questioned or reinterpreted by my husband. I rise to levels approaching aggression. I’m a graduate, an author and teacher. How to cope? Suggestions that exclude manslaughter, please???

Go to google, get a correct and verified answer EVERY single time he does this, eventually he will stop arguing the toss as you read out the answer !!

Aely definitely has the right idea. 👍👍