As the new year approaches and we think back on the happy times of the past year, the sunsets, the laughs, the puppy dogs, and look forward to the new even better, lovely, adorable, and fun year to come, I take this time to COMPLAIN LOUDLY AND ANGRILY (or at least in all caps).
Here’s a HUGE pet peeve of mine:

The year, 2008, should be pronounced, “two thousand eight” or perhaps if you’re weird, “twenty oh eight” but NOT “two thousand and eight.”

It seems that British schools may be teaching their children to say the “and.” What do I say to that: “It’s just plain wrong!” The word “and” should not be said when speaking dates, or hymn numbers, or page numbers.

Mrs. Jones, my authoritative first grade teacher taught me about this, and she taught me good. Mrs. Jones said, “Only use the word “and” in a number when it refers to a decimal. (e.g. “159.57 is one hundred fifty-nine AND fifty-seven hundredths)

Ministers make this mistake all the time when they announce hymns. They’ll say, “The hymn is three hundred and sixty-eight.” If the say this, they are wrong. It would then be appropriate for the congregation to scream the correct hymn number in the correct way and refuse to sing until grammar justice prevails.

The hymn is “three hundred sixty-eight.” What’s with the “and?” It’s extraneous, confusing, and improper. Why? Because I’m American, and Mrs. Jones said so.

And while I’m at it, please pronounce dates after 2009 (that’s two thousand nine with no “and”) in the way we’ve been speaking for years.

2010 is twenty ten NOT two thousand ten
“Two thousand ten” is lengthy, silly, unsustainable, and just plain wrong.

If you haven’t heard of Grammar Girl, check her out here. Her most recent show is on dates. She’s generally pretty good, when she’s not WRONG!

Ok, caps lock off. I feel better now. Must calm down…