Pedants' Paradise

[Serial_Apologist]

'sign off on' - e.g. ...he was going to sign off on the deal with the EU....

Why not just sign off?

Or even just sign?

It sounds more like he was going to refrain from signing the deal!

[french frank]

'sign off on' - e.g. ...he was going to sign off on the deal with the EU....

Why not just sign off?

Or even just sign?

I was just this morning puzzled by the BBC headline: "Ukraine vigil: Helen Mirren tears up reciting poem in London". First I misread 'teers up" as 'tares up'. Then I wondered why we have been hearing about so much 'tearing up' in recent times. Another Americanism according to the OED. 'To tear', meaning to shed tears, to weep is 'Obsolete or dialect'. 'To tear up' only has three examples, two earlier ones (1941 and 1977) both American, and a third from 2018 in The Times ("At Heathrow arrivals, I find myself tearing up as I watch people greet each other.").

Am I wrong in having the impression this has started to be used, as the BBC example, quite frequently?

[oddoneout]

I was just this morning puzzled by the BBC headline: "Ukraine vigil: Helen Mirren tears up reciting poem in London". First I misread 'teers up" as 'tares up'. Then I wondered why we have been hearing about so much 'tearing up' in recent times. Another Americanism according to the OED. 'To tear', meaning to shed tears, to weep is 'Obsolete or dialect'. 'To tear up' only has three examples, two earlier ones (1941 and 1977) both American, and a third from 2018 in The Times ("At Heathrow arrivals, I find myself tearing up as I watch people greet each other.").

Am I wrong in having the impression this has started to be used, as the BBC example, quite frequently?

Yes, I had to read that again, having initially interpreted it as Helen Mirren ripping up a poem, for reasons which might become clear if I could be bothered to read the article. And yes, it has become quite frequently used.

[smittims]

It seems to be another example of something I've noticed more and more recently: people apparently just not thinking about the meaning of what they say. I wonder if lack of education is the problem.

[french frank]

Yes, I had to read that again, having initially interpreted it as Helen Mirren ripping up a poem, for reasons which might become clear if I could be bothered to read the article.

Yes, "What is a 'reciting poem'?", I wondered. I imagine the media has a more than usual mingling of British and American journalists, plus travel between the two countries. The Guardian also comes up with American usage quite often - even the other day the -or ending for -our ('behavior'). I have to check that I am reading the UK edition. Just observations, you understand, just observations

[kernelbogey]

I was just this morning puzzled by the BBC headline: "Ukraine vigil: Helen Mirren tears up reciting poem in London". ...
Am I wrong in having the impression this has started to be used, as the BBC example, quite frequently?

I think it originates as an Amercianism, and is becoming more common. I might use it to indicate an emotion-driven watering of the eyes, as opposed to 'crying' or 'weeping', both of which suggest to me copious tears, the former probably with some noise.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

It seems to be another example of something I've noticed more and more recently: people apparently just not thinking about the meaning of what they say. I wonder if lack of education is the problem.

That may be the problem, but it might also be down to a lack of filtering before saying or writing something - or laziness if that's what I should call it.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I think it originates as an Amercianism, and is becoming more common. I might use it to indicate an emotion-driven watering of the eyes, as opposed to 'crying' or 'weeping', both of which suggest to me copious tears, the former probably with some noise.

I would have read it in the sense of ripping up and wondered whether she was protesting or something. Maybe I've been watching/listening to too little American media - ha, discuss! - recently, but I can't recall ever hearing that verb thus used. Of course, today I will hear it every ten seconds.

[french frank]

I might use it to indicate an emotion-driven watering of the eyes, as opposed to 'crying' or 'weeping', both of which suggest to me copious tears, the former probably with some noise.

You might also be using it in the modern, American way having heard it used more frequently lately? Or have you been using it for years (in which case I would wonder why the OED has no earlier recorded British example than 2018).

When Americanisms creep in, it's generally because people have heard a word or phrase and are unaware it's an Americanism (train station, cook book etc). Again, just an observation: it's one of the ways language evolves. In 50 years time we'll probably all be using our Americanisms in our habitual American accents!

[oddoneout]

Yes, "What is a 'reciting poem'?", I wondered. I imagine the media has a more than usual mingling of British and American journalists, plus travel between the two countries. The Guardian also comes up with American usage quite often - even the other day the -or ending for -our ('behavior'). I have to check that I am reading the UK edition. Just observations, you understand, just observations

Need for speed, dependence on the superficial and formulaic response (including the adoption of the latest phrase or term regardless of its relevance or suitability) and an assumption that "it" (your device, software, IT) will clean up any mistakes you've made. Inadequate education doesn't help, especially when it comes to sorting out correct spelling or punctuation, but I still think the perceived need to respond at speed ( otherwise you'll disappear) is at the root of the issue. The existence of communication from a person is more important than the content, accuracy, or suitability of that communication; the concept of reading before sending(whether electronic or otherwise) was abandoned long ago it seems. The fact that so many of the media outlets people may encounter(even those which should know/do better) seem to have given up on intelligible written English, and the spoken is reduced to stream of consciousness drivel, doesn't help either.

[kernelbogey]

You might also be using it in the modern, American way having heard it used more frequently lately?

I don't think I've ever used it! I was trying to identify its usefulness. I am more likely to say (or write) 'I felt tearful' to describe my 'tearing up'. Of course there is the additional confusion which you pointed out, but I ignored, with tearing up a piece of paper: the example quoted was just sloppily written.

I'm given to listening to BBC World Service in the small hours. They favour presenters from differnt ethnicities and I'm struck by their sometimes quasi-American accents. I do not object to that but it is a reminder that 'British English' has lost the race for world dominance.

[french frank]

the concept of reading before sending(whether electronic or otherwise) was abandoned long ago it seems.

In the case of the BBC website, it seems that direct input has also taken over from sub-editing (i.e. 'taking the place of the average reader'). I remember years ago replacing 'no-fly zone' with the then standard 'exclusion zone' (Iraq war) and 'alarmed' with 'fitted with an alarm'. Both probably unnecessary, but I was doing my job reacting as 'the average reader' which effectively is what I was.

I don't think I've ever used it! I was trying to identify its usefulness. I am more likely to say (or write) 'I felt tearful' to describe my 'tearing up'. Of course there is the additional confusion which you pointed out, but I ignored, with tearing up a piece of paper: the example quoted was just sloppily written.

I'm given to listening to BBC World Service in the small hours. They favour presenters from differnt ethnicities and I'm struck by their sometimes quasi-American accents. I do not object to that but it is a reminder that 'British English' has lost the race for world dominance.

I listen often to the American news and am struck by how many British accents there are from anchors and reporters. PS Oh, what is an 'anchor'???

[kernelbogey]

The Guardian also comes up with American usage quite often - even the other day the -or ending for -our ('behavior'). I have to check that I am reading the UK edition.

The former Manchester Guardian now has a substantial number of journalists based in the US (as well as in Australasia) which I take to be a commercial decision to be a recognised Internatioanal newspaper. Consequently, they appear to have decided not to regularise [sic!] spelling.

[kernelbogey]

I I remember years ago replacing... 'alarmed' with 'fitted with an alarm'.

The sign 'This door is alarmed' invariably brought a smile to my face.

[oddoneout]

The sign 'This door is alarmed' invariably brought a smile to my face.

Depending on my mood I either think "oh, poor thing" or "what's it got to be alarmed about"
Given that far too many folk don't take any notice of warning, or other, signs, I sometimes wonder what the point is, but I suppose it helps to deflate the "well how was I supposed to know I'd set the alarm off?" whinge, as you point to the notice giving that information.