Chris Heard at Higgaion has posted some of his pet peeves. Since I am simultaneously snowed in and bored with proofreading the New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, I thought I would offer some of my pet peeves. A few are academic, while others are more general. Most pertain to language, but a few other things slipped in. It is just a short list of things up with which I will not put.

  • Using the word “methodology” when what you mean is “method.” This happens in academic circles all the time. You can hear it in almost every session at the SBL. A method is a procedure you follow. Methodology is the study of method. You cannot apply a methodology.
  • “Beg the question” - to beg the question means to assume what you are trying to prove as part of your argument. It is an informal fallacy in logic. “Begging the question” does not mean that a particular question needs to be asked, but this is how it is constantly used.
  • PIN number - you do not have a PIN number. PIN means “Personal Identification Number.” Number is already a part of PIN, so you don’t have to say it again. This goes for ATM machine as well. ATM stands for “Automatic Teller Machine.” Machine is already in there. So please, for God’s sake, stop telling me you are going to the ATM machine to input your PIN number.
  • Irregardless - this is not a word.
  • Express checkout lanes - no, this is not about people who get in express lanes with too many items, although that frosts my shorts as well. Instead, it is about the sign over the lane that says, “Twelve Items or Less.” Items can be counted. Therefore, it should read “Twelve Items or Fewer.”
  • Canadians. ‘Nuff said.
  • Reckless creation of denominative verbs - this seems particularly common in the business world. We don’t agendize things; we put them on the agenda.
  • Quotation marks for emphasis - “Extra” low prices; Get the “best” bargain in town!; This sale only runs until “Saturday.” It is like there is an epidemic of non-referenced quotations. Who said the prices were “extra” low? Use bold if you want to emphasize. The rampant use of scare quotes is bad enough. Let’s not expand quotation marks to emphasis.
  • People who don’t understand adverbs and adjectives - you do not “feel badly,” unless of course your tactile senses are not functioning properly. You “feel bad.” Verbs of perception take adjectives to describe the state your are perceiving.
  • People who dress up their dogs.

One thing that probably should be a pet peeve but isn’t is the use of the word “hopefully.” To do something hopefully is to do it expectantly, e.g., “He waited hopefully.” It does not mean that the speaker is hoping that something will happen. “Hopefully, he waited” does not mean “I hope he waited.” What should be said is, “It is to be hoped that he waited.” Despite this, I still can’t bring myself to use “It is to be hoped . . .” in everyday conversation, and I am sure it peeves someone else’s pet out there.

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