Don’t put a g in my sandwich

OK, I listen to a lot of radio and if the radio’s not on, I’m probably eavesdropping. So I hear a lot of words. Perhaps that qualifies me to make the following observations.

• You don’t need to say ‘impact upon’ when you really mean ‘affect’.
• Changing tack means you are trying a different direction. Changing tact doesn’t make any sense.
• Sandwich has a d – and possibly ham and mustard – never a g.
• Rememberability and Forgetability are not real words.
• Pre-order is just the same as order. Have you ever tried
• post-ordering? Thought not. Likewise pre-arrange and pre-book.
• If something is about to happen we are before the event, not ahead of it.
• Blowing a gale – of course it’s blowing.
• Gale force winds – of course they’re winds.
• Generally, we will ‘try to’ do something not ‘try and’.

That’s it from the desk drawer of linguistic rage for tonight, but, rest assured, there will be more.