It's time to discuss some current writing issues — er, problems. Annoyances. All right, things that drive me a little crazy. They are all somewhat related to technology, because they come up in tech writing, and also because everything is about technology now, right?
Trying to do two things at once
You hear it all the time now:
"I'm going to try and (do something or other)."
"Try AND"?! How the heck did that get started? Doesn't anybody realize how dumb it sounds, and how can we stop it?
In case you're confused, I'll be specific. What I'm talking about is a new, very widespread bad-grammar trend that has to do with infinitives after the verb "try."
As you probably know, in English, an infinitive is two words: The word "to" and the root form of a verb: To go. To be. To get. To whine like a little girl.
Now, a lot of sentences include phrases that combine "try" with an infinitive. You know, in this form: I'm going to try...to do, to go, to get, to be. I'm going to try to inherit a large fortune. I'm going to try to cure this fungus between my toes. I'm going to try to get that job. Why don't you try to get your ass off the couch for a while?
These are things we say and write about every day.
But now I hear everyone, everywhere replacing the "to" in the infinitive with the word "and."
I guarantee you have heard and seen this abominable construction. I notice it every day, in casual speech and in newscasts and advertising and in many places where people should be a little more careful with the language.
"I'm going to try and find a better job."
"The Teamsters are going to try and get a better contract with the school board."
"The president is going to try and prevent World War III from breaking out after he barfed on the prime minister's shoes."
Try AND? It's horrible, it's nonsensical, and it's also becoming ubiquitous, so that grammarians are probably going to have to start allowing it.
Just try and stop it. I mean that. Try, and also, STOP IT.
