As an editor I was charged with keeping people on the straight and narrow regarding their use of the English language. That mindset, unfortunately, followed me into retirement, where certain uses and abuses of the language continue to irritate, frustrate, and sometimes infuriate me. Certainly I’m not infallible and I know our language is constantly evolving, but that provides little if any comfort.
In recent years a major irritant for me has been the misuse of the word verse. For all of my 82 years verse has meant a stanza or section of a poem or song, or a passage from the Bible. However, in the last few years it has acquired a new meaning. It has become a commonly used verb meaning to compete against, as if it were a short form of the word versus. Possibly it arose from Gen X’s love of slangifying words — sus for suspicious, rizz for charisma, fam for family, etc.
Yes, I know, I have griped this gripe before. I hate when a misuse becomes legitimized simply because so many people keep doing it.
That said, I came across this yesterday:
Arghhh! A dictionary, Merriam-Webster, has effectively sanctioned the misuse of the noun verse. The fact that it’s designated “informal” will mean nothing to most people. I remember when we used to say, “Ain’t ain’t a word because ain’t ain’t in the dictionary.” Until it was.
I am deeply wounded. Mortified. And it will continue to grate when I hear a sportscaster, supposedly an on-air professional, say something like “It will be Broncos verse Packers.”
Ugh!
Dec. 21, 2025: Heard another common mispronunciation today. Cache mispronounced with two syllables. Cache is a one-syllable word meaning a stash (hint: they sound alike) or collection of things. It’s probably a result of having heard cachet, a two-syllable word with an entirely different meaning.
new to me!
Count your blessings. You don’t have to hear that usage on your local TV broadcasts everyday
I get it. Let’s face it, language evolves and is only controllable within limited communities, like reporters for the AP and newspapers. I recall cognitive dissonance on first hearing the word “dox.” Merriam-Webster says it was first coined in 2009, so it’s pretty recent. Coming from “document(s)”, it is useful and obviously has staying power. The new meaning of the “verse,” on the other hand, is not so useful. I agree with you, I hope it goes away but it probably won’t. Evolution will decide.
I’ve a vague idea of what doxxing means, but I never stopped to think about where the word originated. And it is useful. Don’t think I’ll live long enough to get used to “verse” used as I’ve described.
For me there’s always something. See “Media mishaps: Grammar grinch gripes again,” written in 2020.
Happily for me, the fact that I don’t have a TV means my missing out on low-down shit like ‘verse’, Colorado.
I am, of course !, 100% on your side in this. And in all things grammatical, I should think. My own editing – but not of books, merely University theses (Masters and PhDs) – in days of yore would’ve led me to loathing today’s insistence on ‘accepting’ all modern language were it not for the fact that I ALREADY DID. Intolerance, thy name is M-R.
Hmm, I’d have sworn I already copyrighted that name …
[grin]
Ugh is right. Where will this movement to abbreviate and shorten everything end?
Ugh again! Just heard another very common not-a-word: “interm.”
Used all too often instead of interim. Fortunately it’s not yet in the dictionary.
When I hear something like that, I immediately question their level of education. If it’s a sports announcer or a reporter, I wonder who thought hiring someone so unprofessional was a good idea.
Yep, it always makes me cringe and shake my head. Too many of our schools are failing to properly educate our kids, and too many of our kids are learning from tv and social media.
I’m growing tired of being frustrated with society.
Ditto