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Multiple languages speakers/ writers tend to be more correct than native speakers. Native speakers tend to be lazier, or more correctly, looser, in their language patterns.
The problem with non-native speakers is that they tend to be more literal. Humor, figures of speech, irony, and sarcasm go over their heads. "I'll be back in a minute" doesn't mean within a literal 60 seconds. Arguing with them on boards can be a pain because everything is taken literally.
They also don't understand and mangle figures of speech and cliches, which is where I have my pet peeve - people speaking/ writing outside their level. If you don't understand what you are saying, no one else will either.
I've lost count of how many ways people mangle "for all intents and purposes." Then we see things way out there: "the tail wagging the pillow" or a "he has a potato chip on his collar."




Member since:
2009-08-05
My experience as a Swede is that more Americans than Scandinavians confuse "their" and "they're".