Writers' Brit Crit

[toscas_kiss]

Admittedly this is a saying that seems to pop up most often (at least in my experience) in the less well developed *cough* dire Twue Wuve smarm *cough* Harry Potter fiction, but I'd just like to point out that the English don't say;

"I could give a damn."

It's:

"I couldn't give a damn."

Occasionally one might say "Like I could give a damn?", but that's not quite the same.

"I could give a damn." is an Americanism that's completely incorrect in an English-set story, and to be honest, makes us Brits scratch our heads in confusion (or wonder whether irony has finally made it to the general masses on the other side of the Atlantic). ;-)

Comments

[ellensmithee.livejournal.com]

It's not correct for American usage either, at least not without the "like." If you hear it, the speaker is probably misremembering the saying, like "that puts a wrinkle in my ointment."

[marksykins.livejournal.com]

Indeed. In fact, for many Americans the phrase "I could give a damn" sets their teeth to itching.

I am among this group. Much like I'm in the select group that hates the phrase "third wheel". Third wheels are useful. Even if you have a group of three, the correct phrase is "fifth wheel".

But I digress. :)

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

But it's a good digression...

Good to hear I'm not the only one with dental problems. [smile]

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

LOL! That's a good (or rather, bad) one! That doesn't surprise me to hear it's incorrect, most of the fics I read it in weren't particularly carefully worded.

[thornsilver]

I have to concur. I've never heard "I could give a damn" used, without the "like" in front. Actually, usually an American would say "Like I give a damn".

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've run across that one too. As mentioned above, I've usually found it in badly written fiction, so maybe that's the explanation.

I shall, however, continue to occasionally bitch about my 'favorite' fanfic peeves in the hope that one day some MarySue Twue-Wuve Scribbler stumbles across them and takes them to heart, ceasing to torment us with yet another saccharine offering on the alter of fanfiction.net...

I'm such an optimist. [grin]

(and what would mctabby do for her Summary Executions then?)

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Sorry - notice you don't have her on your list. mctabby collects some of the more screamingly funny/atrocious/painful story summaries for HP on ff.net. Well worth reading for pure entertainment value. There's a link here:
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=mctabby&keyword=Summary+Executions&filter=all

[thornsilver]

I swear I saw some of these before.

[hergerbabe.livejournal.com]

hehehe I know what you mean! The times I've prevented myself from ranting about language on my LJ, I don't think I'd stop if I started!

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Oh, every now and then I just have to vent my spleen. [smile]
Usually after a surfeit of cheesecake Harry/Draco, Aya/Yohji, Heero/Duo, Ares/Joxer, Tyr/Harper, Xander/Spike etc Twue Wuve stories.
So it's my fault really... no! sugar shock. I blame the sugar shock. [grin]