The most annoying expressions...

One thing that has been grating on me is people using the word "was" when it should be "were", and vice versa. I hear it all the time - maybe it's regional?

For example: "I saw that you was dancing" and "She were shearing the sheep"

I hear it all the time in Blackburn. I'm not sure where you are, but I have wondered if it was a Northern thing.

I'm in Yorkshire. DH said it's a Yorkshire thing, but it looks like it could just be Northern...

I'm in Yorkshire. DH said it's a Yorkshire thing, but it looks like it could just be Northern...

I've heard it from a Midlands-born mouth as well.

I've heard it from a Midlands-born mouth as well.

It's also heard down in Bristol and the West Country too (just with a different accent).

It's also heard down in Bristol and the West Country too (just with a different accent).

Yes, bf is guilty of this as well and he's in Nottingham.. They also have a tendency to not pronounce thir "T's" super annoying!

It's also heard down in Bristol and the West Country too (just with a different accent).

Also London/Cockney/Estuary... it's just a regional dialect variation. It's not a mistake that people might be "guilty" of. Sorry but this is a hobby-horse of mine!

For example see the British Library's page on grammatical variation with a "was/were map" showing regional variations. I agree with the section headed "There is no wrong and right".

http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/regional-voices/grammatical-variation/

The verb 'to be' on the other hand has two simple past forms in Standard English - I/he/she/it was and you/we/they were. Apart from the special case of you, the distinction is, therefore, between singular was and plural were. In some regional dialects, however, this pattern is not observed. In some parts of the country, speakers use was throughout, while speakers elsewhere use were exclusively. There are also dialects where the two different forms are used for the opposite function - singular were and plural was.

'Your lot' in reference to Americans. I suppose it is better than being called a 'septic tank', but it is still annoying to have a conversation with someone (generally male) and they spend the whole time saying 'your lot' when they could simply say 'Americans'. It makes me feel as if they think we are from outer space or something.

'Your lot' in reference to Americans. I suppose it is better than being called a 'septic tank', but it is still annoying to have a conversation with someone (generally male) and they spend the whole time saying 'your lot' when they could simply say 'Americans'. It makes me feel as if they think we are from outer space or something.

Haha that's true TamaMoo.. We're not another species, we're just from a different country is all!

My DF calls us septics all the time, drives me nuts!

I don't know why but it always used to bother me when people would say "Oh, you're from America" I always wanted to say "No, I'm from the United States" 

I don't know why but it always used to bother me when people would say "Oh, you're from America" I always wanted to say "No, I'm from the United States" 

It bugs me when people think I'm Canadian.  I've travelled a lot and out of all the people I've met in my all inclusive 3+ years on the road who have been the rudest to me have been Canadian. 

It bugs me when people think I'm Canadian.

Me too. Of course, I've had it explained to me (here, of course) that Americans are far more likely to be okay with being called Canadian than Canadians are about being called American. Says who? I've never seen any research on this and am guessing people just try to smooth over the fact they have insulted me. I don't mind people admitting they are unsure if I am American or Canadian because they aren't familiar with the accent. I just hate it when people tell me I am going to be okay with being insulted the same way they would be if I guessed their nationality wrong. In truth, it doesn't insult me enough to jump up and down and scream about it, but it does chap me a little.

The strangest I've had are: two people have guessed me to be Irish, one guessed me as Australian (a nurse who was getting ready to stick a huge needle in my arm and the guess caused me to mentally question her judgement and sanity), and a man guessing my accent as London - has to be, I'd know that accent anywhere.

When I first got here I was on a bus talking to my husband and the woman in front of us turned around all friendly and asked if I was Canadian. I responded no, I am American. To which she responded "oh" and just turned around very rudely.

I get Canadian all the time, but it really ticks me off when I have to tell some one more  once that I
 am not Canadian. It isn't that I mind being called Canadian, it is just if they ask and are told  i'ts nice to remember. There aren't that many canadians out americans where I work that it is.hard to keep track.

I've worked in the UK for over 11 years and when I meet someone new and they ask the inevitable question about where I'm from, I say I'm from Texas.  And then they rarely forget after that!

I get asked if I'm Irish and hardly ever if I'm American or Canadien. Though, I remember there were two women at a restaurant who told me they had a bet going on if I was American or Irish.

What I find annoying is the over usage of the kiss symbol 'x'. It seems to have lost its significance, since people will use it for everyone and anyone. For me, the 'x' is reserved for only a select few- a close-knit few, though I prefer to use the heart.