I use both "bucket" and "pail", although I probably used "pail" more when I was younger. I think I switched to "bucket" when I moved away from where I grew up. To me, a spade is a very specific type of shovel that has a pointy end to break up earth. It's a digging shovel.
I will have to ask Mr A what he calls these two things when he gets home. I've not noticed him not understanding my yankeeisms in this case.
My pet peeve, and people on both sides of the pond do it, is using "begs the question" to mean "raises the question". They are not the same thing, and it's always people trying to sound smarter who use it. Or when people use "whom" wrong. This is probably both from it falling out of use in the States and pronoun confusion like the "I" and "me" thing. If you don't know how to use it, don't use it. Other than that I am pretty lenient (although I often correct grammar in my head) unless it's a person who is making a living writing or speaking.
