A quick search on ‘Americanisms invading the English language’ brings up an absolute ream of articles on the subject. While I appreciate that the American language is derived from and actually more similar to old English than the language we think of today as proper English, I cannot help but find it at best mildly irritating. At worst I want to throw things.
I was talking to a retired copy writer last week who is passionate about grammar and the quality of our language. We were both in agreement that when we hear someone in a restaurant say to a waiter or waitress ‘Can I get a cheese sandwich?’ instead of ‘Can I have a cheese sandwich’ we would love said waiter or waitress to reply, ‘No you can’t , are you trying to do me out of my job?’ Perhaps we are pedants, but we are not alone – a recent BBC article prompted a flood of emails from the public with the expressions that have crossed the Atlantic to drive them mad. I’m sure we can all think of many, many more. The really frightening thing is that on scanning the list, there are some I use myself without thinking. I am going to have to have a stiff word with myself!