My personal pet peaves when it comes to the use of the English launguage: Right or not, these just sound wrong or stupid to me and I want to just scream sometimes when I hear them or see them used.
"Lastly" - What? Oh just leave off the "ly" - just say "last" and if you don't like the sound of that than use "finally".
"First, would all equipment managers meet in the equipment room 30 minutes prior to kick off."
"Next, all coaches need to supervise locker rooms until all players have exited."
"Lastly, please check with me before leaving......" UGH!!! - You didn't say "Firstly, would all...." Why would you use "Lastly"?
"...and myself".... As in "If you will be attending the opening Friday night, please RSVP to my secretary and/or myself." What? In effect are you telling someone else to "Please reply to myself"? Just sounds DUMB!
Better: "If you will be attending the opening Friday night, please RSVP to my secretary or me." Yes "ME", is correct - it's a direct object - you don't use "I", you use "ME" (another pet peave of mine). Here's a little test - take out the additional person - you know, before the and/or - you wouldnt' say "If you will be attending please RSVP to I", now would you?
Data - is the first a long or short? OK - the dictionary says either, but still, I just can't stand to hear it said as a short a - sorry. Long A does appear as the first option which is suppose to mean it is the preferred option. My test has always been Star Trek - OK call it self serving, but this time I am using a SciFi show as confirmation of my point. The character's name is Data - first a pronouced as a long a.
