How to politely correct someone who says the wrong phrases..?

If he's an adult, there's no polite way to correct him. All you can do is speak properly yourself, and hope he picks it up.

Yeah some of those need to be nipped in the bud - I've heard "Intensive purposes" and it just makes the speaker look ignorant. NEVER correct someone in front of others - it is rude, and counterproductive. Try being funny sometime, like asking "so just what is so intensive about those purposes? For all intents and purposes, I think that's the wrong phrase?"

Some phrases, like "at the same time period" are redundant, unnecessary, and pretentious. Let your friend know that he sounds like someone who is pretending to sound intelligent, but who actually sounds silly. Just because you hear these phrases in the media or see them in print is no excuse, as the quality of media editing has fell precipitously in recent years. I daresay most, if not all, television editors are functionally retarded, and nearly all newspaper editors are similarly afflicted; I believe some may actually be chimpanzees, or perhaps lemurs, or some other lower primate.

"Rate of speed" and "irregardless" really tick me off, as they indicate laziness and miscomprehension (speed IS a rate, and irregardless means NOT regardless, i.e., dependent). People usually use them when they want to appear "official" because the common perception is more and bigger words = more important.

Some annoying phrases, however, are idioms, phrases that don't really mean anything, or don't literally mean what they are supposed to mean, but have come to be accepted use. "Same difference" used to bother me, but I've accepted it as a sarcastic phrase - it also implies "Same difference (that is, zero)". "I could care less" is also a sarcastic idiom, meaning the exact opposite of what it says. Neither, however should be used in writing.

You should never correct someone in public because no matter how nice you're trying to be, the person will be embarrassed. I really wouldn't say anything at all.

If you really want to make a point maybe you could innocently ask something like "Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you meant." thus making he/she aware of his/her erroneous word usage.

I get corrected a lot as English is not my first language and sometimes I make mistakes. Although I do appreciate the corrections, I don't think some people realize how difficult it can be to speak several languages.

"Intensive purposes"? That is hilarious!!!

Take the person aside, alone, and tell him that you have noticed there are a few phrases that he says incorrectly and in the interest of avoiding him embarrassment, you would like to tell him the correct way to say them. Then tell him what he says wrong and the correct way to say it. Do so very matter-of-factly and without laughing. Most people would appreciate it. If he doesn't, just let him continue speaking incorrectly and let him make a fool of himself.

I feel the same way, especially when I hear the non-word, "irregardless!" Or "I might of" instead of "I might have," or "pacifically" instead of "specifically!" The list goes on and on. I work for attorneys and sometimes even they use those phrases or words...and I just correct them on my keyboard versus confront them about it...except for "irregardless" -- that one I MUST tell them about.

If it's a really bad error that will reflect badly on the person, I will take them aside and quietly tell them what is wrong with what they're saying. I've had to do this a couple of times with people for whom I work. If they doubt me, I have them look it up so they won't think I'm being witchy.

Bad grammar kills kittens! I used to correct people, but then they just got annoyed with me. And also, if it's your friend, they may not appreciate you correcting them all the time. Some people are just not blessed with good language skills.

I especially hate people saying 'same difference'. No, it's not the same difference, because it's DIFFERENT. It's worse now, because there was a pop duo on X Factor (similar to American Idol), that called themselves Same Difference. It's probably spawned a whole army of kids with bad grammar.

My fiance is foreign, and despite my being top of my English class, he tells me his English is better than mine. His spelling is bad, but he maintains his grammar is better than mine. I just enjoy it when I can correct him on saying 'would of'.

I would save the correction for when you are in private, not in front of a group of people. Just say, you know- I noticed you say.....blah blah blah.... I'm kind of a grammar freak, and thought you might want to know that the correct way to say this is....so and so.

I'm not correcting you to be mean, but I would want someone to correct me if I was wrong.

Start by saying you are a grammar freak and then correct him. You could be the smartest person in the world and if your grammar is horrible, you lose all credibility. I personally appreciate when people correct me; i hate looking like an idiot. Just don't do it when others are around, it might embarrass him.

One learned answerer wrote "the quality of media editing has fell precipitously". Heal thyself!

At the same time period, I could care less, so why don't you let him/her be, and let the person you love take the way they want to talk.

Buy the way, I could could care less, about, intensive purposes, at the same time period!!!!

CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY, OH YEAH ONE MORE THING CRAZY!!!!

Captain, Chris W T

ATP- Lear 45, B747- A318 - A380

CFI