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Facts That Prove English Is a Truly Mixed Up Language

On a planet with 7.5 billion inhabitants all struggling to coexist, communication is very important. To that end, most countries, states, cities, and even districts have their own distinct languages. In fact, the deeper you go into any given area, you'll find hundreds of dialects and vernaculars spread across the area. 1 language with 10 different versions of it. In that way, English has stood as a middle ground and something of a common language. 1.5 billion people worldwide speak English, though only approximately 400 million are native English speakers. 

While English has been a great way to communicate with people all over the world, to non-native English speakers who study the language top to bottom, there can be so many confusing aspects to using the language. From punctuation to pronunciation, the English language is peppered with thousands of oddities designed to amuse, bemuse, and confuse with its upside-downness and head-shaking rules. Take a look at these 20 examples of the strangeness of the English language at work.

 

1. Mixed senses 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, We have noses that run and feet that smell

We have noses that run and feet that smell. 

 

2. Odd groups 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, The plural of “box” is “boxes”, but the plural of “ox” is “oxen”

The plural of “box” is “boxes”, but the plural of “ox” is “oxen”. 

 

3. Lyrical genius 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, “Cough”, “rough”, “though” and “through” do not rhyme. However “Pony” and “Bologna” do

“Cough”, “rough”, “though” and “through” do not rhyme. However “Pony” and “Bologna” do. 

 

4. Can you “C”? 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, Every “c” in “Pacific Ocean” is pronounced differently

Every “c” in “Pacific Ocean” is pronounced differently.

 

5. Everybody

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, The word “Everybody” is a plural noun refers to more than one person, yet the correct terminology is “Everybody is happy”, not “Everybody are happy”

The word “Everybody” is a collective noun that refers to more than one person. Yet the correct terminology is “Everybody is happy”, not “Everybody are happy”. 

 

6. This is tearing me apart

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, “Tier” and “tear” are pronounced the same, “Tear” and “tear” are pronounced differently

“Tier” and “tear” are pronounced the same. “Tear” and “tear” are pronounced differently. 

 

7. Triple Contractions 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, Triple contractions have become a part of English vernacular. Such as, “You all would have” = Y’all’d’ve, “You would not have” = “You’dn’t’ve”

Triple contractions have become a part of English vernacular. Such as: 

“You all would have” = Y’all’d’ve

“You would not have” = “You’dn’t’ve” 

 

8. Had 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, The word “Had” has multiple uses, “All the faith he had had had had no effect on the outcome.”

The word “Had” has multiple uses. 

“All the faith he had had had had no effect on the outcome.” 

 

9. Chances

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, “Fat Chance” and “Slim Chance” mean the same thing

“Fat Chance” and “Slim Chance” mean the same thing. 

 

10. Fish 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, Using the following pronunciations, “Gh” as “F” in “Enough”, “O” as “I” in “Women”, “Ti” as “Sh” in Petition, FISH can be spelled as GHOTI

Using the following pronunciations: 

“Gh” as “F” in “Enough”

“O” as “I” in “Women” 

“Ti” as “Sh” in Petition

FISH can be spelled as GHOTI

 

11. Rules 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, “There are no rules” and “Their our know rules” are pronounced the same

“There are no rules” and “Their our know rules” are pronounced the same. 

 

12. Form filling

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, You fill out a form by filling it in

You fill out a form by filling it in

 

13. A word of confusion 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, The word “non-plussed” has two opposite meanings, 1) (of a person) surprised and confused, 2) (of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed

The word “non-plussed” has two opposite meanings: 

1) (of a person) surprised and confused 

2) (of a person) unperturbed

 

14. Refridgerate 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, The word “Fridge” has a “d” in it but the word “refrigerator” does not

The word “Fridge” has a “d” in it but the word “refrigerator” does not. 

 

15. Isn’t it funny? 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, The words “Britain” and “written” are pronounced the same

The word “Britain” rhymes with the word "written". 

 

16. Questions and answers 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, If you replace the “W” in “Where”, “What” and “When” with the letter “T”, you get the answers to the questions

If you replace the “W” in “Where”, “What” and “When” with the letter “T”, you get the answers to the questions. 

 

17. When? 

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, When describing a particular moment, we say it occurred in the month, on the day and at the time, We got the news in October, on Friday, at 6 o’clock.

When describing a particular moment, we say it occurred in the month, on the day, and at the time. 

We got the news in October, on Friday, at 6 o’clock. 

 

18. Shipping terms

Examples and facts that show that English is a funny language, Something transported by car is called a shipment, while something transported by ship is called cargo.

Something transported by car is called a shipment, while something transported by ship is called cargo. 

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