correcting "like" -- is it a losing battle?

[musicianmom]

Last year my oldest dd began using "like" inappropriately, as in "I was like...." I always correct her and make her restate it with proper language, such as "I thought" or "I said." She will often catch herself now, but it still happens a lot. Now I just caught my 3-year-old saying it!

 

Is it possible in this modern age to raise children to adulthood without the obnoxious "like" habit? Or am I fighting a losing battle?

 

(By the way, when my daughter asks what's wrong with using "like," I tell her that it will make her sound really stupid when she's running for President someday.)

[Chelle in MO]

Many times I feel like I'm losing multiple battles over "like", but I think I'll win the war if I persevere! It's worth it to me! I don't think it will be entirely erradicated, but hopefully lessened greatly.

 

I love your reasoning!

[teamturner]

I wonder the same thing. I say it all the time (getting better) and my dh wishes we all would stop. I thought about writing up a list of alternatives for the different uses of the word so that we can all study it and be ready for a word from the list.

[nowimscrappin]

I think there are certain circumstances that you should be specifically correcting, but others I would just let it go. I think it is eventually outgrown, as its becoming a filler as her brain and mouth are catching up to each other.

[Ellie]

You should do it anyway. There are some things which just should be corrected.

 

I used to correct "all," as in, "So, I was all 'what's up with that?' and he was all, 'I dunno.'" I'd say, "All what?"

[swimmermom3]

Yes, it is still worth correcting. I am also known as the "pronoun police."

[eewaggie99]

Just imagine her standing in front of a crowd of people accepting an award for her fabulous education and she says, "Like, I'm so proud. I, like, told my parents just, like, the other day..."

 

It's worth the correction. That's why you're homeschooling!

[Parker Martin]

My own parents' corrections eventually worked. :001_smile:

Edited August 24, 2011 by Parker Martin

[HistoryMom]

My mother sat down with me one day to talk when I was 14 or so, and she was (I thought) doodling on a piece of paper. Turns out she was counting. I said "like" 43 times in 10 minutes. From that day on, I was motivated to get rid of it.

 

It's worth it. Good luck! :)

[Ginevra]

I like, know what you mean. :glare: My kids say it and so do I. I have tried to break myself, but was not, you know, successful. ;)

[TechWife]

I read an article or editorial recently about the use of this word. The thesis was that over-use of "like" reflects reluctance to make a commitment or to offend anyone. Use of the word is a free pass to people who don't want to be held accountable for their thoughts or speech. I think the author may be on to something.

 

Teen: "That's like such a cool like green shirt."

Friend: "It's not cool."

Teen: "I didn't say it was cool, I said it was like cool."

Friend 2: "That's teal, not green."

Teen: "I didn't say it was green."

 

I wish I could find it, but it's not coming up through search engines.

[FourOaks]

I don't think it is outgrown but rather gets worse with time. It's an issue in my home right now. I say it also (but not to the extent that my kids do), and my kids will correct me -- which I WANT!

 

However, I have taken to notice how much my adult friends use this word in place of the words said, expressed, stated, told, etc. It's most everyone I know and some of them use it even more than my kids. I believe it's definitely saturated the current culture -- at least in my area -- and it's not getting any better.

 

I am trying to be conscious of it myself and am trying to help my kids correct what I consider to be a very bad habit, but it's not easy. But again, I truly believe it will only get worse and not just "go away" as they grow older.

[AnthemLights]

This is an awesome video about the subject. It is by Taylor Mali.

 

http://www.wimp.com/speaktypography/

 

I have showed it to my children and they thought it was funny, but also very much saw themselves in it. I think it is so true.

[Chelle in MO]

You should do it anyway. There are some things which just should be corrected.

 

I used to correct "all," as in, "So, I was all 'what's up with that?' and he was all, 'I dunno.'" I'd say, "All what?"

 

That's so funny! I would do that, too!

 

One of my boys often adds "and stuff" when he's talking. For example, "We rode bikes and stuff." We always reply with, "What stuff?"

 

Then ds does this: :glare:

 

Cracks me up every time! :lol:

[grace'smom]

This is an awesome video about the subject. It is by Taylor Mali.

 

http://www.wimp.com/speaktypography/

 

I have showed it to my children and they thought it was funny, but also very much saw themselves in it. I think it is so true.

 

 

:lol::lol: Thanks for sharing that!

[nowimscrappin]

My husband adds "so?" (yes, with the question inflection on the end) on the end of his thoughts. It drives me freakin nuts. We could be in meetings for Little League and he'll make a statement and end it with "So?....." and fade out. It basically removes any inclination of seriousness or assertiveness or leadership.

 

It will be something like this:

"we've having a problem with x,y,z and we need to figure out how to solve the problem. I guess we're gonna have to do x, y, z. So.....?"

 

Its almost like he's asking someone to respond.

 

Drives me nuts. Believe it or not, much worse than "like"

[Ginevra]

That's so funny! I would do that, too!

 

One of my boys often adds "and stuff" when he's talking. For example, "We rode bikes and stuff." We always reply with, "What stuff?"

 

Then ds does this: :glare:

 

Cracks me up every time! :lol:

 

I dislike "and stuff" or "stuff like that" more than "like." In my college English class last year, the professor had each student say what they typically like to read. It was constantly, "Oh, you know, like romance, and stuff like that," or "Sports or news and stuff like that." It was epidemic.

[jasar31629]

I grew out of the "likes" but unfortunately replaced them with "you knows". :tongue_smilie:

[Susan in TN]

A friend of ours made his daughter replace "like" with "love". She really did want to break the habit, so I think that helped.

[bookfiend]

It's the modern day "uhm" and deserves to be banished.

 

We keep plodding through the battle over here too. Every time we catch it, "not like, insert correct phrase" and require that they respeak. Unfortunately, it is so prevelant that our ears have become numbed to the usage, and I don't think we catch it consistantly.