Active discussions
My feed Premium
Please or to access all these features

Pedants' corner

It's not upmost

26 replies

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 18:37

It's "utmost" NOT "upmost". Recently I've seen several threads where people have written "upmost". It's not even a word, it doesn't come up in predictive text, they can't have seen it written in a book or newspaper or article( they most likely don't read anything except what's on social media). Do they say the word like that?
Are they somehow confusing it with "uppermost", if so, it makes them look even more stupid. Even my ten year old granddaughter knows it's "utmost". Why use words when you don't know what they mean and have made them up, it just makes you appear so thick?

OP posts:
Report
Nonewclothes2024 · 16/06/2024 19:11
Report
CelesteCunningham · 16/06/2024 19:15

I think this is a really understandable error - neither are common words, they sound similar and have similar meanings.

Report
ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 19:46

CelesteCunningham · 16/06/2024 19:15

I think this is a really understandable error - neither are common words, they sound similar and have similar meanings.

"Utmost" is a perfectly normal commonly used word! It seems from the dictionary quoted above that "upmost" may be used in USA as a contraction of "uppermost" which describes position not degree. I can't find anything explaining that it's synonymous with "utmost" or that it's used in the UK with that meaning.

OP posts:
Report
CelesteCunningham · 16/06/2024 19:47

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 19:46

"Utmost" is a perfectly normal commonly used word! It seems from the dictionary quoted above that "upmost" may be used in USA as a contraction of "uppermost" which describes position not degree. I can't find anything explaining that it's synonymous with "utmost" or that it's used in the UK with that meaning.

Show quote history

I didn't say synonymous, I said similar in meaning. I also didn't say it's correct, I said it's a very understandable error.

Also - why does UK Vs US matter? What's correct in one is correct in the other, even if it's not the most common usage.

Report
Mrcrabsleg · 16/06/2024 19:53

I know its pedants’ corner but could you be anymore aggressive and derogatory about it? Jeez 🙄

Report
OutsideEveryday · 16/06/2024 19:55

Is this what keeps you up at night? 🤣

Report
ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 21:01

CelesteCunningham · 16/06/2024 19:47

I didn't say synonymous, I said similar in meaning. I also didn't say it's correct, I said it's a very understandable error.

Also - why does UK Vs US matter? What's correct in one is correct in the other, even if it's not the most common usage.

Edited
Show quote history

Of course it matters if it's UK or US English. Some US words are wrong in UK English, in the UK we don't call a tap a faucet or say we were walking along the sidewalk or fill our car up with gas.

OP posts:
Report
BarcardiWithGadaffia · 16/06/2024 21:03

OutsideEveryday · 16/06/2024 19:55

Is this what keeps you up at night? 🤣

Why would it keep her up at night?

This is a specific board for pedants but I'm be very surprised if caring about language stops the posters who read and post here sleeping

Report
ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 21:05

OutsideEveryday · 16/06/2024 19:55

Is this what keeps you up at night? 🤣

Don't be so ridiculous. It's a thread just like thousands of other threads which aren't of world-shattering importance. I have noticed the use of the word quite a few times on Mumsnet threads and posted in Pedants' Corner which is exactly the place where this type of thing is discussed.

OP posts:
Report
DrunkTinkerbell40s · 16/06/2024 21:07

'Discusting' is worse!!

Report
ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

midgetastic · 16/06/2024 21:12

Basic language ?

No one uses that anymore - python is where it's at

Report
AllProperTeaIsTheft · 16/06/2024 21:15

In my opinion adults who don't know how to use basic language are stupid, why shouldn't I say that?

Because stupidity is a lack of intelligence, not a lack of knowledge. You're absolutely right about the usage of 'utmost', but being mistaken about two similar-sounding words doesn't make someone stupid.

Report
AbstemiousBreakfast · 16/06/2024 21:31

OutsideEveryday · 16/06/2024 19:55

Is this what keeps you up at night? 🤣

Of course - we're pedants.

Report
peopleonthebusgoupanddown · 16/06/2024 22:08

I am all for a bit of pedantry, but your post is just mean and unnecessarily aggressive

Report
OutsideEveryday · 16/06/2024 22:18

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 21:05

Don't be so ridiculous. It's a thread just like thousands of other threads which aren't of world-shattering importance. I have noticed the use of the word quite a few times on Mumsnet threads and posted in Pedants' Corner which is exactly the place where this type of thing is discussed.

Show quote history

Was just teasing you 😉 I do think you’re being mean though. People aren’t stupid because they don’t know one word. Lighten up 🙂

Report
CelesteCunningham · 16/06/2024 22:22

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 21:01

Of course it matters if it's UK or US English. Some US words are wrong in UK English, in the UK we don't call a tap a faucet or say we were walking along the sidewalk or fill our car up with gas.

Show quote history

They are different, they are not wrong. It's not wrong for a British person to say faucet, just unusual.

Report
CelesteCunningham · 16/06/2024 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You're right that we should be careful with language and how we use it. For example, in your last sentence here you've implied that those with learning disabilities aren't normal - a far more damaging communication error than using upmost instead of utmost.

Report
ADHDHDHDHD · 16/06/2024 22:26

Maybe we will see "it was upmost in the draw" and weep into our keyboards

Report
ASighMadeOfStone · 16/06/2024 22:26

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 16/06/2024 21:01

Of course it matters if it's UK or US English. Some US words are wrong in UK English, in the UK we don't call a tap a faucet or say we were walking along the sidewalk or fill our car up with gas.

Show quote history

US English isn't "wrong".
What a ridiculous assumption to make.

How do you feel about the correct punctuation of written English btw? 😏

Report
ASighMadeOfStone · 16/06/2024 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Fucking hell.

Report
Midlifecryses · 16/06/2024 22:28

“Why use words when you don't know what they mean and have made them up, it just makes you appear so thick?”

Because you don’t know what you don’t know! People who say upmost have either heard someone else say it (or seen it written incorrectly) or they think they heard upmost rather than utmost.

if you have been corrected but still use it then….

A bit like my MIL who didn’t believe me when I told her it was ‘block paving’ and not ‘pathing’. I said paving, referring to pavement and she said NO, pathing referring to path!

Report

Mumsnet Weekly Hot Threads

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Woman smiling and making heart symbol with her hands

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Sgtmajormummy · 16/06/2024 22:29

Ignoring the OP’s unpleasantness, I can give my explanation

It’s the glottal stop.

utmost = u’most
upmost = u’most

So, since they’re both uncommon words, they’re easily confused.
HTH.

Report
ASighMadeOfStone · 16/06/2024 22:36

Yes, I'd agree that that's where the confusion comes from.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.