If you’ve ever been halfway through your cuppa, enjoying a bit of telly, only to hear something like “She done it yesterday” or “There’s loads of people in here, isn’t they?”. you’re not alone. Bad grammar on UK television has become increasingly noticeable – and for some of us, it’s like nails on a chalkboard.
So, what’s going on? Is grammar on TV really getting worse, or are we just becoming more aware of it?
Where Did All the Apostrophes Go?
Let’s start with one of the biggest offenders: reality TV. Whether it’s Love Island, TOWIE, or Made in Chelsea, it seems like proper sentence structure is on permanent holiday. You’ll hear things like:
- “I was like, you was well out of order.”
- “Me and him done everything together.”
Now no one’s expecting Shakespeare from a villa in Mallorca, but the consistent misuse of simple grammar rules is concerning. Especially when millions of viewers – including impressionable children – are soaking it all in.
Presenters Dropping the Ball
It’s not just reality TV stars either. Sometimes, even seasoned presenters or newsreaders make eyebrow-raising grammatical blunders. Take phrases like:
- “There’s lots of people here tonight.”
- “Neither of them have arrived.”
These may sound minor, but they’re the kinds of errors that would get marked wrong on a GCSE English exam. When they come from the mouths of respected broadcasters, it’s fair to wonder if the bar’s slipping a bit.
Is It Really That Bad Though?
To play devil’s advocate, language is constantly evolving. The way we speak today is worlds apart from how people spoke in Victorian times. Some grammar purists might be clinging to outdated rules. And in certain cases what sounds wrong to some might just be a regional dialect or informal speech pattern.
Still there’s a difference between natural, conversational English and outright incorrect usage. When grammatical mistakes become the norm on national TV, it blurs the line between informal variation and, well… just being wrong.
Why It Matters
TV shapes culture. It reflects how we live – but it also influences how we speak. When bad grammar becomes commonplace in mainstream media, it risks reinforcing those mistakes in daily use. This isn’t about being snobby or elitist – it’s about maintaining clarity and mutual understanding.
After all, language is our most powerful tool. Shouldn’t we be sharpening it rather than dulling it down?