Precision is needed in professional environments like law or research and totally understandable. Everyday common speech though? Get over yourself imho.
I have a similar peeve for people who correct something grammar/usage wise despite knowing exactly what you meant, which is really the whole point of language if you think about it.
The best example of this are people who insist that you cannot end a sentence with a preposition (which often makes sentences more convoluted) while simultaneously refusing to use the Oxford comma.
fun news, the Grammar Police have recently issued a ruling that it's actually fine to end a sentence in a preposition. I guess the whole "no ending a sentence in a prepo" comes from latin-based languages, which english is not, so like, its actually fine. Wish they would have issued that ruling when i was in high school and having to write lots of papers.
Which means it was never a rule. That also doesn’t stop a lot of people going around trying to impose the made up crap they learned in 7th grade English class like they’re that Japanese soldier who kept fighting WWII for 30 years after it was over.
That's a hilarious metaphor.
It's a hilarious *simile
Big Oxford comma guy, here. Don't care about the difference between envy and jealousy. And I love starting sentences with a conjunction, although I was told it wasn't allowed in grade school. Also not afraid to end a sentence with a preposition. GTFOOMF with trying to force me to drop a "with which" on some poor soul.
When you've molded the clay of language for a while, you realize there really are no rules--only style.