Issue 179, page 3

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curmdgeon.GIF (1254 bytes) Curmudgeons' Corner

Resident curmudgeon Barb Dwyer wants to serve herself better:

I was greeted with this recording the other day when I called my bank: "In order to serve you better, please enter your account number". This is a splendid example of a sentence which merely appears to make sense. Am I intended to serve myself? If so, the recording should have said: "In order to serve yourself better, please enter your account number". It turns out that the bank meant "In order that we may serve you better, please enter your account number".

At least, such a message would have made perfect sense. As it happened, when I eventually  navigated the rest of the automated menu system and found a live human being to speak to, the first thing she asked for was my account number.

Have you heard or read similar or equally distressing usages?

Do tell us. 

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