thismaz | Time for another language rant

Because I was reading a story that I really enjoyed *except* that the author consistently used 'that' instead of 'who', when describing people, eg Merlin was revealed as a sorcerer that had lied to hide his secret.
If Merlin was a table, fine, but Merlin is a person and so should be who.
'That' and 'which' can be difficult, but 'that' and 'who'? It's okay in dialogue, but not in narrative.

And, while I'm on a roll, there are other words and phrases that I wish I could avoid:

He/she can't help feeling, always make me ask why they were trying to.
In fact, why do fanfic characters always *have* to do so many things? -- He had to smile at her joke -- Was he fighting the urge, until it proved too strong for him? Why doesn't he simply smile at her joke? Why this constant need for compulsion?

Why, oh why, do people insist on describing characters by their hair colour? It's an old bitch, I know, but the practice is *so* common.
If you don't do that in real life, you shouldn't do it in fiction. Do you ever think of your best friend as 'the redhead', 'the blonde', or 'the brunette'? You might not always think of them by their name, but if you were to choose a characteristic it would be the one that is most important to your image of them.
Few things will make me close a tab more quickly.

And words:

Instinctual instead of instinctive - both are valid words, both are adjective forms of the word instinct, but a quick web search came up with the following definitions:
Instinctual - Of, relating to, or derived from instinct.
Instinctive - 1. Of, relating to, or prompted by instinct. 2. Arising from impulse; spontaneous and unthinking:
It seems to me that most often it is the second definition of instinctive that is intended, or possibly the prompted by instinct one. So the question is: why do I see is instinctual ousting instinctive, so often? Is this one of those differences between British and American English?

'Gotten' is another one. Has this word totally replaced 'got' in American mainstream vocabulary? It jars on me something horrible (as that construction probably jars on others) and I have closed tabs because of it.
It's not quite as bad as 'drug', as the past tense of drag ('he drug it across the floor', instead of 'he dragged it across the floor') and I know I'll adapt, eventually, as I always do. But just at this minute, right now, in the present? It's driving me crazy.

The use of insults in fic has been exercising me for a while.

Thinking about Merlin fic and the use of the word prat, for example. I have seen so many instances where it jarred on me.
Maybe it's when the writer uses the word as a standalone, that it gets me? 'The prat didn't see what was in front of his nose'.
Like in the Buffy fandom when Spike thinks, 'the git obviously didn't understand'. It just doesn't sound right. If he'd thought, 'the stupid git obviously didn't understand', I would have no problem.
I think it's because, if it stands alone, it is being used as if it was the character's name, rather than as an insult (or as well as an insult). If Merlin thought that the stupid prat didn't see what was in front of his nose, it would be a piece of satisfying, internal venting on Merlin's part.
Alternatively, it might just be over-use. Like Spike calling Xander, whelp.
Or it could be wrong tone of voice. On first meeting, Merlin uses the word mockingly. But later, any use of the word prat, addressed to Arthur, should contain an element of fondness, because it really didn't take him long to become loyal.
I need to check this out through more reading. Except, I probably won't feel like persisting with a story that makes me go, "Huh?" and the word always seems to turn up within the first paragraph.

This is a general rant, not just a grammar rant, so I am going to indulge myself.
In the Merlin fandom, there is a proud tradition of both modern AUs and reincarnation fic - in an AU, the writer has total freedom to use other canon characters and variants on canon storylines, and there are some wonderful examples out there that have given me hours of enjoyable reading.
However, I am cautious of reincarnation fic, because I've started reading too many that recycle all the characters, in the same relationships to each other. Theologically, if there is any purpose or reason for reincarnation, at all, a continuous recycling of the same events, seems pointless.

And then there is tone - the tone of the writing. Or more precisely, change of tone mid paragraph. Check this out as a first paragraph (details changed to avoid recognition, because I am not trying to ridicule anybody here, just things I've seen written):
Arthur scratched his head as he padded barefoot across his room. It was very early, the sun wasn't even up, but he'd ordered an early training session with the knights. He knew he'd have to dress himself because Merlin was always late coming with his breakfast. There was no chance he'd arrive on time today. Needless to say it shocked the hell out of him when he pulled open his closet, to find it empty.
I could kind of manage the first part, but when I got to that last sentence... No. Tab closed. Click back. Find something else to read.

Am I being intolerant? Yes, I guess I am. But hey, I have enough trouble finding the time to read good fic. If I read the stuff that irritated me too... *g*

So, dear flisties, especially my American flisties, what are your thoughts? Does 'gotten' get to you, or do you not notice it?

What about 'drug' and 'instinctual'?

What are the things that drive you up the wall?

As always, none of these examples are prompted by anything written by anyone on my flist, so come on, you lot, you know it's good to share. Do your good deed for the day and help me feel less of a pedant. *g* Or, at least, less of a solitary pedant.