DEAR ABBY: I have a pet peeve -- when people live, say, in Washington state, and they say, "Are you going up to California?" or "I have a friend coming down from California." My brother-in-law does this all the time. Is it a condition or just laziness? If I correct him, he gets angry. I know I'm right, but what would you call his condition? -- PEEVED IN WASHINGTON
DEAR PEEVED: I would call his condition "habit." And I would call your condition a need to nitpick. Although you may be right in this case, if you want a pleasant relationship with your brother-in-law, resist the temptation. Everyone has flaws. His is a minor one.