I’m not feeling especially peevish just now, truly, but I will say that a linguistic habit I’m running into more frequently is beginning to rub me the wrong way. That habit is the misuse of the word “spectra”.
I hear many people using the word “spectra” as the singular form rather than the word “spectrum”. Spectra is the plural form of the word spectrum.
The spectre of spectra as spectrum shines like a specular glare from a speculum mirror in the corner of my consciousness.
Lamentations on Chemistry 
I have the same problem with data and datum. But don’t even get me started on apostrophes! Oh, and affect/effect, yadyadayada..
I’m with ya there. Drives me nuts.
I’ve been known to judge middle and high school science fair projects and disqualify them (in my mind) immediately if they mix up affect and effect in the title. I’m a hard, cold woman!
Inside that black heart of yours is a smaller, blacker heart. \;-)
Agreed. Back in grad school we had an older prof that was an effective enforcer of these things. He even offered a writing seminar once a week for part of the semester. Where I work now, I have co-workers that not only use “spectra” as singular, but “spectras” for plural. Makes me cringe.
What about “spectral” instead of “spectroscopic”? Actually, no, according to the online dictionary I just looked up, spectral can be used to refer to spectres and spectra. It still grates, for some reason.
I think astronomers may use that term. Of course, they spend much of their time alone in the dark out in the cold. They have plenty of time to think about these things.
While you’re at it, please take “criteria” as a singular outside and beat it to death. It’s CRITERION!
Amen brother.