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"Lose" is not spelled "Loose"
- Thread starter Blue Streak
- Start date
The one that has been jumping out at me lately is how often we (myself included) use an adjective when we should have used an adverb. For example:
I need to ski real bad.
NO:
I need to ski real badly.
Its all around me, including coming out of my own mouth. I've begun catching it, but still WIP.
Just today I handled a letter which stated that a facility had "passed a successful test". Still trying to visualize what the other three possibilities look like.
"passed an unsuccessful test" - it left the launch pad then blew up.
"failed a successful test" - it never left the launch pad but didn't blow up.
"failed an unsuccessful test" - the launch team couldn't find the button but it blew up anyway.
"failed a successful test" - it never left the launch pad but didn't blow up.
"failed an unsuccessful test" - the launch team couldn't find the button but it blew up anyway.
How about ending sentences with a preposition? This shall not be up with put (to paraphrase Churchill).
Or, for that matter, ending sentences with a proposition.
Or, for that matter, ending sentences with a proposition.
Well, the latter isn't always wrong is it? I mean, depending on the nature of the proposition, and the propositioner, I might up with put it.
Or the nature of the sentence, 5 years, 10 years? Community service and probation?
LOL, I think I was imagining a broader definition of "proposition"!!!
I was thinking that I should have gotten in on the sales at ski swap, but I waited longer than I should of.
I run into budgeting problems unless I limit the breadth of my propositions.
I was suppose to go too . . . so I could find my missing "d".
I think I am going to stop while I'm behind!
Men have excellent aural abilities were women are more oral.
That is among the most irritating of my many pet peeves.
What's interesting to me is when trite sayings get further removed from their phrases of origin there is genuine ambiguity about which word belongs in the expression.
For instance, I know it's "toe the line" not "tow the line" but I see the latter construction quite frequently.
Other examples I'm less sure about: beyond the pale? Or pail? Waiting with baited breath? Or bated?
And I often get hoard and horde mixed up, which surely infuriates grammar nazis one level up from me.
What's interesting to me is when trite sayings get further removed from their phrases of origin there is genuine ambiguity about which word belongs in the expression.
For instance, I know it's "toe the line" not "tow the line" but I see the latter construction quite frequently.
Other examples I'm less sure about: beyond the pale? Or pail? Waiting with baited breath? Or bated?
And I often get hoard and horde mixed up, which surely infuriates grammar nazis one level up from me.
Related to the subject. I have the book "Broken english spoken perfectly" on the bedside table when I need a laugh. Some of the "quotes" are found in the link below. My (somewhat degraded) favorites are nr 11 and 26.
http://www.dailycognition.com/index...gns-from-around-the-world-insanely-funny.html
http://www.dailycognition.com/index...gns-from-around-the-world-insanely-funny.html
It's "beyond the pale". And I've always heard it in relation to the English Pale in Ireland, although there were other examples mentioned when I Googled it for the official definition.
(from Latin palus, “stake”), district separated from the surrounding country by defined boundaries or distinguished by a different administrative and legal system. It is this definition of pale from which the phrase “beyond the pale” is derived.
-and-
Other examples of pales include the English pales in Ireland and France. “The Pale” in Ireland (so named after the late 14th century) was established at the time of Henry II’s expedition (1171–72) and consisted of the territories conquered by England, where English settlements and rule were most secure. The pale existed until the entire area was subjugated under Elizabeth I (reigned 1558–1603). Its area, which varied considerably depending upon the strength of the English authorities, included parts of the modern counties of Dublin, Louth, Meath, and Kildare. The Calais pale in northern France (1347–1558) had a perimeter extending from Gravelines in the east to Wissant in the west and enclosing a hinterland 6–9 miles (10–14 km) deep.
And I know it's bated breath, but had to look up why. According to this site http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bated-breath.html it's short for abated.-and-
Other examples of pales include the English pales in Ireland and France. “The Pale” in Ireland (so named after the late 14th century) was established at the time of Henry II’s expedition (1171–72) and consisted of the territories conquered by England, where English settlements and rule were most secure. The pale existed until the entire area was subjugated under Elizabeth I (reigned 1558–1603). Its area, which varied considerably depending upon the strength of the English authorities, included parts of the modern counties of Dublin, Louth, Meath, and Kildare. The Calais pale in northern France (1347–1558) had a perimeter extending from Gravelines in the east to Wissant in the west and enclosing a hinterland 6–9 miles (10–14 km) deep.
As for hoard vs horde I must have learned this in the past somewhere - The pirate horde had a treasure hoard.
