Comments on: Word up http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:57:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: MichaelS http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-2/#comment-47563 MichaelS Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:14:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47563 1. "Although aggravate has been used in this manner for four hundred years, considerable controversy over this use exists today." Hahaha! Typically, when something has been used for four centuries, it's considered proper. 2. I understand the difference between anxious and eager, but I would tend to be anxious about a vacation and eager about a report card. Just me. 3. I didn't know "chaff" meant anything other than "metallic confetti to keep radar-guided missiles from hitting you". Interesting. (A few other words I hadn't seen before too.) 4. What is "getting one's just deserts" then? Am I getting my own abandonment? 5. According to wordnet.princeton.edu, "Enourmousness" means "<b>unusual</b> largeness", while "enormity" means "largeness". I'd never heard the former, and that's exactly how I use the latter. 6. I don't see the difference in their definitions of "fortuitous" and "fortunate"; both are "happening by chance". I think the difference is that "fortuitous" means "I didn't plan this" while "fortunate" means "I didn't plan this, but I'm glad it happened". 7. @Dennis Zaebst: "Lightening" means "making something lighter" whether "lighter" refers to the electromagnetic spectrum or weight. Usually you see "brighter" rather than "lighter" for colors, but both are used and correct. 8. I still think the word "n***er" is funny (how do you pronounce that--nasterisker? ;) ); where I'm from, it's a derivitave of [the spoken-only word] "niggro" which is a local/mis-pronuciation of "negro" which means "black", and is synonymous with all of the above. It is often used offensively, but not because the word is offensive, but because it is used to describe colored people, who are considered inferior by those who use the word offensively. The same person using any other word to describe those same people would be using said other word just as offensively, negating the entire purpose of considering it offensive. 9. "Sanguine" most definately refers to blood in many contexts (role-playing games come to mind), but is much more often used to mean "like blood" (especially "blood-red") than actually "of blood". Princeton agrees with the blood-colored definition. 1. “Although aggravate has been used in this manner for four hundred years, considerable controversy over this use exists today.” Hahaha! Typically, when something has been used for four centuries, it’s considered proper.
2. I understand the difference between anxious and eager, but I would tend to be anxious about a vacation and eager about a report card. Just me.
3. I didn’t know “chaff” meant anything other than “metallic confetti to keep radar-guided missiles from hitting you”. Interesting. (A few other words I hadn’t seen before too.)
4. What is “getting one’s just deserts” then? Am I getting my own abandonment?
5. According to wordnet.princeton.edu, “Enourmousness” means “unusual largeness”, while “enormity” means “largeness”. I’d never heard the former, and that’s exactly how I use the latter.
6. I don’t see the difference in their definitions of “fortuitous” and “fortunate”; both are “happening by chance”. I think the difference is that “fortuitous” means “I didn’t plan this” while “fortunate” means “I didn’t plan this, but I’m glad it happened”.
7. @Dennis Zaebst: “Lightening” means “making something lighter” whether “lighter” refers to the electromagnetic spectrum or weight. Usually you see “brighter” rather than “lighter” for colors, but both are used and correct.
8. I still think the word “n***er” is funny (how do you pronounce that–nasterisker? ;) ); where I’m from, it’s a derivitave of [the spoken-only word] “niggro” which is a local/mis-pronuciation of “negro” which means “black”, and is synonymous with all of the above. It is often used offensively, but not because the word is offensive, but because it is used to describe colored people, who are considered inferior by those who use the word offensively. The same person using any other word to describe those same people would be using said other word just as offensively, negating the entire purpose of considering it offensive.
9. “Sanguine” most definately refers to blood in many contexts (role-playing games come to mind), but is much more often used to mean “like blood” (especially “blood-red”) than actually “of blood”. Princeton agrees with the blood-colored definition.

]]> By: JackC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-2/#comment-47562 JackC Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:56:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47562 Elwood Sounds like someone else here has brushed up on their Anguish Languish: http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/anguish.html "Murder, mare argo art toe swarm?" "Yap, mar doling dodder, Hank yore clues honor higglery larme, An dun gore norther warder!" JC Elwood

Sounds like someone else here has brushed up on their Anguish Languish: http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/anguish.html

“Murder, mare argo art toe swarm?”
“Yap, mar doling dodder, Hank yore clues honor higglery larme, An dun gore norther warder!”

JC

]]> By: John http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-2/#comment-47510 John Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:03:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47510 Ignorance and Apathy I don't know and I don't care. Ignorance and Apathy

I don’t know and I don’t care.

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-2/#comment-47550 Davidlpf Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:17:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47550 beavis and butthead voice, "cool". beavis and butthead voice, “cool”.

]]> By: Dennis Zaebst http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47557 Dennis Zaebst Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47557 @ Irishman: Re: Winston Churchill on prepositions: Well, at least there is evidence that the anecdote might have been inappropriately attributed to him :>) I just stuck that comment in as an afterthought as a bit of humor (at least it's funny if you haven't heard it a hundred times). Thanks for the link...very interesting. I'm always ready to be proven wrong. @ Irishman:

Re: Winston Churchill on prepositions: Well, at least there is evidence that the anecdote might have been inappropriately attributed to him :>)

I just stuck that comment in as an afterthought as a bit of humor (at least it’s funny if you haven’t heard it a hundred times).

Thanks for the link…very interesting. I’m always ready to be proven wrong.

]]> By: John Marley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47558 John Marley Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:30:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47558 My inner grammar geek is crying. They forgot raise/rise. Also their/there/they're. My inner grammar geek is crying. They forgot raise/rise. Also their/there/they’re.

]]> By: Elwood Herring http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47559 Elwood Herring Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:48:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47559 Slight mistake - I meant this obviously: "Putt knot yaw trussed inn spell chequers" Damn spell checker didn't spot that either! Slight mistake – I meant this obviously:

“Putt knot yaw trussed inn spell chequers”

Damn spell checker didn’t spot that either!

]]> By: Elwood Herring http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47561 Elwood Herring Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:46:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47561 I used to teach basic computer skills (including word processing), and I always got my students to type the following sentence into their w.p. and then run it through the spell checker (try it yourself): "Putt know yaw trussed inn spell chequers" Now say it aloud! I used to teach basic computer skills (including word processing), and I always got my students to type the following sentence into their w.p. and then run it through the spell checker (try it yourself):

“Putt know yaw trussed inn spell chequers”

Now say it aloud!

]]> By: reasonable http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47560 reasonable Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:25:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47560 I can't believe "upload" and "download" didn't make the list. I can’t believe “upload” and “download” didn’t make the list.

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47546 CR Fri, 31 Aug 2007 06:24:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47546 Well, you don't know me, Ryan, but I also understand the difference between 'anxious' and 'eager'. The misuse of 'anxious' drives me nuts, too! Well, you don’t know me, Ryan, but I also understand the difference between ‘anxious’ and ‘eager’. The misuse of ‘anxious’ drives me nuts, too!

]]> By: Ryan Jensen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47511 Ryan Jensen Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:07:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47511 FTA: Anxious means "troubled" or "worried." Eager means "having keen interest" or "impatient expectancy." When anxious is used to describe someone's expectancy, it is often incorrectly used to mean "eager," which has a far more positive connotation. One may be anxious about an impending report card, but one would be eager to go on a long-awaited vacation. This. This x 100! Everyone I know (being from the upper Midwest, specifically Fargo, ND) uses "anxious" to mean eager. Drives me nuts -- "anxious" is such a good word to use for something that causes anxiety. I am literally the only person I know who ever considers "anxious" to mean a negative when someone uses it. FTA: Anxious means “troubled” or “worried.” Eager means “having keen interest” or “impatient expectancy.” When anxious is used to describe someone’s expectancy, it is often incorrectly used to mean “eager,” which has a far more positive connotation. One may be anxious about an impending report card, but one would be eager to go on a long-awaited vacation.

This. This x 100! Everyone I know (being from the upper Midwest, specifically Fargo, ND) uses “anxious” to mean eager. Drives me nuts — “anxious” is such a good word to use for something that causes anxiety. I am literally the only person I know who ever considers “anxious” to mean a negative when someone uses it.

]]> By: DenverAstro http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47512 DenverAstro Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:18:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47512 I dont need no fancy talkin web site like dis...I speaks real good english. Just ax me. I dont need no fancy talkin web site like dis…I speaks real good english. Just ax me.

]]> By: Steve Morrison http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47518 Steve Morrison Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:50:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47518 One more good website: http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm One more good website: http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm

]]> By: AK http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47547 AK Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:11:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47547 My high school principal made a school-wide announcement one day that we now had refuge containers outside the school. Although I would never refuse the increased safety these brought, I would rather have had refuse containers. My high school principal made a school-wide announcement one day that we now had refuge containers outside the school. Although I would never refuse the increased safety these brought, I would rather have had refuse containers.

]]> By: John Kennell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47548 John Kennell Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:50:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47548 Shouldn't you be spending your time more productively? profanity? proclivity? proactive? inactive? inarticulately? particularly? superunificationly? Shouldn’t you be spending your time more productively? profanity? proclivity? proactive? inactive? inarticulately? particularly? superunificationly?

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47552 Irishman Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:33:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47552 They did nauseous/nauseated/nauseating, but not noxious. Dennis Zaebst said: > By the way, it was Winston Churchill (I think, I need to fact check that) who said: “Putting a preposition at the end of a sentence is something up with which we cannot put”. Uh, you've got it all wrong. 1. The phrase was in response to someone "correcting" his writing by eliminating a preposition at the end of a sentence. The response was to show the stiltedness and therefore ridiculousness of the change. Your version might be intended as ironic, but suggests enforcing the stilted rule. 2. The actual phrase is debated, with several variations, but likely is “This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.” 3. It seems there's no cite to Churchill, and some evidence it predated him. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/churchill.html They did nauseous/nauseated/nauseating, but not noxious.

Dennis Zaebst said:
> By the way, it was Winston Churchill (I think, I need to fact check that) who said: “Putting a preposition at the end of a sentence is something up with which we cannot put”.

Uh, you’ve got it all wrong.
1. The phrase was in response to someone “correcting” his writing by eliminating a preposition at the end of a sentence. The response was to show the stiltedness and therefore ridiculousness of the change. Your version might be intended as ironic, but suggests enforcing the stilted rule.

2. The actual phrase is debated, with several variations, but likely is
“This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.”

3. It seems there’s no cite to Churchill, and some evidence it predated him.

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/churchill.html

]]> By: Donnie B. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47556 Donnie B. Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:15:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47556 Oh, and another pair I've seen confused lately: Breathe and Breath. Oh, and another pair I’ve seen confused lately: Breathe and Breath.

]]> By: Donnie B. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47555 Donnie B. Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:12:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47555 A couple more they missed; at least I think they qualify: Capital and Capitol Principal and Principle A couple more they missed; at least I think they qualify:

Capital and Capitol

Principal and Principle

]]> By: Miranda http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47554 Miranda Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:48:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47554 Oops, belatedly I realize 'regardless' and 'irrespective' mean essentially the same thing, not different things, so they wouldn't appear in this list, now would they? Still my #1 pet peeve, however ... :) Oops, belatedly I realize ‘regardless’ and ‘irrespective’ mean essentially the same thing, not different things, so they wouldn’t appear in this list, now would they?

Still my #1 pet peeve, however … :)

]]> By: Miranda http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47553 Miranda Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:41:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47553 My pet peeve ... regardless and irrespective. Worse, because I'm certain that an ill-founded blending of the two gave us "irregardless", which makes my hair stand on end. My pet peeve … regardless and irrespective. Worse, because I’m certain that an ill-founded blending of the two gave us “irregardless”, which makes my hair stand on end.

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47551 Evolving Squid Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:15:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47551 Following up on my previous post, I should say that "stanch" is correct, according to my OED, for Americans. "Staunch" is the more usual British usage. I grew up near the US border, so it was always "stanch" for me. In general, Canadians can probably go either way with that one. Whichever way a Canadian chooses, they should learn how to do it to bleeding because if you are losing blood and can't sta(u)nch the bleeding, you'll probably die waiting for health care :( Following up on my previous post, I should say that “stanch” is correct, according to my OED, for Americans. “Staunch” is the more usual British usage.

I grew up near the US border, so it was always “stanch” for me. In general, Canadians can probably go either way with that one. Whichever way a Canadian chooses, they should learn how to do it to bleeding because if you are losing blood and can’t sta(u)nch the bleeding, you’ll probably die waiting for health care :(

]]> By: JackC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47549 JackC Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:50:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47549 I am ashamed to say, I had to read it about 6 times before I saw it. There, that will teach me. JC I am ashamed to say, I had to read it about 6 times before I saw it.

There, that will teach me.

JC

]]> By: AndreH http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47545 AndreH Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:06:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47545 @Evolving Squid: You know they have to save the money that is wasted by government servants surfing in the internet during their work time;-) Andre @Evolving Squid:

You know they have to save the money that is wasted by government servants surfing in the internet during their work time;-)

Andre

]]> By: AndreH http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47544 AndreH Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:03:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47544 @Cameron and A.J. Yes the ads are for sure changing and to a certain extent individual. As I am from Germany, some of the ads I see are in German. Intresting post. Andre @Cameron and A.J.

Yes the ads are for sure changing and to a certain extent individual.
As I am from Germany, some of the ads I see are in German.

Intresting post.

Andre

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/comment-page-1/#comment-47543 Evolving Squid Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:05:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/29/word-up/#comment-47543 Yes, I see the missing "e" in someone, but the "e" key is sticky on this keyboard and I saw the error after I hit submit. I'm in a government office. Civil servants don't need the letter "e" anyway. Cutbacks, you know... Yes, I see the missing “e” in someone, but the “e” key is sticky on this keyboard and I saw the error after I hit submit. I’m in a government office. Civil servants don’t need the letter “e” anyway. Cutbacks, you know…

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