Here are links to 2 funny sketches on this topic. For some inexplicable reason, they both seem to have similar endings!
Mitchell and Webb
CollegeHumor
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Grammar nazis
My series of recent posting on words and phrases makes me seem to be something of a "Grammar Nazi".
Here are links to 2 funny sketches on this topic. For some inexplicable reason, they both seem to have similar endings!
Mitchell and Webb
CollegeHumor
Here are links to 2 funny sketches on this topic. For some inexplicable reason, they both seem to have similar endings!
Mitchell and Webb
CollegeHumor
IT crowd - no damp squib!
I mentioned the phrase "damp squid" in a recent post.
Reminds me of the completely hilarious screen from "The IT Crowd".
I think it's the second funniest passage from the whole series. Completely brilliant.
You can see it here:
Reminds me of the completely hilarious screen from "The IT Crowd".
I think it's the second funniest passage from the whole series. Completely brilliant.
You can see it here:
Administrate versus administer
Speaking of "registrate" (which I did in my previous post) I heard someone use the phrase "administrate a server" the other day.
Now I think that people "administer a server".
Turns out that "administrate" is a valid word so I guess it's a matter of taste.
You would definitely administer justice, or administer medicine, but you could potentially administrate a server.
I wouldn't though. I'd just administer it.
Now I think that people "administer a server".
Turns out that "administrate" is a valid word so I guess it's a matter of taste.
You would definitely administer justice, or administer medicine, but you could potentially administrate a server.
I wouldn't though. I'd just administer it.
Registrate versus register
My eldest was talking the other day about the fact that we have not completed her registration for the next year in school. She asked us if we could "registrate" her as soon as possible.
Obviously we shared the wisdom of our years' of experience in speaking English and told her that the correct word is "register".
I looked up some online dictionaries and I see that there is a word "registrate" which means: "to select and combine pipe organ stops"
Live and learn.
Other online dictionaries tell me that it is also a transitive verb meaning to register.
Live and learn again!
Obviously we shared the wisdom of our years' of experience in speaking English and told her that the correct word is "register".
I looked up some online dictionaries and I see that there is a word "registrate" which means: "to select and combine pipe organ stops"
Live and learn.
Other online dictionaries tell me that it is also a transitive verb meaning to register.
Live and learn again!
Raze to the ground
I mentioned the "The top 10 misquoted phrases in Britain" in my last post.
One that didn't feature (probably just because it isn't used very often) is the difference between "raised to the ground" (wrong) and "razed to the ground" (right).
My guess is that anyone who hears the phrase "raised to the ground" must be pretty mystified as to what it might mean (much like the phrase "damp squid"!)
One that didn't feature (probably just because it isn't used very often) is the difference between "raised to the ground" (wrong) and "razed to the ground" (right).
My guess is that anyone who hears the phrase "raised to the ground" must be pretty mystified as to what it might mean (much like the phrase "damp squid"!)
Averse versus adverse
Have you ever heard anyone use the phrase "I wouldn't be adverse to that". I hear it quite regularly.
Of course, the person means to say "averse to that".
Turns out it is in "The top 10 misquoted phrases in Britain" as reported by the "The Telegraph" newspaper. It comes it at number 8.
The full list is as follows:
1) A damp squid (a damp squib)
2) On tender hooks (on tenter hooks)
3) Nip it in the butt (nip it in the bud)
4) Champing at the bit (chomping at the bit)
5) A mute point (a moot point)
6) One foul swoop (one fell swoop)
7) All that glitters is not gold (all that glisters is not gold)
8) Adverse to (averse to)
9) Batting down the hatches (batten down the hatches)
10) Find a penny pick it up (find a pin pick it up)
Aside from #8, my personal favourites are #1 and #2.
Here is a picture of a very damp squid:
Of course, the person means to say "averse to that".
Turns out it is in "The top 10 misquoted phrases in Britain" as reported by the "The Telegraph" newspaper. It comes it at number 8.
The full list is as follows:
1) A damp squid (a damp squib)
2) On tender hooks (on tenter hooks)
3) Nip it in the butt (nip it in the bud)
4) Champing at the bit (chomping at the bit)
5) A mute point (a moot point)
6) One foul swoop (one fell swoop)
7) All that glitters is not gold (all that glisters is not gold)
8) Adverse to (averse to)
9) Batting down the hatches (batten down the hatches)
10) Find a penny pick it up (find a pin pick it up)
Aside from #8, my personal favourites are #1 and #2.
Here is a picture of a very damp squid:
Broaching the subject
I had occasion to write the phrase"broach the subject" in a mail the other day and I began to wonder about broach versus brooch.
I guess that was because I had seen the word "brooch" so many times recently while reviewing my friends' (Alex and Loreto) new website.
The word "brooch" is a noun with only one meaning: "An ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch".
The word "broach" can be a noun or a verb and is used in the phrase "broach the subject" as well as in other contexts.
Here is a picture of a rather nice brooch which (at the time of writing) is available from the aforementioned website:
I guess that was because I had seen the word "brooch" so many times recently while reviewing my friends' (Alex and Loreto) new website.
The word "brooch" is a noun with only one meaning: "An ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch".
The word "broach" can be a noun or a verb and is used in the phrase "broach the subject" as well as in other contexts.
Here is a picture of a rather nice brooch which (at the time of writing) is available from the aforementioned website:
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Bear With Me
As I was writing an email earlier I happened to use the phrase "bear with me" and I began to wonder if it should be "bare with me".
A quick bit of "googling" later confirmed that it is "bear".
Turns out that "bear" is a very versatile word, while bare is not.
The former is used in the following phrases:
Bare, on the other hand, just means without clothes.
Given this understanding, it is pretty clear that many of these phrases would have very different meanings if you were to substitute "bare"! "Bare in mind", for example, could mean vacuous while "grin and bare it" would be something that a stripper might do.
Here is a picture to help remind you of the proper spelling for "bear with me" (taken from a TV show called "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" back in the 70s):
A quick bit of "googling" later confirmed that it is "bear".
Turns out that "bear" is a very versatile word, while bare is not.
The former is used in the following phrases:
- Bear with me
- Bear in mind
- Bear the pain/suspense/cold
- Bear a grudge
- Bear no ill will
- Bear fruit
- Bear children
- Grin and bear it
- Bring to bear
Bare, on the other hand, just means without clothes.
Given this understanding, it is pretty clear that many of these phrases would have very different meanings if you were to substitute "bare"! "Bare in mind", for example, could mean vacuous while "grin and bare it" would be something that a stripper might do.
Here is a picture to help remind you of the proper spelling for "bear with me" (taken from a TV show called "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" back in the 70s):
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