Last week’s post highlighted a few qualified absolutes such as “most unique” and some silly redundancies like “delete out”. Here are a few more for the record book: ATM Machine Trick question, folks. What does the “M” in ATM stand for? Whether or not vs. whether The word “whether” implies the “or not”; it’s unnecessary […]
More Redundancies: ATM Machine to Horrible Tragedy Read More »
Some phrases exude redundancy and illogic. I sometimes wonder if people think, “If one word is good, two is better – if I say it twice, people will be sure to understand me.” In refuting this view, I quote Thomas Jefferson, who said, “Never use two words when one will do.” Here is a partial
In a recent blog post, Farhad Manjoo, technology columnist for Slate.com, derided the use of two spaces after periods. He maintains that contemporary typographers require only one space after a period. He attributes the two-space rule to the vagaries of old-fashioned typewriters, which did not use proportional spacing for different-sized letters. The two spaces were
After a Period, One Space or Two? Read More »
Here are a few more fine distinctions from the 1922 pamphlet S.O.S. Slips of Speech by Frank H. Vizetelly, Litt.D., L.L.D. 1. Hypercritical/Hypocritical Hypercritical means overly or excessively critical. Hypocritical signifies deceptive, sham, for hypocrisy is false pretense 2. Idea/Opinion Idea implies something undetermined in the mind; Opinion is formed after deduction or reflection and
Commonly Misused Words 3: Wisdom from 1922 Read More »
Last week I gave a few examples of words and distinctions made clear in a pamphlet from 1922 titled S.O.S.: Slips of Speech. Here are a few more excerpts. Statements in parentheses are mine. Divide Up As divide means to “separate into pieces,” “cut asunder,” “apportion,” or “distribute in shares,”, up is redundant and absurd.
Commonly Misused Words 2: Wisdom from 1922 Read More »
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