Observer-Reporter forum

dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

NOOOO, I TYPED THAT FOR FUN.

Yes, I'm serious. Atleast Wink

I can friggin proof read what I type.

Seriously,

Amphikalein · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

It's credence, not credance.

One of these days i'm going to explode all over one of those folks who routinely say orientated rather than oriented, even though both are technically acceptable. Orientated just grates on my nerves.

When you're talking about a horse mounted military unit riding to the rescue, it's the cavalry, not the Calvary.

i support amom's rule - grey is so much better than gray. But i'll stick with jail rather than gaol.
Wink

In The Canterville Ghost (1887) Oscar Wilde wrote of the English, "We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language."
_________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

"May we, in our dealings with all the peoples of the earth, ever speak the truth and serve justice." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

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dazes · Professional Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1422

Unless it's a specific Calvary. People do that with subjects as well, Math 101, math class.

busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497

dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

A friend of mine, who is a math wiz, isn't so good at grammar. Instead of "we'll see" or "we will see", he texted me "will see".

He is also guilty of using "to" in any situation.

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Here's a few idioms that get mixed up that I just found online:

"Tender loving care" is really supposed to be "tender love and care."

"Free reign" should be "free rein."

"Use to" and "suppose to" are supposed to be "used to" and "supposed to."
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Amphikalein · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:12 am Post subject:

Amphikalein · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:14 am Post subject:

ellipses · Mod Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 9218 Location: WashPa!

This isn't really used often... but "whence" means "From where"... as in "Whence did come this man?"

Yet, I noticed that a lot of fledgling writers, trying to sound a bit higher on the horse than the actual stature of their horse, would often make the mistake of saying "From whence"
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dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

That kind of reminds me of using "who" and "whom".

When I'm typing, sometimes I'll realize that I should use whom. In speaking, I use who just about every time.

Anyway, I noticed my sister inlaw using "whom" the other day in places that I'm pretty sure it wasn't called for. And it bothered me enough to remember it and put it on the board.

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Got a fun new one to add I just learned today!

Appendixes or appendices?

If you said appendices, you answered the same way I did. Turns out we're wrong! Well, kind of. Appendixes is the accepted spelling in almost all cases in the US according to both APA and Chicago style guides. Appendices is still the accepted form in any instance in British English. Appendices isn't strictly wrong but is seemingly relegated to only highly scientific fields on this side of the pond; Merriam-Webster also backs this up. And here I didn't even know appendixes was a word...
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Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

And for kicks, trivia questions:

Data and graffiti are both actually plural forms of their words. The singular forms are no longer used in common language with the plural standing in for both. What is the singular for data? For graffiti?
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Amphikalein · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject:

Datum?
_________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

"May we, in our dealings with all the peoples of the earth, ever speak the truth and serve justice." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Amphy's blog | Proud Member NDA