pet peeves

J. Jericho

"Daily" is correct. "On a daily basis" is superfluous.

grune

"Daily" is correct. "On a daily basis" is superfluous.

Correct! But not because it is superfluous: much can be superfluous and still be grammatically correct.

Specifically, English grammar, inter alia, has nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and structure. Adjectives "modify" nouns and are placed before the noun. Adverbs modify verbs and are placed after the verb.

"Basis" is a noun. "Daily" is an adverb. Thus, the phrase "on a daily basis" uses an adverb to modify a noun and the adverb is placed before the noun. Such destruction of language stems from ignorance and confused thinking.

Sadly, this is but an iota of the proverbial iceberg tip. The worst offenders, imho, are lawyers. You will find thousands of "agreements" labelled as "non-circumvention non-disclosure". In fact, the prefix "non" is now so pervasive, people cannot comprehend any other meaning. If 2 parties agree not to disclose information to 3rd parties, the meaning of this is "confidentiality".

Other errors are the use of "that", "not", and hundreds of other constructs.

grune

@Newell-Post said in pet peeves:

Unnhhh... According to the "Manual of Style" on my bookshelf....

Lay (verb) means "to put in place." It must have an object. (Example: "The contractor promised to lay the sod before the rains began.")

Lie (verb) means "to rest or recline." It cannot have an object. (Example: "The main plant entrance lies south of the personnel building.")

Lie (verb) second meaning: "to utter a falsehood."

Lie (noun) means: "a knowingly false statement."

Or, as I learned it many years ago in school: "You should lay the baby down for a while. If he can lie still for a few minutes, he might feel better."

Excellent lesson.

https://www.trumpetboards.com/topic/128/copper-is-cool/16?page=1

uh, maybe you could advise Osren at the link above?

grune

@administrator said in pet peeves:

"Lay" is a verb indicating a certain position our body is in. "Lie" is either a verb or noun that describes telling something that is not completely true.

"Who" is used as subject, "whom" is used as object. I didn't even have to search those things!

correct for who and whom.

Tobylou8

@Kehaulani said in pet peeves:

Uh, dudes, my double entendre is still flying overhead. I know the grammatical difference. That was a joke.

I got it! I knew you weren't lion!

J. Jericho

FWIW - A dictionary is a catalogue of use, not, a prescription. As common usage changes, so does the dictionary. For example, the term "catalogue" is a secondary spelling of what is now the more-used "catalog".

J. Jericho

Here's an interesting read: https://io9.gizmodo.com/10-grammar-mistakes-people-love-to-correct-that-arent-1646176479 . Just maneuver around the ads to get at the substance.

Newell Post

"Dictionaries are like watches: the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to go quite true."
-- Samuel Johnson: Letter to Fransesco Sastres (August 21, 1784)

Dr GO

@Newell-Post said in pet peeves:

"Dictionaries are like watches: the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to go quite true."
-- Samuel Johnson: Letter to Fransesco Sastres (August 21, 1784)

However, watches are at least correct two times out of the day!

Newell Post

@Dr-GO Actually, not quite.... A BROKEN watch is right twice per day. But, for example, a watch that is set 30 minutes ahead of the correct time, but runs true, is never correct.

Dr GO

@Newell-Post said in pet peeves:

@Dr-GO Actually, not quite.... A BROKEN watch is right twice per day. But, for example, a watch that is set 30 minutes ahead of the correct time, but runs true, is never correct.

Point well taken!

Dr GO

Not sure the "Pet Peeves" thread is to be solely related to language usage, but at this point would rather add to a Pet Peeve in the weather category: Mother Natures gift known as a Tornado.

I have been away for a couple of days as my "neighborhood" was hit my not one by two (2) EF3 tornadoes on the evening of Memorial Day. This EF3 came due East. Here is a picture of one of my neighbors homes that is just one block East and one block South of my home:

The second EF3 was originally heading North after crossing the Indiana state line for Troy OH, then suddenly dropped 20 miles South to miss my street by just a half mile. This second one came by just a couple minutes from the first one and nearly crossed paths about a mile away from where I live.

I was lucky as the tornado just miss my block (two rows of houses where is touched down). So my home has no damage what-so-ever and not even a limb blown off from my trees. I believe my house was so close we may have been in a vacuum just external to the twister. They say a tornado coming through was like hearing a freight train. I heard NOTHING. I mean PURE SILENCE (not even wind blowing or rain falling) that is how freaky this experience has been. So today, we just got electricity back on, and my phone and internet service just kicked in about an hour ago.

Stay safe out there during these Midwest Hot and Humid days of "Summer", and if you hear Tornado warnings do get to the center of the lowest level of your home. This is what I did and by the grace of God, was spared.

Newell Post

@Dr-GO Yikes. Glad you're OK. My old home town, Lawrence, KS, got clipped yesterday. No deaths, but a dozen injured.

https://www.axios.com/massive-tornado-strikes-kansas-69f26459-8cab-4020-9b76-14da120398b4.html

BigDub

@Dr-GO said in pet peeves:

Not sure the "Pet Peeves" thread is to be solely related to language usage, but at this point would rather add to a Pet Peeve in the weather category: Mother Natures gift known as a Tornado.

I have been away for a couple of days as my "neighborhood" was hit my not one by two (2) EF3 tornadoes on the evening of Memorial Day. This EF3 came due East. Here is a picture of one of my neighbors homes that is just one block East and one block South of my home:

The second EF3 was originally heading North after crossing the Indiana state line for Troy OH, then suddenly dropped 20 miles South to miss my street by just a half mile. This second one came by just a couple minutes from the first one and nearly crossed paths about a mile away from where I live.

I was lucky as the tornado just miss my block (two rows of houses where is touched down). So my home has no damage what-so-ever and not even a limb blown off from my trees. I believe my house was so close we may have been in a vacuum just external to the twister. They say a tornado coming through was like hearing a freight train. I heard NOTHING. I mean PURE SILENCE (not even wind blowing or rain falling) that is how freaky this experience has been. So today, we just got electricity back on, and my phone and internet service just kicked in about an hour ago.

Stay safe out there during these Midwest Hot and Humid days of "Summer", and if you hear Tornado warnings do get to the center of the lowest level of your home. This is what I did and by the grace of God, was spared.

So glad to hear this. You can only realize we are quite powerless to prevent these things and I am Certain you're grateful and thankful to go unscathed like this. I am sure you have many neighbors and friends who were not so fortunate but you can and will reach out to them in any way you are able.

J. Jericho

"Mischeivous" is: mis-chev-us, not mis-cheev-ee-us!

Rapier232

@J-Jericho

Catalog more used? Surely, only by those that can’t spell catalogue.

J. Jericho

@Rapier232 said in pet peeves:

@J-Jericho

Catalog more used? Surely, only by those that can’t spell catalogue.

Maybe they can't work out the pronunciation: "Is it cat-a-low-goo? Maybe it's cat-a-low-gyoo or ca-tal-oh-gway... Screw it!! I'll just write catalog; cat-a-log!"

BigDub

More then once I have scene words used incorrectly.
It really is a pane in the neck.
I know what your thinking, now.

Tobylou8

@BigDub said in pet peeves:

More then once I have scene words used incorrectly.
It really is a pane in the neck.
I know what your thinking, now.

A pane in the neck would make it easier for the doctor to see !

J. Jericho

Using the term "gut" instead of "intestines".