tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post4812745926057310426..comments2024-03-27T23:59:01.850-07:00Comments on Writing About Writing (And Occasionally Some Writing): 10 Words Writers Need to Learn to Use "Correctly"Chris Brecheenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-79326464127798781572020-02-03T20:31:06.384-08:002020-02-03T20:31:06.384-08:00I once accidentally (I was very tired) used 'b...I once accidentally (I was very tired) used 'bemused' when I wanted to use 'amused' and it went live (the person I wrote it for was Italian so wouldn't know the difference). I freaked out when I realised the mistake and went to check if it could be changed. To my relief, the context actually made either use (the correct one or incorrectly assumed one) acceptable so I left it and then felt quite chuffed at how well the mistake had worked out.Doughgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11523608100189489363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-5432075168590579232017-06-14T08:52:41.982-07:002017-06-14T08:52:41.982-07:00The problem with most of these is not that they...The problem with most of these is not that they're Pedantically Incorrect: It's that when used incorrectly, they're twee, faux-highbrow words that most people don't really understand, in situations where normal straightforward words would work much better. That's Bemused & Nonplussed, and to a lesser extent Disinterested, Reticent and Penultimate (the last three when used right are non-twee and just fine, and each is the best single word to convey its exact meaning). Decimate's figurative meaning is totally legit, and needed, and the original meaning is interesting history, but not essential. Conversely, Redundant's standard meaning is well-known and important, and it would be a shame to lose the ability to conceive and convey it. But people you think are misusing it may have some connection to its standard meaning in mind when they do so. Literally is overused but it does have a legit comic/figurative sense. Which may be Ironic, but probably in the wrong sense of the word. With Plethora, I find it hard to see your distinction between the two senses, or at least where to draw the line between them, and it's often used with a sense of comic exaggeration.John Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626596623007860802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-82235651307021981152017-06-07T05:25:11.452-07:002017-06-07T05:25:11.452-07:00I worry about previously useful words being redefi...I worry about previously useful words being redefined out of their usefulness. English words don't just have meanings, they have subtle differences in coloration which can tint a whole scene or even a novel. Currently (c. 2017) I am sad at the rapid loss of the useful word "fulsome," especially since I am hearing this misuse from the lips of otherwise sensible panelists in public radio discussions. It can, according to the dictionary, be used to mean complete or comprehensive, but its useful shade of meaning, not easily achieved otherwise, is that of overenthusiastic and fawning praise.<br /><br />More on the loss of meanings here, from C. S. Lewis: http://glenn.typepad.com/news/2003/08/cs_lewis_on_the.htmlCanadaHollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07273756221221662231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-5580490566534374562017-06-07T03:21:16.917-07:002017-06-07T03:21:16.917-07:00That's a lot of disavowal from someone who has...That's a lot of disavowal from someone who has written several hundred words correcting common errors. The difficulty in bowing to common errors is that they may be common in one setting and laughable in another. I rarely if ever encounter people misusing nonplussed, bemused, or penultimate, and ironic and literally are triggers for scorn of US English to speakers of other varieties of the language. Sadly, however, disinterested and decimate are often misused in UK and NZ English, too. I say sadly because, if words can mean anything, what's the bloody point?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13226995401589144332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-38980169204983783232013-10-26T18:25:52.686-07:002013-10-26T18:25:52.686-07:00I don't think I was aware of the definition of...I don't think I was aware of the definition of reticent, and no wonder, the online definitions appear to be split on the word (dependent partially on source (dependant merging into dependent may be another example)). On that note, usage will eventually change language, and language will in turn change the meaning of the words. Plethora may be closer than some of the others :) . With modern communication, we are privileged to witness linguistic evolution.Travis Brecheennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-21209962489660169492013-10-09T09:05:22.397-07:002013-10-09T09:05:22.397-07:00There are a few I saw or heard incorrectly for so ...There are a few I saw or heard incorrectly for so long that I wouldn't have understood them if they were written correctly (decimate, bemused, penultimate), but mostly I have a similar experience.<br /><br />In blogs, late is better than never, so welcome! Thanks for reading. Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-72399945033507807392013-10-09T01:24:54.030-07:002013-10-09T01:24:54.030-07:00I agree that the important part is being understoo...I agree that the important part is being understood by you readers - the whole point of writing is communication. What's interesting here is possible different areas having different usages? Some of the above I'd shrug and go "meh, I know what they meant", but some I'd struggle with because I would have a completely different understanding. Even the shrug and meh can be annoying if it makes you aware that you are reading.<br /><br />I would understand the "correct" version of a lot of those automatically - Nonplussed, Redundant, Reticent, Bemused and Penultimate are the main ones, and if I were reading something that used nonplussed, bemused or penultimate in the "often used" way, I'd get confused and misunderstand the story. "The crowd was filled with bemused faces at the young child's tap dancing prowess." would make me think there was a reason for surprise, probably a plot point! I'd also be very confused by someone trying to appear nonplussed at a werewolf (a werewolf trying to appear nonplussed at being accused of being a werewolf, I can see:-) )<br /><br />Things like literally I generally know what they meant, and sometimes it's funny. <br /><br />Quick only tangentially related funny... one of my favourite notices that was unintentionally funny wasn't about the misuse of a word, but the general meaning: "Please do not block the toilet with nappies or sanitary towels. Use the bin to your left instead."<br /><br />(Yeah, I know replying late, but still catching up on a lot of articles since I started reading!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-4757904914837237682013-08-14T20:21:03.900-07:002013-08-14T20:21:03.900-07:00They will never realize it. It is the edifice of ...They will never realize it. It is the edifice of superiority to which they cling. Everyone has one or two.Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-47346991930639901312013-06-29T09:17:22.828-07:002013-06-29T09:17:22.828-07:00I love that you disclaimed this as something write...I love that you disclaimed this as something writers need to do basically only to satisfy the nitpickers who make up the business side of the writing world, most of whom are on that side instead of the creative side because they're too rigid to be artists.<br /><br />When they realize that the rest of the world doesn't care, it will be a great day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com