Some Possibly Instructive Tips Regarding Word Usage
Well, with the exception of Nate's friend getting married, I think we're wrapping up the most boring week we've had on the blog so far. Any help from those having exciting things going on? . . . Pete's in Portland now, I guess, but without consistent computer access.
Mike? Any news of relief pitching or R.A.'ing?
In the meantime, I'm going for the gold and recounting some things I learned recently about word usage. It's either this or blogging about buying paint at Home Depot.
equivocal. This word is not supposed to be "equivocable." Duly noted.
vicious. I never realized this before, but "vicious" pertains to "vice" as "virtuous" pertains to "virtue," just no one uses it in this sense anymore. Note that this explains why vicious circles and virtuous circles are cleanly opposite concepts. Nonetheless, the phrase "vicious circle" will continue to create in my mind's eye the image of a feral Pac-Man.
nonplussed. For years I've figured this word means like it sounds, i.e. "unimpressed." It turns out that it really means "baffled." Even better, you can use the term "nonplus" as a noun, meaning "a state of bafflement."
Note that if someone emails you after a kinda-sorta date evening and admits to feeling "nonplussed" about it, it doesn't mean they're unimpressed; just perplexed. That's slightly less disheartening. However, it still means you're going to need to find someone else to spend kinda-sorta date evenings with.
quasi. I've always pronounced this to rhyme with Fozzie, but more often it's pronounced to slant-rhyme with wayside. Duly noted. Meanwhile, note that the hyphenation pattern differs according to whether this modifies an adjective or a noun — compare:
Bonus points if you can identify which of these sentences more accurately represents my recent shopping activity.
There's actually a much broader base of hyphenation rules for compound terms underlying that example, but that's a party I'll have to start some other time.
Anyhow, happy weekend: hopefully after a jazz concert, a movie, and hopefully some other weekend goings-on, I'll have something snazzier to write about.
Even if not, I should be able to get some painting done, and once it starts to dry you'll be the first to know.
Mike? Any news of relief pitching or R.A.'ing?
In the meantime, I'm going for the gold and recounting some things I learned recently about word usage. It's either this or blogging about buying paint at Home Depot.
equivocal. This word is not supposed to be "equivocable." Duly noted.
vicious. I never realized this before, but "vicious" pertains to "vice" as "virtuous" pertains to "virtue," just no one uses it in this sense anymore. Note that this explains why vicious circles and virtuous circles are cleanly opposite concepts. Nonetheless, the phrase "vicious circle" will continue to create in my mind's eye the image of a feral Pac-Man.
nonplussed. For years I've figured this word means like it sounds, i.e. "unimpressed." It turns out that it really means "baffled." Even better, you can use the term "nonplus" as a noun, meaning "a state of bafflement."
Note that if someone emails you after a kinda-sorta date evening and admits to feeling "nonplussed" about it, it doesn't mean they're unimpressed; just perplexed. That's slightly less disheartening. However, it still means you're going to need to find someone else to spend kinda-sorta date evenings with.
quasi. I've always pronounced this to rhyme with Fozzie, but more often it's pronounced to slant-rhyme with wayside. Duly noted. Meanwhile, note that the hyphenation pattern differs according to whether this modifies an adjective or a noun — compare:
- Purchasing these bedroom curtains will decrease the likelihood of unintentional quasi-public nudity.
- Purchasing this thong bathing suit will increase the likelihood of intentional public quasi nudity.
Bonus points if you can identify which of these sentences more accurately represents my recent shopping activity.
There's actually a much broader base of hyphenation rules for compound terms underlying that example, but that's a party I'll have to start some other time.
Anyhow, happy weekend: hopefully after a jazz concert, a movie, and hopefully some other weekend goings-on, I'll have something snazzier to write about.
Even if not, I should be able to get some painting done, and once it starts to dry you'll be the first to know.
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