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A tad, Dave? What on earth is a tad? some Yankee slang import? Tsk!INFORMATION
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Pedants' corner
Re: Pedants' corner
I am not enough of a pedant to refuse to embrace new words that I can use for effect.thundril wrote:A tad, Dave? What on earth is a tad? some Yankee slang import? Tsk!
It is always good to listen to that doyen of the English language, David Crystal. He is happy with words such as "texted" entering the language if they do a job that no other word does adequately. His own use of language often sounds more suitable to the pub than the university lecture room!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Boj8VYz ... w16XsaC6Fk
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015
Me, 2015
Re: Pedants' corner
I do not think it is even a tad pedantic to correct the criticism of the use of 'tad'.
According to the ODE it dates from the 19th century and denotes a small child perhaps originating from tadpole. The current usage dates from the 1940s.
Thanks to Ninny for my new Oxford Dictionary of English which she just won for completing Beelzebub - the Independent on Sunday crossword.
According to the ODE it dates from the 19th century and denotes a small child perhaps originating from tadpole. The current usage dates from the 1940s.
Thanks to Ninny for my new Oxford Dictionary of English which she just won for completing Beelzebub - the Independent on Sunday crossword.
Re: Pedants' corner
Is that a double negative, jaywhat? Are you saying, "It is correct to criticize the use of 'tad' "?jaywhat wrote:I do not think it is even a tad pedantic to correct the criticism of the use of 'tad'.
According to the ODE it dates from the 19th century and denotes a small child perhaps originating from tadpole. The current usage dates from the 1940s.
Thanks to Ninny for my new Oxford Dictionary of English which she just won for completing Beelzebub - the Independent on Sunday crossword.
I have the ODE as well, bit old now though - best dictionary for its value I have found. Will admit hat I use "The Free Dictionary" when online, and http://www.etymonline.com/ for etymology. Would love a copy of the SOED, with all the historical stuff, but don't have the room (or the pocket) for it! Hmm, it is available on DVD but that's not the same as holding the book.
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015
Me, 2015
Re: Pedants' corner
I was correcting the criticism. I admit I made it all a tad intricate.
Re: Pedants' corner
Well, I am more than a tad grateful for your support, jaywhat.jaywhat wrote:I was correcting the criticism. I admit I made it all a tad intricate.
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015
Me, 2015
- Tetenterre
- Posts: 3244
- Joined: March 13th, 2011, 11:36 am
Re: Pedants' corner
Huh? This thread had left me a tad baffled!
On the batphone, so expect weird autocorrect
On the batphone, so expect weird autocorrect
Steve
Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.
Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.
Re: Pedants' corner
It's the spawn of the devil!Tetenterre wrote:Huh? This thread had left me a tad baffled!
Alan Henness
There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:
1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?
There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:
1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?
Re: Pedants' corner
Alan Henness
There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:
1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?
There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:
1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?
Re: Pedants' corner
36% but quite heavily criticized
Re: Pedants' corner
More tolerant than I thought, 60%
But my pedantry tends to be more for effect unless I am correcting something that needs to communicate information accurately. I used the expression, "favourite hates," once - an oxymoron but, somehow, expressing what I felt!
But my pedantry tends to be more for effect unless I am correcting something that needs to communicate information accurately. I used the expression, "favourite hates," once - an oxymoron but, somehow, expressing what I felt!
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015
Me, 2015
- Tetenterre
- Posts: 3244
- Joined: March 13th, 2011, 11:36 am
Re: Pedants' corner
21% - I seem to be tolerant of informal neologisms.
Steve
Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.
Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.
Re: Pedants' corner
9% but those things were wrong and can't be allowed to pass. Why did I get as much as that?
I'm not a pedant. I'm an expert.
I'm not a pedant. I'm an expert.
Carpe diem. Savour every moment.
Re: Pedants' corner
Ah, yes. Expert. An ex is a has-been and a spirt is a drip under pressure.....lewist wrote:9% but those things were wrong and can't be allowed to pass. Why did I get as much as that?
I'm not a pedant. I'm an expert.
Re: Pedants' corner
I was going to be pedantic and say, "a spurt is a dip under pressure".Ah, yes. Expert. An ex is a has-been and a spirt is a drip under pressure.....
Then I Googled and found that "spirt" is a variation of "spurt", but probably an Americanism. Can we allow that?
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015
Me, 2015