light-year
“Light-year” is always a measure of distance rather than of time; in fact it is the distance that light travels in a year. “Parsec” is also a measure of distance, equaling 3.26 light-years, though the term was used incorrectly as a measure of time by Han Solo in Star Wars.
Please, Star Wars fans, don’t bother sending me elaborate explanations of why Solo’s speech makes sense; I personally heard George Lucas admit in a TV interview that it was just a mistake.
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
lense/lens: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, November 29, 2012
lense/lens
Although the variant spelling “lense” is listed in some dictionaries, the standard spelling for those little disks that focus light is “lens.”
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Although the variant spelling “lense” is listed in some dictionaries, the standard spelling for those little disks that focus light is “lens.”
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
laxidaisical/lackadaisical: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, November 28, 2012
laxidaisical/lackadaisical
“Alack!” originally meant something like “Alas!” It bore connotations of dissatisfaction or shame. “Alack the day!” meant at first “may the day be shamed in which this awful thing has happened.” Later, it came to be abbreviated “lack-a-day” and used to express mere surprise.
The expression was gradually weakened, shifting from expressions of anguish to resigned despair, to languid indifference. The end result is the modern form “lackadaisical,” which conveys a lack of enthusiasm—a casual, perfunctory way of doing things.
This final meaning suggests “laxness” to some people who then misspell the word “laxadaisical,” but this is nonstandard.
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“Alack!” originally meant something like “Alas!” It bore connotations of dissatisfaction or shame. “Alack the day!” meant at first “may the day be shamed in which this awful thing has happened.” Later, it came to be abbreviated “lack-a-day” and used to express mere surprise.
The expression was gradually weakened, shifting from expressions of anguish to resigned despair, to languid indifference. The end result is the modern form “lackadaisical,” which conveys a lack of enthusiasm—a casual, perfunctory way of doing things.
This final meaning suggests “laxness” to some people who then misspell the word “laxadaisical,” but this is nonstandard.
_____________________
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
silicon/silicone: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, November 27, 2012
silicon/silicone
Silicon is a chemical element, the basic stuff of which microchips are made. Silicones are plastics and other materials containing silicon, the most commonly discussed example being silicone breast implants. Less used by the general public is “silica”: an oxide of silicon.
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Silicon is a chemical element, the basic stuff of which microchips are made. Silicones are plastics and other materials containing silicon, the most commonly discussed example being silicone breast implants. Less used by the general public is “silica”: an oxide of silicon.
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Monday, November 26, 2012
if not: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, November 26, 2012
if not
“He was smart if not exactly brilliant.” In this sort of expression, “if not” links a weaker with a stronger word with a related meaning. Other examples: “unattractive if not downright ugly,” “reasonably priced if not exactly cheap,” “interested if not actually excited.”
But this sort of “if not” is often misused to link words that don’t form a weaker/stronger pair: “obscure if not boring,” “happy if not entertained,” “anxious if not afraid.” The linked terms in these examples do have some logical relationship, but they do not form a weaker/stronger pair.
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“He was smart if not exactly brilliant.” In this sort of expression, “if not” links a weaker with a stronger word with a related meaning. Other examples: “unattractive if not downright ugly,” “reasonably priced if not exactly cheap,” “interested if not actually excited.”
But this sort of “if not” is often misused to link words that don’t form a weaker/stronger pair: “obscure if not boring,” “happy if not entertained,” “anxious if not afraid.” The linked terms in these examples do have some logical relationship, but they do not form a weaker/stronger pair.
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Sunday, November 25, 2012
lightening/lightning: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, November 25, 2012
lightening/lightning
Those bright flashes in the storm clouds indeed used to be referred to as “lightening,” later as “light’ning,” but now they are simply “lightning.”
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Those bright flashes in the storm clouds indeed used to be referred to as “lightening,” later as “light’ning,” but now they are simply “lightning.”
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
protray/portray: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, November 24, 2012
protray/portray
There are a lot of words in English that begin in “pro-.” This is not one of them. When you make a portrait, you portray someone.
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There are a lot of words in English that begin in “pro-.” This is not one of them. When you make a portrait, you portray someone.
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