Monday, March 12, 2012

veil of tears/vale of tears: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, March 12, 2012

veil of tears/vale of tears
The expression “vale of tears” goes back to pious sentiments that consider life on earth to be a series of sorrows to be left behind when we go on to a better world in heaven. It conjures up an image of a suffering traveler laboring through a valley (“vale”) of troubles and sorrow. “Veil of tears” is poetic sounding, but it’s a mistake.


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