When it comes time to accept the consequences of your actions you may have to pay the piper or face the music, but you don’t have to “face the piper.”
Thursday, February 20, 2014
face the piper/pay the piper, face the music: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, February 20, 2014
face the piper/pay the piper, face the music
When it comes time to accept the consequences of your actions you may have to pay the piper or face the music, but you don’t have to “face the piper.”
When it comes time to accept the consequences of your actions you may have to pay the piper or face the music, but you don’t have to “face the piper.”
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
plead innocent: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, February 19, 2014
plead innocent
Lawyers frown on the phrase “plead innocent” (it’s “plead guilty” or “plead not guilty”), but outside of legal contexts the phrase is standard English.
_________
Paul Brians discusses the mixed-up expression you get when you cross "over the line" with "below the belt" in his latest blog post.
Lawyers frown on the phrase “plead innocent” (it’s “plead guilty” or “plead not guilty”), but outside of legal contexts the phrase is standard English.
_________
Paul Brians discusses the mixed-up expression you get when you cross "over the line" with "below the belt" in his latest blog post.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
queue: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, February 18, 2014
queue
If you’re standing in a queue you’ll have plenty of time to ponder the unusual spelling of this word. Remember, it contains two U’s.
If you’re standing in a queue you’ll have plenty of time to ponder the unusual spelling of this word. Remember, it contains two U’s.
Monday, February 17, 2014
axel/axle: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, February 17, 2014
axel/axle
The centers of wheels are connected by axles. An axel is a tricky jump in figure skating named after Axel Paulsen.
___________
Nancy Kerrigan explains:
The centers of wheels are connected by axles. An axel is a tricky jump in figure skating named after Axel Paulsen.
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Nancy Kerrigan explains:
Friday, February 14, 2014
opportunist: The Weekend Edition—Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday–Sunday, February 14–16, 2014
opportunist
When applied to people, the label “opportunist” usually has negative connotations. It implies that the people so labeled take unprincipled, unfair advantage of opportunities for selfish ends. Opportunistic people are often also regarded as exploitative. The term is often used to label unscrupulous politicians who seek to manipulate voters in their favor by exploiting certain issues or opportunities in an unethical way.
Sports commentators who call the skillful interceptor of a pass in football an “opportunist” are misusing the word.
If you want to praise people for taking legitimate and skilled advantage of opportunities that spring up, it is better to call them “enterprising” or “quick-witted.”
The specialized meaning of “opportunistic” in biology does not cause problems because the people who use the word in this sense know what it describes: the ability of a species to exploit a previously unexploited ecological niche.
____________
The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "Semicolons and 'But'" (June 13, 2011).
When applied to people, the label “opportunist” usually has negative connotations. It implies that the people so labeled take unprincipled, unfair advantage of opportunities for selfish ends. Opportunistic people are often also regarded as exploitative. The term is often used to label unscrupulous politicians who seek to manipulate voters in their favor by exploiting certain issues or opportunities in an unethical way.
Sports commentators who call the skillful interceptor of a pass in football an “opportunist” are misusing the word.
If you want to praise people for taking legitimate and skilled advantage of opportunities that spring up, it is better to call them “enterprising” or “quick-witted.”
The specialized meaning of “opportunistic” in biology does not cause problems because the people who use the word in this sense know what it describes: the ability of a species to exploit a previously unexploited ecological niche.
____________
The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "Semicolons and 'But'" (June 13, 2011).
Thursday, February 13, 2014
way more/far more/much more: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, February 13, 2014
way more/far more/much more
Young people frequently use phrases like “way better” to mean “far better” or “very much better.” In formal writing, it would be gauche to say that Impressionism is “way more popular” than Cubism instead of “much more popular.”
Young people frequently use phrases like “way better” to mean “far better” or “very much better.” In formal writing, it would be gauche to say that Impressionism is “way more popular” than Cubism instead of “much more popular.”
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
volumptuous/voluptuous: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, February 12, 2014
volumptuous/voluptuous
Given the current mania for slim, taut bodies, it is understandable—if amusing—that some folks should confuse voluptuousness with lumpiness. In fact, “voluptuous” is derived from Latin voluptas, which refers to sensual pleasure and not to shape at all. A voluptuous body is a luxurious body.
Given the current mania for slim, taut bodies, it is understandable—if amusing—that some folks should confuse voluptuousness with lumpiness. In fact, “voluptuous” is derived from Latin voluptas, which refers to sensual pleasure and not to shape at all. A voluptuous body is a luxurious body.
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