poo-poo/pooh-pooh/pupu
The toddler with a soggy diaper proudly announces “I go poo-poo!”
The skeptic is inclined to pooh-pooh outlandish ideas. Don’t mix up matter for skepticism with material for the septic system.
A selection of snacks served on a wooden platter in a Chinese restaurant is called a “pupu platter”—a custom and word that made its way to the mainland US from Hawaii.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
ying and yang/yin and yang: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, March 19, 2014
ying and yang/yin and yang
The pair of female and male terms in Chinese thought consists of “yin and yang,” not “ying and yang.”
The pair of female and male terms in Chinese thought consists of “yin and yang,” not “ying and yang.”
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
patience/patients: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, March 18, 2014
patience/patients
Doctors have patients, but while you’re waiting to see them you have to have patience.
Doctors have patients, but while you’re waiting to see them you have to have patience.
Monday, March 17, 2014
goal/gaol: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, March 17, 2014
goal/gaol
UK writers are increasingly using the American spelling “jail” instead of “gaol.” This should be helpful for those who sometimes absentmindedly type “goal” when they mean to write “gaol.”
UK writers are increasingly using the American spelling “jail” instead of “gaol.” This should be helpful for those who sometimes absentmindedly type “goal” when they mean to write “gaol.”
Friday, March 14, 2014
who/that: The Weekend Edition—Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday–Sunday, March 14–16, 2014
who/that
There are many instances in which the most conservative usage is to refer to a person using “that”: “All the politicians that were at the party later denied even knowing the host” is actually somewhat more traditional than the more popular “politicians who.” An aversion to “that” referring to human beings as somehow diminishing their humanity may be praiseworthily sensitive, but it cannot claim the authority of tradition. In some sentences, “that” is clearly preferable to “who”: “She is the only person I know of that prefers whipped cream on her granola.” In the following example, to exchange “that” for “who” would be absurd: “Who was it that said, ‘A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle’?”*
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The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "One of the best, bar none" (November 7, 2012).
There are many instances in which the most conservative usage is to refer to a person using “that”: “All the politicians that were at the party later denied even knowing the host” is actually somewhat more traditional than the more popular “politicians who.” An aversion to “that” referring to human beings as somehow diminishing their humanity may be praiseworthily sensitive, but it cannot claim the authority of tradition. In some sentences, “that” is clearly preferable to “who”: “She is the only person I know of that prefers whipped cream on her granola.” In the following example, to exchange “that” for “who” would be absurd: “Who was it that said, ‘A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle’?”*
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The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "One of the best, bar none" (November 7, 2012).
Thursday, March 13, 2014
you can’t have your cake and eat it too/you can’t eat your cake and have it too: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, March 13, 2014
you can’t have your cake and eat it too/you can’t eat your cake and have it too
The most popular form of this saying—“You can’t have your cake and eat it too”— confuses many people because they mistakenly suppose the word “have” means “eat,” as in “Have a piece of cake for dessert.” A more logical version of this saying is “You can’t eat your cake and have it too,” meaning that if you eat your cake you won’t have it any more. The point is that if you eat your cake right now you won’t have it to eat later. “Have” means “possess” in this context, not “eat.”
The most popular form of this saying—“You can’t have your cake and eat it too”— confuses many people because they mistakenly suppose the word “have” means “eat,” as in “Have a piece of cake for dessert.” A more logical version of this saying is “You can’t eat your cake and have it too,” meaning that if you eat your cake you won’t have it any more. The point is that if you eat your cake right now you won’t have it to eat later. “Have” means “possess” in this context, not “eat.”
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
tooken/took/taken: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, March 12, 2014
tooken/took/taken
“Hey, Tricia! Ted couldn’t find his parrot so he’s tooken your toucan to show and tell!” “Tooken” is a non-standard form of “taken.”
In fact, there are two past-tense forms of “take” which shouldn’t be mixed up with each other. For the simple past you need “took”: “Beau took a course in acoustics.” But if a helping verb precedes it, the word you need is “taken”: “he has taken some other courses too.”
“Hey, Tricia! Ted couldn’t find his parrot so he’s tooken your toucan to show and tell!” “Tooken” is a non-standard form of “taken.”
In fact, there are two past-tense forms of “take” which shouldn’t be mixed up with each other. For the simple past you need “took”: “Beau took a course in acoustics.” But if a helping verb precedes it, the word you need is “taken”: “he has taken some other courses too.”
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