torchiere/torchère
Consumers and dealers who call tall floor lamps torchieres undoubtedly think they’re being sophisticated, but the French word is simple torchère (originally meaning “torch-holder”). Because of widespread confusion about this word you’ll have to search for both spellings on the Web when you’re shopping.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
boost in the arm/shot in the arm: The Weekend Edition—Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday–Sunday, March 28–30, 2014
boost in the arm/shot in the arm
Early in the 20th century it used to be common for people feeling a bit run-down to go to the doctor to get injected with a stimulant. By 1916 this remedy had led to a saying according to which a positive stimulation of almost any kind could be called “a real shot in the arm.”
We still use this expression in a wide variety of ways. It can refer to an increase of business in a company, to a stimulus administered to the economy, to the hopes of a sports franchise or a politician running for office.
A simpler way of expressing the idea is to refer to a stimulus as a “boost.” Examples: “the flowers on my birthday gave my spirits a real boost,” “the large donation by the pharmaceutical company gave his campaign a major boost,” “the President is looking for ways to boost the economy.”
It’s easy to understand how these two expressions came to be confused with each other in the popular form “a boost in the arm.” After all, we go to the doctor for a booster shot. But the boost in this expression is a shove from underneath to raise the whole body, not a needle in the biceps. It makes more sense to stick with the traditional expression “a shot in the arm” or to simply use “boost.”
________
The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "Taking Exception to Scholarly Language" (May 10, 2011).
Early in the 20th century it used to be common for people feeling a bit run-down to go to the doctor to get injected with a stimulant. By 1916 this remedy had led to a saying according to which a positive stimulation of almost any kind could be called “a real shot in the arm.”
We still use this expression in a wide variety of ways. It can refer to an increase of business in a company, to a stimulus administered to the economy, to the hopes of a sports franchise or a politician running for office.
A simpler way of expressing the idea is to refer to a stimulus as a “boost.” Examples: “the flowers on my birthday gave my spirits a real boost,” “the large donation by the pharmaceutical company gave his campaign a major boost,” “the President is looking for ways to boost the economy.”
It’s easy to understand how these two expressions came to be confused with each other in the popular form “a boost in the arm.” After all, we go to the doctor for a booster shot. But the boost in this expression is a shove from underneath to raise the whole body, not a needle in the biceps. It makes more sense to stick with the traditional expression “a shot in the arm” or to simply use “boost.”
________
The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "Taking Exception to Scholarly Language" (May 10, 2011).
Thursday, March 27, 2014
self-steam/self-esteem: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, March 27, 2014
self-steam/self-esteem
If you bask in the sauna, you may self-steam. But the expression labeling people’s opinions of their own worth is “self-esteem.”
“Self-esteem” is also sometimes misspelled “self of steam.”
______
Two recent blog posts serve to remember James Leisy, founder of William, James & Company:
By Paul Brians: "Goodbye, Jim—and Thanks for the Memories."
By Tom Sumner: "Goodbye, James | Goodbye, Franklin."
If you bask in the sauna, you may self-steam. But the expression labeling people’s opinions of their own worth is “self-esteem.”
“Self-esteem” is also sometimes misspelled “self of steam.”
______
Two recent blog posts serve to remember James Leisy, founder of William, James & Company:
By Paul Brians: "Goodbye, Jim—and Thanks for the Memories."
By Tom Sumner: "Goodbye, James | Goodbye, Franklin."
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
base/bass: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, March 26, 2014
base/bass
Like Big Mouth Billy Bass, things musical are usually “bass”: bass guitars, bass drums, bass clefs. Don’t use the more common word “base” in such contexts.
Like Big Mouth Billy Bass, things musical are usually “bass”: bass guitars, bass drums, bass clefs. Don’t use the more common word “base” in such contexts.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
crucifiction/crucifixion: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, March 25, 2014
crucifiction/crucifixion
One might suppose that this common misspelling was a product of skepticism were it not for the fact that it most often occurs in the writings of believers. The word should make clear that Jesus was affixed to the cross, not imply that his killing is regarded as a fiction.
______
Two recent blog posts serve to remember James Leisy, founder of William, James & Company:
By Paul Brians: "Goodbye, Jim—and Thanks for the Memories."
By Tom Sumner: "Goodbye, James | Goodbye, Franklin."
One might suppose that this common misspelling was a product of skepticism were it not for the fact that it most often occurs in the writings of believers. The word should make clear that Jesus was affixed to the cross, not imply that his killing is regarded as a fiction.
______
Two recent blog posts serve to remember James Leisy, founder of William, James & Company:
By Paul Brians: "Goodbye, Jim—and Thanks for the Memories."
By Tom Sumner: "Goodbye, James | Goodbye, Franklin."
Monday, March 24, 2014
paralyzation/paralysis: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, March 24, 2014
paralyzation/paralysis
Some people derive the noun “paralyzation” from the verb “paralyze,” but the proper term is “paralysis.”
Some people derive the noun “paralyzation” from the verb “paralyze,” but the proper term is “paralysis.”
Friday, March 21, 2014
gerunds & pronouns: The Weekend Edition—Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday–Sunday, March 21–23, 2014
gerunds & pronouns
This is a subtle point, and hard to explain without using the sort of technical language I usually try to avoid; but if you can learn how to precede gerunds with possessive pronouns, your writing will definitely improve in the eyes of many readers.
Verb forms ending in “-ing” can function as nouns and are sometimes preceded by pronouns. Such verb/noun forms are called “gerunds.” You’ll often see sentences like this: “I didn’t appreciate him returning the car with the gas tank empty.” But “returning” is a gerund, so it should be preceded by a possessive pronoun: “I didn’t appreciate his returning the car. . . .” Other examples of standard usage: “Their coming to my birthday party was a nice surprise.” “I didn’t like his being rude to his teacher.” “They weeded the garden without our having to tell them to.” “Coming,” “being,” and “having” are all gerunds, and require preceding possessive pronouns (“their,” “his,” and “our”). If a person’s name appears just before the gerund, that too needs to be in the possessive form: “We’re excited about Bob’s winning the tournament.”
Not all verb forms ending in “-ing” are gerunds. Some are present participles, and function as adjectives: “a sailing ship,” “a running joke,” “aching back.” These can be preceded by possessive pronouns (“my aching back”), but few people are tempted to use a non-possessive pronoun in this context except in certain dialects (“me aching back”).
Confused? Try this simple rule of thumb: if you have to put a pronoun or noun in front of an “-ing” word, try a possessive one first. If the “ing” word seems like a thing or an action that could be possessed, it’s probably a gerund. If using a possessive form makes sense, go with it.
______________
The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "One of the best, bar none" (November 7, 2012).
This is a subtle point, and hard to explain without using the sort of technical language I usually try to avoid; but if you can learn how to precede gerunds with possessive pronouns, your writing will definitely improve in the eyes of many readers.
Verb forms ending in “-ing” can function as nouns and are sometimes preceded by pronouns. Such verb/noun forms are called “gerunds.” You’ll often see sentences like this: “I didn’t appreciate him returning the car with the gas tank empty.” But “returning” is a gerund, so it should be preceded by a possessive pronoun: “I didn’t appreciate his returning the car. . . .” Other examples of standard usage: “Their coming to my birthday party was a nice surprise.” “I didn’t like his being rude to his teacher.” “They weeded the garden without our having to tell them to.” “Coming,” “being,” and “having” are all gerunds, and require preceding possessive pronouns (“their,” “his,” and “our”). If a person’s name appears just before the gerund, that too needs to be in the possessive form: “We’re excited about Bob’s winning the tournament.”
Not all verb forms ending in “-ing” are gerunds. Some are present participles, and function as adjectives: “a sailing ship,” “a running joke,” “aching back.” These can be preceded by possessive pronouns (“my aching back”), but few people are tempted to use a non-possessive pronoun in this context except in certain dialects (“me aching back”).
Confused? Try this simple rule of thumb: if you have to put a pronoun or noun in front of an “-ing” word, try a possessive one first. If the “ing” word seems like a thing or an action that could be possessed, it’s probably a gerund. If using a possessive form makes sense, go with it.
______________
The Week's End Extra from the Archives: "One of the best, bar none" (November 7, 2012).
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