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Post by B.E. on Nov 30, 2020 15:37:04 GMT
This is a thread to discuss any of these things. Feel free to ask questions or share discoveries (or correct my grammar mistakes ). Recently we discussed the meaning and origin of secularism. Shortly thereafter Kapitan wondered aloud whether it's "say your piece" or "say your peace". That is one that has confused me over the years as well. So, I looked it up...again. Courtesy of Merriam-Webster: Today, I've got something to toss into the ring. On music forums (and occasionally in everyday life) I see/hear people refer to two things as being 1 and 1a. You see it mostly when ranking songs and albums (particularly at SHF). This has always seemed illogical to me. When I learned to take notes in 6th grade, it was in this format: I. A. 1. a. b. Should it not be 1a and 1b? What do you think? I'm questioning myself because 1 and 1a seems to be the most common usage.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 30, 2020 15:56:48 GMT
First of all, this thread might become my favorite ever.
I wonder whether 1 and 1a doesn't come from a formal outline structure, but from something else we just don't recognize off-hand. Because yes, if the point of "1 and 1a" is that the two things are roughly equivalent (e.g. "if Joe Montana was 1, Steve Young was 1a"), it doesn't make sense from an outline-categorization perspective: "1" would be "Quarterback" and 1a and 1b would be the players.
It may just be a conflation of two different things: numbered rankings and outlines. Thinking the second option is worthy of better than "2," they adopt something from an outline format ("1a"). But it doesn't actually make any sense, because if "1" is still rated above "1a," then "1a" IS "2" in a numbered hierarchy. There is no implied distance between 1 and 2, after all. Second-best might be just barely worse than best, or it might be one-fifth as good as best. Either way, it is "2."
So after talking out loud, that's my guess: it's a courtesy move, a way to talk up a very good second-best, with no real logical background to the terminology.
And that, folks, is me talking out of my ass.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 30, 2020 16:09:09 GMT
I'm so glad you started this thread! I'm not a native speaker so I'm sure I'll learn new things here. Prepare to learn how illogical much of English is!
Also, what is your native language, if you don't mind me asking?
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Post by B.E. on Nov 30, 2020 16:18:46 GMT
Yes, Kapitan, that is my suspicion, and also my understanding of the categorization. Glad to not be alone on this one.
Robe Simo, feel free to ask away if you become confused about something. While I am a native speaker, I wasn't an attentive student until later in life. So, I'm still catching up!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 30, 2020 16:22:06 GMT
Here's one that I debated recently. Is it:
a) Your feedback is welcome
b) Your feedback is welcomed
c) Either a or b
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 30, 2020 16:32:24 GMT
Here's one that I debated recently. Is it:
a) Your feedback is welcome
b) Your feedback is welcomed
c) Either a or b I think the answer is c. Welcome works as several parts of speech. As an adjective, a) is correct. As a past participle verb (with an implied object of "by [whoever]"), b) is correct.
Though in both cases the phrase is passive, and so I'd actually usually recommend flipping it to "we/I/they welcome your feedback."
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Post by B.E. on Nov 30, 2020 16:44:23 GMT
I've got one more for now. I recently watched a short video on chimney sweeps (via 'Weird History' on YouTube), and they pointed out that that's where the idiom "light a fire under (someone or something)" comes from. Kind of a 'duh' moment but I hadn't thought about it before. Man, those children had absolutely horrific lives. Not sure I'll say or hear that idiom the same way again.
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Post by B.E. on Nov 30, 2020 22:56:50 GMT
Part etymology, part interesting historical thing(s). An uncanny YouTube recommendation.
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Post by jk on Dec 1, 2020 9:46:38 GMT
Brazilian Portuguese. Luckily, I started to learn english at a very young age, I can fully understand the language and even speak it but writing is still very confusing. Many times I can't express my thoughts through text properly Your English looks pretty good to me, RS. Regrettably I can only swear in Portuguese (I worked at Amsterdam Airport for a while where a large share of the staff came from Portugal and some from Brazil.) As a Brit living in the Netherlands I'm in a constant battle to keep some sort of grasp on my mother tongue. Civilized MBs like this one are a godsend in that respect.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 22, 2021 19:39:29 GMT
Only today did I realize why people use the term "stan" for super fan. I've never understood it. Always thought it was dumb. Hate it.
All of a sudden, I wondered whether it was related to the Eminem song of the same name from a couple decades ago (or even whether he chose the name because the term predated it). And indeed, that song is the origin (though I don't recall hearing it used in that context until a couple of years ago, so it must have been a slow burn...).
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Post by kds on Feb 22, 2021 19:53:38 GMT
One of my latest irrational pet peeves when it comes to language is calling sandwiches "sammies."
Calling a sandwich a "sammich" is one thing. But, sammy? "We're out to lunch to get some chicken sammies." Just sounds dumb to me.
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Post by jk on Feb 22, 2021 22:07:37 GMT
One of my latest irrational pet peeves when it comes to language is calling sandwiches "sammies." Calling a sandwich a "sammich" is one thing. But, sammy? "We're out to lunch to get some chicken sammies." Just sounds dumb to me. I remember hearing "sarnie" used a lot at one time, mainly in the North of England.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 23, 2021 0:50:16 GMT
Calling a sandwich a "sammich" is one thing. Is it? I hope I never encounter either of those in the wild!
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Post by kds on Feb 23, 2021 13:19:39 GMT
Calling a sandwich a "sammich" is one thing. Is it? I hope I never encounter either of those in the wild! It is. I'm not a fan of that one either, but Sammie takes it to another level of whatthefuckatude.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 23, 2021 13:34:41 GMT
I once knew a guy who called them a word that is, and has been for several decades now, considered racist. (The word begins with S and rhymes with Rambo.) I worked with him. One day several of us were eating lunch and he mentioned what he had brought, using that term. Awkward. Then a black co-worker said, "you realize that's a racist word, right?" He honestly had no idea.
So I guess be thankful that at least the ones you're hearing are just really stupid and not stupid and accidentally racist!
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