Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
tsuwm #189911 03/14/10 10:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: tsuwm
MWCD comments: [color:#339999]Since masterly had but one sense, the pundit opined that it would be tidy if masterful were likewise limited to one sense and he forthwith condemned use of masterful 2 as an error.


Tidy?! Tidy?!?! We are not talking about "tidy" here, m'sieur! We are talking about language!

Faldage #189993 03/16/10 06:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 87
V
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
V
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 87
Indeed, "tidy" exists as a part of the language, but its attributes do not obtain to language.


What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? -Ursula K. Le Guin, author (1929- )
vanguard #190007 03/17/10 10:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Exactly. This is just the same reasoning that gave us that split infinitive monstrosity. There was never a prohibition against splitting infinitives in English, either in normal speech or in the writing of good writers. Then some guy came along and said he didn't think it was very tidy and he didn't like it and suddenly every rabid prescriptivist is saying anyone who splits infinitives is an ignorant lout who should be shunned by all right-thinking individuals. The good folk at Language Log refer to these things as "zombie rules" because of their ability to keep going no matter how many stakes are driven through their hearts.

Page 2 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5