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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 2 of 2 1 2 Re: watching paint dry while scratching blackboards Tromboniator #196519 01/24/2011 8:12 AM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh Air [iis the pronunciation I learned for err][/i] Yes, that pronunciation has been more common, but it was not the original one. I'm not saying one or the other pronunciation is more correct than the other. I was just offering a more cautionary tale for the peever in all of us. Air for err was not so common fifty or more years ago. Now it's quite common. Same with flaccid with a hard c. Language changes. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: watching paint dry while scratching blackboards zmjezhd #196545 01/25/2011 3:41 AM Joined: May 2010 Posts: 963 Alaska Tromboniator old hand Tromboniator old hand Joined: May 2010 Posts: 963 Alaska Originally Posted By: zmjezhd Air for err was not so common fifty or more years ago. Well, fifty or more years ago was when I was learning the language. I have no recollection of bumping into the alternative until I was well into my teens, and of course decided that the speaker must be an ignoramus. I've relaxed a bit since then. Peter Edit: Still learning. Last edited by Tromboniator; 01/25/2011 3:42 AM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: watching paint dry while scratching blackboards Tromboniator #196548 01/25/2011 4:14 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass I learned it as /ur/, so I guess that must make me a really OP. -ron o. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: watching paint dry while scratching blackboards tsuwm #196552 01/25/2011 7:00 AM Joined: May 2010 Posts: 963 Alaska Tromboniator old hand Tromboniator old hand Joined: May 2010 Posts: 963 Alaska Ah! The ur-pronunciation. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: watching paint dry while scratching blackboards twosleepy #196691 01/27/2011 1:03 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont I always thought err was sort of short for error, so I pronounced it air. Last edited by Buffalo Shrdlu; 01/27/2011 1:03 PM. formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: airing follies Buffalo Shrdlu #196692 01/27/2011 1:43 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh I always thought err was sort of short for error, so I pronounced it air. I'm sure many feel that way. The AH dictionary has the etymology and a usage note (link). I have only heard the older pronunciation in the wild a couple of times from older folks who no doubt had it drilled into them long, long ago. Note, I am not suggestion that the older pronunciation is better or more correct, just that the newer pronunciation has nearly replaced it. I've never run across any normative grammarians/style-usagists who have insisted on the older pronunciation, because I think they are unaware that they are pronouncing it in the newer fashion, but it is fun to see that they are inconsistent in their peeves. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: fairing ollies zmjezhd #196713 01/27/2011 5:22 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague The curse and blessing of the erring peever. How dull it would be if we agreed on every word. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: fairing ollies BranShea #196718 01/27/2011 5:29 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water It's not like some enjoy forcing their opinion down everyone's throat, or consider them less a person if they don't agree with them. ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: fairing ollies LukeJavan8 #196720 01/27/2011 5:31 PM Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth bexter addict bexter addict Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth Ah a favourite quote of mine fits this perfectly "To err is human. To rerr is computer" I cannot for the life of me remember who said it but it make me laugh everytime I see it... ----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: fairing ollies bexter #196731 01/27/2011 5:39 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Good one. Eerie. Error (I confuse these sometimes.) ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: fairing ollies LukeJavan8 #196732 01/27/2011 5:41 PM Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth bexter addict bexter addict Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth aerie and eyrie are the same thing pretty much and yet both can be pronounced in at leats two ways which not only confuses the matter but makes it difficult to work out what the speaker is saying as it gets confused with eerie and airy...sigh...thank goodness for books and the written word! ----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Page 2 of 2 1 2 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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