Give “piece” a chance
October 24th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood
There was considerable — and understandable — confusion over this Thursday here at the News Tower, so here’s the rub:
The correct phrase for “to vent your views or opinions” is “speak your piece.” That’s “piece,” NOT “peace.” Think of it in terms of “giving someone a piece of your mind.”
To be calm and tranquil is to have “peace of mind” — “peace” is correct for this one. It’s also the one used in a traditional wedding when people are given an opportunity to object or “forever hold their peace.” In other words, speak up or shut up.
So, saying something, “speaking your piece”; being quiet, “holding your peace.”
With so many people speaking their piece, it’s hard to find peace.
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2 Comments Add your own
1. J. | October 27th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Mr. Woods, I’d just like to drop a note to say that, even though I’m only in my early teens, I really like your articles. It’s just the grammar/spelling-obsessed person (and amateur author) that I am.
…And knowing me, I probably just made a mistake above! Ah, well. I really appreciate these articles, and try to catch them when I can. Now that I know of your blog…
Anyway, thanks for writing these columns! I never thought about the phrase “seeing as”, much less debated its place in the sentence. You learn something new every day.
2. Barry Wood | October 28th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Dear J.,
Thank you for the comments. I can’t tell you how encouraging it is to hear from a teenager who is interested in such things, and I’m sure you’re not alone.
And keep up with your “amateur author” pursuits. Expressing yourself through writing is one of the best skills you can develop. If you can put your thoughts into coherent sentences, you will always be ahead of the game.
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