Archive for January, 2009
January 15th, 2009
When you use the verb “include” before a list of items, the implication is that you are not going to mention everything you could. Or maybe that’s all you know for sure.
It’s inappropriate to write, “Today’s lunch menu includes four choices: hamburger, hot dog, fish sandwich and hoagie.” There are four options, and they’re all listed. “Includes” should leave something to the imagination.
It’s more accurate to substitute “has” or “offers” for “includes” in the above example.
Also, “include” makes it unnecessary to add phrases like “and more” or “and others.” For example:
“Entertainment at the open house will include games, movies, a talent show and more.”
“U.S. presidents who were from Viriginia include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and others.”
The use of “include” tells the reader that you’re not going to name everything, so don’t tack on phrases like the above that make that point again. Let “include” do its job.
January 14th, 2009
We’ll be hearing even more about “infrastructure” in the coming weeks as a new president and probably a new governor (eventually) try to find funding to put people to work upgrading things.
Usually this term brings to mind streets, sewers and utilities, but that’s just part of the story. Here’s the Webster’s definition of “infrastructure”:
“A substructure or underlying foundation; especially, the basic installations and facilities on which the continuance and growth of a community, state, etc., depend, as roads, schools, power plants, transportation and communication systems, etc.”
Now that is a lot of stuff — and most of it needs fixing.
January 13th, 2009
There are four separate “keels” in the dictionary, but the only one most of us will ever use is the one that’s part of a watercraft or airship. It’s the main piece that runs along the bottom of a vessel and provides support for the frame.
From the capsizing of a ship we get the phrase “keel over,” which can apply to other things that “turn over or upside down.” Even people have been known to keel over — “to fall over suddenly, as in a faint.”
The nautical keel is also the inspiration for the verb “keelhaul,” meaning “to scold or rebuke harshly.” For harshness, though, it’s tough to beat the original “keelhaul,” which was a form of punishment and torture for sailors that involved dragging them the length of a ship underwater. (I never cease to be amazed at what people are capable of doing to their fellow human beings.)
Finally, we have the phrase “on an even keel,” which I encountered recently in the sense of “on a level playing field” — which isn’t what it means. That’s a different kind of level.
To be “on an even keel” means either “steady, stable, etc.” or “in or keeping an upright, level position” — in other words, not keeling over.
January 10th, 2009
The correct informal phrase for “to meet the requirements” is “fill the bill,” NOT “fit the bill.”
The latter may seem the logical choice, because we’re talking about something that’s a good fit. But the correct verb is “fill.”
Other idiomatic uses of “fill” include “fill up”; the informal “fill someone in on”; and “fill out,” which can apply to making something larger, rounder and so forth or to filling in the blanks on a form.
But that doesn’t mean “fit” is left out. Included in its resume are “by fits and starts” (”in an irregular way”) and the informal trio “fit to be tied” (”frustrated and angry”), “fit to kill” (”excessively, immoderately, strikingly or showily”) and “have (or throw) a fit” (”to become very angry or upset”).
In each of those cases, “fit” fills the bill.
January 9th, 2009
“Chauvinism” is not a good thing to be accused of. The formal definition is “unreasoning devotion to one’s race, sex, etc. with contempt for other races, the opposite sex, etc.” There was a time not too long ago when the term “male chauvinist pig” was encountered fairly frequently.
The older definition of “chauvinism” is “militant, unreasoning, and boastful devotion to one’s country” or “jingoism.” This is more in line with its inspiration, one Nicolas Chauvin, a soldier in the service of Napoleon I.
Among all the imperial fanatics of his time, he apparently was the most fanatical. His unwavering allegiance to Napoleon and his cause earned him a place in the dictionary.
As for Napoleon, his name is synonymous with three things: a former gold coin of France; a card game similar to euchre; and a type of puff pastry. Compared with Chauvin, he got off easy.
January 8th, 2009
One of the things I have always appreciated about working for a newspaper instead of a radio or television station is not having to worry much about pronunciation.
For example, when we write about Bernard Madoff, accused of perpetrating a $50 billion scam, we don’t care whether the first syllable of his last name is pronounced “mad” or “made,” as long as the name’s spelled correctly. By the way, an informed source tells me it’s the latter, “MADE-off.”
I realize this is no laughing matter, but what else can I do? The second pronunciation makes for a better pun, as in “Bernard made off with $50 billion.”
If it had been “mad,” “mad off” doesn’t work, although plenty of people are “mad at Madoff.”
Either way, they were burned by Bernard.
Speaking of inappropriate laughter, the word “laughingstock” has been applied to Illinois a lot lately in relation to its problems with Gov. Blagojevich (talk about a pronunciation challenge!).
His Senate appointee, Roland Burris, is a former Illinois comptroller. The comptroller is the state’s chief accounting officer. Elsewhere, such an officer is called a “controller” — which is the way “comptroller” should be pronounced, too. That’s right — replace the “mp” with an “n” sound.
The word “comptroller” is just an alteration of “controller,” influenced by the French “compte,” meaning “an account.” Let’s put the “control” in “comptroller.”
January 7th, 2009
Baseball Hall of Famer Casey Stengel often is associated with the saying “You could look it up.” And we could, but how many of us do?
When it comes to English, guessing is a bad strategy. Keep a dictionary handy. When you need to know whether a term is written as one word, two words or hyphenated, look it up. Nothing else will do.
For example, “hotshot” is one word. Change one letter, and you have “hot spot,” two words. Webster’s does accept two-word and hyphenated variations of “hotshot,” but most language hotshots prefer the one-word version.
A “hot pepper” is two words. It may have been grown in a “hotbed” or a “hothouse,” each one word.
Anatomical “hot” terms are generally one word: “hotblooded,” “hotheaded,” “hotfoot.”
Most others, from “hot air” to “hot water,” are two words.
But don’t take my word for it. Look it up.
January 1st, 2009
A “role” is a part to be played, maybe by a role model.
For all other uses, you need the homonym “roll.”
Those include “crescent roll,” “egg roll,” “jellyroll,” “rock and roll,” “roll bar,” “roll call,” “roller coaster,” “roller derby,” “rolling pin,” “roll-on,” “roll-top,” even “Rolls-Royce.”
We “roll our eyes,” “roll out the barrel,” “get on a roll,” “roll with the punches,” “roll back,” “roll in,” “roll out,” “roll over,” “roll up” and “merrily we roll along.”
And that concludes my blogging role for today. Happy New Year!
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