Post by Chicago Jake on Apr 23, 2007 23:57:46 GMT -6
A solecism is defined as a badly worded, nonstandard, or ungrammatical expression that may range from the absurd to the vulgar. I recently saw a link to a whole shitload of them. Some of them seem kind of picky, and almost sound like they should have become accepted usage by now. Not because I believe that continued misuse makes the incorrect correct; just because I often make these same mistakes! Anyway, here are a few excerpts:
Acronym: this is a word, like radar or NATO, not a set of initials, like the BBC or the IMF.
Aggression is an unattractive quality, so do not call a keen salesman an aggressive one (unless his foot is in the door or beyond).
Aggravate means make worse, not irritate or annoy.
Alternative: strictly, this is one of two, not one of three, four, five or more (which may be options).
Anticipate does not mean expect. Jack and Jill expected to marry; if they anticipated marriage, only Jill might find herself expectant.
And those are just a few of the "A" entries! It is a long list.....Jake
www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673903
Acronym: this is a word, like radar or NATO, not a set of initials, like the BBC or the IMF.
Aggression is an unattractive quality, so do not call a keen salesman an aggressive one (unless his foot is in the door or beyond).
Aggravate means make worse, not irritate or annoy.
Alternative: strictly, this is one of two, not one of three, four, five or more (which may be options).
Anticipate does not mean expect. Jack and Jill expected to marry; if they anticipated marriage, only Jill might find herself expectant.
And those are just a few of the "A" entries! It is a long list.....Jake
www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673903