Re: To coin a phrase

Subject: Re: To coin a phrase
From: Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Porrello, Leonard" <lporrello -at- illumina -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:59:28 -0400

And you have the wonderful world of eggcorns that eventually become
mainstream, and abominations like "irregardless". If only people would
stick to hard, true definitions and terms and never, ever invent new
ones... Then again, this nutsy-cuckoo language world keeps me
employed, so I'm not one to argue against the evolution/devolution of
words and phrases.

On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 4:07 PM, Porrello, Leonard
<lporrello -at- illumina -dot- com> wrote:
> You have to admit, it is particularly strange and uncomfortable (at least for the literate or anyone paying attention) when common usage for a word or phrase evolves/devolves to mean exactly the opposite of what the word or phrase literally means. For example, "I could care less" (meaning, "I couldn't care less"), "literally" (meaning, "figuratively"), and "to coin a phrase"  (meaning, "in the current, cliché meaning of a term"). I would bet that there are many, many more. And then there is the "problem" of the double negative (for example, "I ain't done nothin'.")
>
> Of course, there are other phrases/ideas that have become so common that we don't even notice anymore. For example, we all believe that when we purchase something on sale, we "save money."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Dana Worley (MVP/JB)
> Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 12:54 PM
> To: Combs, Richard
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: To coin a phrase
>
> Really? You must live in a different world than I ;)  People around me
> use words incorrectly all the time, make up new words, make up new
> meanings. I'm sure I'm guilty of this too.
>
> As has been discussed, language evolves.
>
> Dana W.
>
> On 10/27/2011 1:48 PM, Combs, Richard wrote:
>> Unless you're Humpty Dumpty, you can't just use words to mean whatever you wish.
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
> Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
> Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
> http://www.doctohelp.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/techcommdood%40gmail.com
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.
>
> Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat
>
>



--
Bill Swallow

Twitter: @techcommdood
Blog: http://techcommdood.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
http://www.doctohelp.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat


Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: To coin a phrase: From: Dana Worley
RE: To coin a phrase: From: Combs, Richard
Re: To coin a phrase: From: Dana Worley (MVP/JB)
RE: To coin a phrase: From: Porrello, Leonard

Previous by Author: Re: STC certification: how to do it
Next by Author: Re: To coin a phrase
Previous by Thread: RE: To coin a phrase
Next by Thread: RE: To coin a phrase


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads