By Bob Yearick
Can you spot the error?
See bottom of the column for the answer.
The ‘Rule’ that Isn’t
Decades ago, misguided English teachers told their students that they must never end a sentence in a preposition. Such a “rule” is ridiculous, as indicated by the famous comment from Winston Churchill, Samuel Clemens, or some other sage (no one is quite sure who said it): “That is the kind of nonsense up with which I will not put.”
Consider, for instance, the following examples:
• Where are you from?
• What are you preparing for?
• Let’s all log in.
Converting those into sentences that don’t end with a preposition would require strenuous linguistic gyrations. So, no, it’s not a rule. You can look it up.
Department of Redundancies Dept.
This month, we focus on emails.
• From Trail Creek Outfitters about its film event: “Ticket purchase includes access to the event, food & drink, the 100-minute film program and one (1) free raffle ticket included with purchase.” Not only does the sentence repeat “purchase,” it also says the raffle ticket is free, but it’s actually part of the admission price. And what’s with the throwback use of the parenthetical (and redundant) “(1)”?
• From Lexicon Valley, touting its next podcast: “Also, Mike Vuolo and John McWhorter discuss the subtle nuances of the phrase openly racist.” Nuance: “a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.”
• Inky columnist Stephanie Farr, writing about the Philly accent that can be detected in the city’s Audible Pedestrian Signal system: “I can differentiate at least two different male voices narrating these announcements, . . .” I often remark about the needless use of “different,” and in this case, it’s particularly superfluous.
Literally of the Month
Facebook post under a picture of Harry Truman: “Circa 1950, while the weight of the world literally rested on his shoulders [I hear his nickname was Atlas], President Harry S. Truman was waking up every single morning at 5 a.m. [This sentence comes with the bonus of a redundancy] and quietly living out one of the most surprisingly human routines ever documented in the White House.” The somewhat hyperbolic post refers to Truman’s practice of walking two miles on White House grounds before breakfast.
Media Watch
• Reader Larry Hamermesh sends an excerpt from a piece by Rob Eshman, senior columnist for The Forward, about President Trump’s attempts to end the war in Iran: “Trump, who favors swift resolutions, has backed himself into a corner: The military is already there, and the world is waiting with baited breath.” That’s bated (to reduce the force or intensity of; restrain) breath.
• Reader John McDermott submits this from a column by Marcus Hayes in The Philadelphia Inquirer about the 76ers’ Joel Embiid seeming to improve his rehab habits this year: “It just took more longer than expected.” The old double comparative slips into Marcus’s usually impeccable prose.
• Another Hayes, Matt, writing in USA TODAY, misquoted Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson in his comments about quarterback Carson Beck: “He can make every throw, he’s athletic as hell. But it’s that calming affect on everyone that has changed this team this year.” Dawson meant — and Hayes should have written — effect, the noun. Affect is usually a verb.
• In the HBO Max series Industry, the lead character, Harper Stern, is portrayed by the gifted actress Myha’la as a brilliant and articulate leader in London’s financial world. Imagine my shock then when, in a speech during the latest season, Myha’la clearly pronounces lackadaisical as “lax-adaisical.” This error is somewhat common because of the slight overlap between lackadaisical and lax — both words implying a casual, comfortable approach. But it’s a mistake that an educated, intelligent communicator like Harper would never make, and someone among the myriad people who filmed and edited that episode should have corrected it.
Word of the Month
gnomic
Pronounced no-mik, it’s an adjective meaning “characterized by aphorism.” (A gnome is an aphorism — an observation or sentiment reduced to the form of a saying.)
Buy The War on Words book at the Hockessin BookShelf, at Huxley & Hiro Booksellers, or on Amazon. Or email me at ryearick@comcast.net.
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