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Latest post Wed, Dec 17 2008 11:03 AM by Anonymous. 4 replies.
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Evaho88  +  237698 Mon, 19 Jun 06 12:26 PM

The following 'diction' is wrong according to prescriptive, but why?
'existence' for life 
'novel' for new
'capture' for take
'inimical' for hostile
'demise' for death
'phenomental' for extraordinary

Also these sentences:
Ask whoever you see.
He works faster than me. (is it because it should use 'I' instead of me?)
I can't imagine it being him.
Nobody was killed, were they? (is it because 'singular they'?)
These kind of men are dangerous.
That's her at the door now. (is 'she' not 'her'?)
The data is now in.

Thanks very much.

Joined on Mon, Jun 19 2006
New Member 01
Anonymous, 3 yr 142 days ago
In the first set of words you see attempts to replace a simple word with a fancy word. The problem is that the meaning of the 'fancy word' is not really the same as the meaning of the word it replaces. For instance, 'existence' refers to the state of being, not the state of being alive. In the case of an individual human being, 'existence' may seem to be largely coterminous with 'life', but to use 'existence' as a fancy way of saying 'life' ignores the big differences between the two words. Similarly for the other words in the list. 'Novel' does not simply mean 'new'; it refers to a quality of being both new and different. 'Capture' does not simply mean 'take'; it refers to the taking of something that is difficult to catch. Capturing something requires some effort, thought, or speed. The same goes for the remaining words.

The second set of examples involves straightforward grammatical errors:

Ask WHOMEVER you see.
He works faster than I.
I can't imagine it being HE.
No PEOPLE were killed, were they? (perhaps there are other ways of rewriting this).
These KINDS of men are dangerous.
That is SHE at the door now. (This sentence is ridiculous; no one would speak like this).
The data ARE now in.

HTH



Anonymous, 327 days ago
The data are in now. (split infinitives)
Clive  +  611577 Mon, 15 Dec 08 11:13 PM
Hi,
The data are in now. (split infinitives)

There is no split infinitive here.

Clive
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,298
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
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