The Vent and Rant Thread

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

A quick partial solution might be to mail order a cool electric kettle. That only solves the heating-water problem, but it might be a fun toy till you can find the proper replacement?

Yes, that's a great idea. In the interim, he's using my Keurig's hot water option. We'll see! Thanks, BadGood!

Hitch

[ApK]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I suggested Volunteering might be better, but it's from an agency, so its still there - as it is at Yahoo. You'd think Reuters, AP, Bloomberg etc would have sub-editors.

Pretty sure they're right on that one. Voluntarism is the system, like most other isms. They're clearly speaking of system and theory, not just the act of individuals volunteering.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voluntarism

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ApK

Pretty sure they're right on that one. Voluntarism is the system, like most other isms. They're clearly speaking of system and theory, not just the act of individuals volunteering.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voluntarism

The use of voluntarism in the sense of relying on volunteers for support or action is an Americanism which does not really fit into an Australian publication. Using volunteerism would give the same meaning as the article appears to have meant in pretty much any English speaking country. OTOH, given the rather fluid nature of meaning in the English language at the best of times, King Canute ordering the tide back comes to mind.

See the Wikitionary entry on voluntarism or the Dictionary.com comparison.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The use of voluntarism in the sense of relying on volunteers for support or action is an Americanism which does not really fit into an Australian publication. Using volunteerism would give the same meaning as the article appears to have meant in pretty much any English speaking country. OTOH, given the rather fluid nature of meaning in the English language at the best of times, King Canute ordering the tide back comes to mind.

See the Wikitionary entry on voluntarism or the Dictionary.com comparison.

I know this getting off topic, and I apologize, but words are fun. Let me know if you want to start another thread. In the meantime: my OED says that volunteerism is the North American variant of voluntarism, and both it and the M-W listing cite voluntarism as appearing several year earlier than volunteerism. Both are from the mid 19th century. Honestly, I had never run into either and I had assumed they were some recent 1960s or 70s coinages along with a bunch of other isms.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ApK

I know this getting off topic, and I apologize, but words are fun.

I agree that we are drifting off topic but words are indeed such fun. Though you tend to get friends and family suggesting that you drag your vocabulary kicking and screaming out of the 19th century.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The use of voluntarism in the sense of relying on volunteers for support or action is an Americanism which does not really fit into an Australian publication.

The article originates in London, it relates to celebrations to be held in the UK when the new King of England (and his 14 other realms, including Australia) is crowned. The author lives in London, and everything she's written since 2004 is datelined London.

The only Aussies who'll be feasting on free platters of fairy bread and lashings of ginger beer are Prime Minister Albanese and Germaine Greer

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I agree that we are drifting off topic but words are indeed such fun. Though you tend to get friends and family suggesting that you drag your vocabulary kicking and screaming out of the 19th century.

The vocabulary and spellings used in the US stem from 16th century. The Daily Telegraph went into meltdown last week when one of its sub-editors dared to use the dreaded Americanism "gotten" in a headline.

In Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor (1604) we find:

"NYM: He was gotten in drink: is not the humour conceited?"

[badgoodDeb]

That’s an Americanism? I’d have thought it was just a modern shortening of “begotten” which is solidly King James Bible terms, and comes from the UK shores!

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

That’s an Americanism? I’d have thought it was just a modern shortening of “begotten” which is solidly King James Bible terms, and comes from the UK shores!

Given that @BetterRed quoted from a Shakespearean play, I'd suggest that the Brits have a solid claim on the word.

[Thasaidon]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Why are these words so hard for so many people to get right? These are similar words that I frequently see misused in various online forums. They are not words that only someone with an advanced degree would be expected to know.

I've seen these long before most people started using phones with autocorrect to communicate online.

This happens even when the writing is generally accurate and typo-free and it appears the person is fluent in English (I give a pass to anyone who is clearly making an effort to communicate in English as second language).


Lose/Loose

Sell/sale

Wary/Weary

Tract/track

Waste/waist

Brake/break

Dominant/dominate

I notice this more and more in all kinds of documents and online articles.
It is infuriating.

Do schools not teach proper spelling any more? Or do people just not care?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

That’s an Americanism? I’d have thought it was just a modern shortening of “begotten” which is solidly King James Bible terms, and comes from the UK shores!

It was the droves of Daily Telegraph readers that went into meltdown over the use of "gotten", and referred to it as an "Americanism".

Background ==>> https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/eff...iews-on-gotten

Many English speakers from outside North America resist the encroachment of so-called Americanisms . . . and, for mysterious reasons, some feel especially strongly about gotten.

The irony is that the people who post comments on The Telegraph are the sort of people who can't get enough of Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson etc.

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Thasaidon

I notice this more and more in all kinds of documents and online articles.
It is infuriating.

Do schools not teach proper spelling any more? Or do people just not care?

Or they dictate into a poorly educated voice-to-text app.

[Hemmi]

I work in an office. I get an hour for lunch. I like to eat lunch at my desk so I can be left alone and read. Hasn't been an issue until lately. Newer coworker wants to be chatty. And not a short chat, a loooong chat.

I don't want to hear about your problems with your mother or kids or your kid's baby mama. I don't need to know these things. I want to read. I have my reader out, I'm reading. I don't want to discuss what I'm reading.

I'm seriously considering trying out the lunchroom. Maybe then I can read in peace.

[badgoodDeb]

Wear head phones, to appear that you are listening to music? It’s said to be the universal signal now, but I don’t know how well it works!

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Wear head phones, to appear that you are listening to music? It’s said to be the universal signal now, but I don’t know how well it works!

Yup. It works. Only your boss will interrupt you with them on. Best is nice, big, noise-suppressing "cans". Especially if they have a pull down mic, like you're on zoom/skype/teams. And if someone does interrupt, you act thoroughly annoyed.