tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6976983661690985138..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: 50+ Troublesome Words and PhrasesLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-4991319452331598462021-03-22T23:50:41.170-04:002021-03-22T23:50:41.170-04:00Ron, from my Latin schooling (and what little I ma...Ron, from my Latin schooling (and what little I manage of French), I know it literally means 'not more'. What else can you tell us about its history?Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29771715253048952152021-03-22T23:46:50.627-04:002021-03-22T23:46:50.627-04:00Kelvaris, thanks for pointing that out. I can'...Kelvaris, thanks for pointing that out. I can't recall if it was the OED, but when I was looking it up yet again, apparently the formerly incorrect "jerry-rigged" is now used more often than the formal "jury-rigged". Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-74546323123156710132021-03-22T23:43:40.078-04:002021-03-22T23:43:40.078-04:00Hey, Jeff! Always glad to be of service.Hey, Jeff! Always glad to be of service.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-31654398210492447712021-03-22T23:42:41.169-04:002021-03-22T23:42:41.169-04:00Jake, I'm glad you unflutzed that word for us....Jake, I'm glad you unflutzed that word for us.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84047852841840426022021-03-22T12:29:26.572-04:002021-03-22T12:29:26.572-04:00The history of “nonplussed” is not as straightforw...The history of “nonplussed” is not as straightforward as you indicate. ronkatz0501@hmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471213238016124351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-33428649767059836862021-03-22T11:20:13.424-04:002021-03-22T11:20:13.424-04:00Oops; I thought you'd copy/pasted that part. ...Oops; I thought you'd copy/pasted that part. Just my old court reporter coming through.<br /><br />BTW, I made up a word, "perflutzed," for my first novel, and I've been using it in live conversations, leaving most listeners perflutzed, until I explain the meaning to them.Jake Devlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-92135635558034468112021-03-22T10:30:17.407-04:002021-03-22T10:30:17.407-04:00Webster's says "jerry-rigged" is cor...Webster's says "jerry-rigged" is correct. That it is a mix of "jerry-built" and "jury-rigged."Kelvarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09890718111555057673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-44853037025422087142021-03-21T23:39:10.373-04:002021-03-21T23:39:10.373-04:00Thanks! Didn't know all of this!Thanks! Didn't know all of this!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-34362613041758808312021-03-21T20:09:16.327-04:002021-03-21T20:09:16.327-04:00Yikes! Jake, as I was putting this together, I kne...Yikes! Jake, as I was putting this together, I knew I risked some mistake. I'm glad it wasn't worse… but are polite people holding back?<br /><br />"Everyday' and similar can sneak in our writing all too often. Arizona missions… that is classic.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16853672415747643382021-03-21T19:38:26.121-04:002021-03-21T19:38:26.121-04:00One typo/error that always bugged/bugs me is "...One typo/error that always bugged/bugs me is "every day" vs. "everyday," as in "Low prices everyday," as opposed to "Everyday low prices every day."<br /><br />Years ago, when I was a court reporter, I had a typist who heard "errors and omissions insurance" as "Arizona missions insurance." That was back in the '80s and I still get a chuckle out of that.<br /><br />And did anyone else notice the typo in the list above: "Could't care less"?Jake Devlinhttp://jakedevlin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-57507416871707859292021-03-21T18:40:57.560-04:002021-03-21T18:40:57.560-04:00Or hare's breath, for that matter, that's ...Or hare's breath, for that matter, that's splitting bunnies.<br /><br />I hadn't encountered fowl swoop, but your kingfishers might disagree.<br /><br />Great to see you, Aba!Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-52292297297127624032021-03-21T17:47:01.795-04:002021-03-21T17:47:01.795-04:00Two of many pet peeves to add to your list:
'a...Two of many pet peeves to add to your list:<br />'a hair's breath' instead of 'a hair's breadth'<br />'in one fowl/foul swoop' instead of 'fell swoop'A Broad Abroadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80363704970177054842021-03-21T15:28:08.022-04:002021-03-21T15:28:08.022-04:00Oh no, Susan! I hate when they do that!Oh no, Susan! I hate when they do that!Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-64543358202800659842021-03-21T15:26:40.782-04:002021-03-21T15:26:40.782-04:00(laughing) Liz, you should have witnessed that exp...(laughing) Liz, you should have witnessed that explosion in my head, simultaneously startling those around me by bursting into laughter, and caught up in the brilliance of that pun while thinking, "I don't believe she did that!" That's worth at least 10 QI points.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66018032318427730562021-03-21T14:48:23.333-04:002021-03-21T14:48:23.333-04:00Naw, that one must have been a fluke.Naw, that one must have been a fluke.Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-34337831040819012432021-03-21T14:27:48.005-04:002021-03-21T14:27:48.005-04:00O'Neil, those I've seen were no bigger tha...O'Neil, those I've seen were no bigger than the sole of an average man's shoe, but I've seen photos of large ones up to a metre length. Although not the largest, I like <a href="http://guide.sportsmansguide.com/wp-content/uploads/Kaufmans-Flounder-%E2%81%ACFishing-in-Virginia-Kaufman1.jpg" rel="nofollow">this photo because it shows how the top and bottom (formerly its left and right sides)</a> adapt after years on the seabed.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-12043743718061302062021-03-21T14:25:54.144-04:002021-03-21T14:25:54.144-04:00You've included a lot of my favorites. Recentl...You've included a lot of my favorites. Recently I read a piece that Webster's was now going to include "irregardless" as an acceptable form. Ugh.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59370858358186634482021-03-21T14:01:12.895-04:002021-03-21T14:01:12.895-04:00Another good one, John! Thank you. So many gotchas...Another good one, John! Thank you. So many gotchas out there.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-17236130934426890132021-03-21T13:59:27.228-04:002021-03-21T13:59:27.228-04:00(laughing) Thanks, RT. It's good to know some ...(laughing) Thanks, RT. It's good to know some things give veteran professionals pause.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16165388409378525712021-03-21T13:58:27.393-04:002021-03-21T13:58:27.393-04:00Good points, Karen. Not only can lead/led fool us,...Good points, Karen. Not only can lead/led fool us, they also can jarringly confuse the text-to-voice function of e-readers. Thanks for those additions, Karen.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-5820238596218992872021-03-21T13:51:20.578-04:002021-03-21T13:51:20.578-04:00Love these!! Thanks, Leigh. One addition: "...Love these!! Thanks, Leigh. One addition: "For all intensive purposes" instead of the correct "for all intents and purposes."<br /><br />And for God's sake don't listen to Velma.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-13685771740511068682021-03-21T13:45:48.037-04:002021-03-21T13:45:48.037-04:00A year ago, I wrote an article about words that ca...A year ago, I wrote an <a href="https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2020/02/when-opposites-repel.html" rel="nofollow">article about words that can mean their opposite</a>. As I was writing today’s article, it occurred to me that ‘founder’ falls into that category, causing me to update the article.<br>• Founder with implications of creation:<br>1. a person who creates a business or town<br>2. to create using metals<br>• Founder with implications of destruction:<br> 3. to sink<br>4. to fail<br>5. to go lame<br>Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40653022107763682952021-03-21T11:02:14.221-04:002021-03-21T11:02:14.221-04:00Guilty, guilty and yep, I still use that one.
Than...Guilty, guilty and yep, I still use that one.<br />Thanks.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-55506535006135936552021-03-21T09:09:11.178-04:002021-03-21T09:09:11.178-04:00What a great list!
Lots of writers seem confused ...What a great list!<br /><br />Lots of writers seem confused by the word "lead", meaning to lead, vs. "led", meaning the past tense of the same word. <br /><br />There is also a big difference between "regimen" and "regime", not at all interchangeable.Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-52284362589538205752021-03-21T07:07:48.567-04:002021-03-21T07:07:48.567-04:00Good posting. I'm sure I made some of these mi...Good posting. I'm sure I made some of these mistakes over the years. Hey, I caught a flounder once. Looks like it was a mature. It was big.O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.com