Using the wrong word

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Oli, Apr 3, 2009.

  1. scifes In withdrawal. Valued Senior Member

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    2,573
    smarty tap..
    you say a guy is unable..not
    go check your recently discovered invention..
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2009
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  3. Oli Heute der Enteteich... Registered Senior Member

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    Since I linked to a dictionary showing that "inability" is valid word...
    Someone who is unable to do something has the inability to do that thing.
     
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  5. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    "I have unwanted facial hair" is usually said by those who don't want any facial hair.
     
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  7. scifes In withdrawal. Valued Senior Member

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    :splat:
    will you please stop acting stupid oli??
    the word is grammatically wrong.
    am i right or not?
     
  8. Pandaemoni Valued Senior Member

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    3,634
    "Inability" is a valid and correct word. The only grammatical error I see is that he should have written:

    As indefinite articles are largely silly aspects of English, I am willing to let that slide.
     
  9. Oli Heute der Enteteich... Registered Senior Member

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    11,888
    The stupidity is all on your part.

    You are incorrect, I have already given a link to one dictionary validating the word, and you could Google a multitude of others.
    Your abysmal lack of vocabulary does not make you right.
     
  10. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    * * * * NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR TO OLI AND SCIFES * * * *

    Please stop feuding. I'm not even quite sure what the problem is, but it's certainly not serious enough to merit tossing around words like "stupid" in a place of scholarship.


    "Inability," like "ability," can take a definite or indefinite article, but it can also be used as a commodity noun like "love" or "water" with no article.

    The sentence, "The latter [statement] is inability to accept the concept," does indeed have a flaw or two, but there's nothing wrong with it grammatically. The problem is that the sentence itself is an expression of inability (or the inability), but it is not itself inability (or the inability.) That's a pretty subtle error by today's standards, and it is definitely one of form, not comprehensibility. I might not bother to correct it, depending on the formality of the document I'm editing.
     
  11. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    -=-

    sciforums SciForums.com : World : History
    Roll Of The Supreme Court In The USA

    sciforums SciForums.com : Science : General Science & Technology
    Faster than light with quantum entaglement

    I propose a rule that if a thread title is misspelled, the poster must state English is their 2nd language, they cannot use Google to quickly find the correct spelling and/or proclaim "I am not smarter than a 5th grader".
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 6, 2009
  12. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    I always correct the spelling of thread titles. That's what Moderators are here for.
     
  13. Repo Man Valued Senior Member

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    4,955
    "Assless chaps". This has become common, and really annoys me. It's like saying "legless shorts". Chaps, by definition, have no ass, and are meant to be worn over trousers.
     
  14. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    Absurd "language" annoys you?
     
  15. Repo Man Valued Senior Member

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    4,955
    The thoughtlessness it betrays annoys me. If people gave even a little thought to the words coming out of their mouths, they would not say such things.
     
  16. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    -=-

    The Ignorant Apathy Club
    They don't know & they don't care.
     
  17. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    I hate missing words :
    Remote for remote control.
    Discrimination for unfair discrimination.
    Taking advantage of instead of taking unfair/undue advantage.
    Anniversary for wedding anniversary.
    Birthday for birthday anniversary.
     
  18. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    -=-

    Is that REAL!?!
    No, it's a figment of your feeble fevered brain!
     
  19. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    15,396
    -=-

    You've been in the sun too long.
     
  20. Pandaemoni Valued Senior Member

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    3,634

    Seriously. You actually force yourself to say "birthday anniversary" every time the term comes up? Even though "the anniversary of a birth" is a perfectly acceptable definition for the word "birthday?"
     
  21. EmmZ It's an animal thing Registered Senior Member

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    1,449
    "Can I?" Instead of "may I?", and "I won you" instead of "I beat you".
     
  22. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    15,396

    Force myself???
    No. It's not acceptable.
     
  23. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    43,184
    "I won you" ? lol
     

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