Comments | colz85: A vocabulary peeve

colz85

A vocabulary peeve

Feb 21, 2007 15:57

ATTENTION: The following two words have been appearing EVERYWHERE I GO ONLINE, and they are INVARIABLY used incorrectly.

If someone is really persevering and keeping at it, they are a TROUPER, not a TROOPER. Trouper...from "the show must go on" vaudeville TROUPES.

From M-W: Function: noun
1 : a member of a troupe; especially : ACTOR
2 : a person who ( Read more... )

Comments 16

crazyhappy1 February 21 2007, 21:23:33 UTC

Huh. I never knew I was ever using the wrong version of those 2 words. I know the difference between advice/advise, loose/lose and they're/there/their but I had no clue about the other 2 words. I also know I've been guilty of using the wrong versions. Bear with me as I try to retrain myself to use the correct versions. I'm not being snarky at all-I sincerely do appreciate being righted. Much like when I used to speak about anyone from China, Japan, etc. as being oriental. Wayyyyy wrong. It's Asian. Oriental applies to objects (rugs, dishes, etc.) Asian applies to the people.

Glad the doctor was helpful in helping youto the next step. Hopefully the lexapro works. Have a great time at the dance lesson tonight.

Nikki :D

colz85 February 21 2007, 21:30:11 UTC

Oh Nikki, I hope you didn't take it personally...the whole entry was intended to be good natured, even if it doesn't come off like that! For whatever reason, those two words have been showing up EVERYWHERE lately, and it's making me nuts! :)

And yeah...that Asian/Oriental thing was good to learn...waaaayyy wrong is an understatement. The other one I never know is Hispanic/Latino....

crazyhappy1 February 21 2007, 21:47:33 UTC

Oh no prob-I didn't take it personally at all. I figured you meant it in a lighthearted way but at the same time I never even realized I was doing it wrong until you mentioned it. So I had a chuckle and a realization all in the same moment. Ugh, my head hurts. I can't handle all this intellectual stimulation. :p Ooo Good point about Hispanic/Latino. I'm unsure about that as well.

conejodanz February 21 2007, 21:44:17 UTC

2 : a person who deals with and persists through difficulty or hardship without complaint

Huh. I always thought it was based on the military, since, presumably, troops are supposed deal with and persist through difficulty or hardship without complaint!

colz85 February 21 2007, 21:46:43 UTC

interesting interpretation! Every time I see "trooper", I think of the state police....

7ofclubs February 21 2007, 22:07:54 UTC

Another one is "Shoe-in" vs "Shoo-in". The former is correct, but you more often see the latter. Oh, and "Hear, Hear".

Regarding the Hispanic/Latino(a) issue (and don't forget to throw "Chicano/a" into the mix!)--IANA(H/L/C) but I have once heard that different members of this group prefer different terms! I.e., Mexicans prefer one, Cubans another, South Americans another! Don't know if that's true...

colz85 February 21 2007, 22:12:55 UTC

will you 'splain me the "hear, hear"?? That one gives me trouble.

The other one that people have trouble with is "toe the line". I THINK it's "toe" as opposed to "tow"...toeing the line being a military thing....everyone all lined up and stuff...

gutterboylive February 21 2007, 22:58:33 UTC

It's "hear, hear" instead of "here, here" because the meaning is "I agree with you." Actually, it's more the equivalent of the 1980s slang "Word."

My little peevelette? "Forte" is pronounced FORT, not FOR-TAY, the same way "tarte" is TART and not TAR-TAY.

7ofclubs February 22 2007, 14:34:02 UTC

Yes, it's "toe" the line, as in "put your toes on the line with everybody else, soldier." I learned this from the old Rocky Burnette (One-Hit Wonder) song "Tired of Toein' the Line" in 1980. Who says '80s op music isn't useful?? :)

colz85 February 21 2007, 23:06:16 UTC

So when I hear audio from the British government and they are "hear, hear"ing all over the place, I should translate it to "word, dawg,fo shizzle"?

The issue with forte is that not enough people know its correct pronunciation, so when you say it correctly, people think you are wrong.

My boss always says "malice of forethought". Um Yeah. That doesn't even make SENSE!

7ofclubs February 22 2007, 14:35:40 UTC

The issue with forte is that not enough people know its correct pronunciation, so when you say it correctly, people think you are wrong

Also, if they have ever studied music, they are used to hearing forte (two syllables) as the opposite of piano (loud and soft).

voxacerbus February 21 2007, 23:42:22 UTC

Oh my.

Mine are "towards" (which should be TOWARD)... And "regime" where I'm pretty sure people mean to say "regimen".

I haven't bothered to look up the latter, but saying I have a "skincare regime" sounds to me like Hitler is lording over my face. I have a "skincare regimen".