Watch Your Mouth
As a trained linguist, I feel I am beholden to use my expertise for the betterment of society. In this vein, I bring you my first installment of Making the World a Better Place Through Grammar.
Every day I run across language that has been misused and abused. I can no longer sit idly by while I have the tools at my fingertips to get the word out, so to speak. The following are just a few of the many misapplied figures of speech that cry out to be understood.
oxymoron:
An oxymoron is a literary device that follows a specific formula: two words, a modifier paired with a contradictory noun. Loving hate. Military intelligence. If the phrase in question does not fit this pattern, it is probably better described as a contradiction in terms.
concerted effort:
A concerted effort is one that is executed in concert, or together. It denotes a group working toward a single goal. One person can not act in concert with himself. An individual may make a deliberate effort or a concentrated effort, but not a concerted effort.
heighth:
The word is height, HEIGHT! Length; width; height. It rhymes with kite, and flight, and fight, which is what I am liable to do if I hear one more person add that obtrusive "th."
That's it for today. Stay tuned for more important messages from a committed advocate for those little guys we call words.
Bravo! March on, Mighty Linguist!
Posted by: Jeremy on October 24, 2004 08:14 PM