Interesting list. I'm not sure that the "collapse" distinction is valid any more. I think the usage of that word has changed widely enough that it has to be considered both a transitive and intransitive verb now. "Collapsing" a list, for instance, is common parlance on web sites. That meme has mutated. ----- Original Message ----- From: Julia Thompson<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Killer Bs Discussion<mailto:brin-l@mccmedia.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 6:26 AM Subject: Interesting list
http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673903<http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673903> This is a list of words that get misused a lot. Examples: Appraise means set a price on. Apprise means inform. Blooded means pedigreed or initiated. Bloodied means wounded. Collapse is not transitive. You may collapse, but you may not collapse something. Discreet means circumspect or prudent; discrete means separate or distinct. Remember that Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are. (Oscar Wilde) Effectively means with effect; if you mean in effect, say it.The matter was effectively dealt with on Friday means it was done well on Friday. The matter was, in effect, dealt with on Friday means it was more or less attended to on Friday. Effectively leaderless would do as a description of the demonstrators in East Germany in 1989 but not those in Tiananmen Square. The devaluation of the Slovak currency in 1993, described by some as an effective 8%, turned out to be a rather ineffective 8%. Flaunt means display; flout means disdain. If you flout this distinction, you will flaunt your ignorance. (And that's as much as I'm going to copy & paste right now.) Julia _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l<http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l> _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
