You are so right. So many people seem to guess what words or phrases mean without bothering to determine what the rest of society agrees that they mean. Then they expect you to understand their personal interpretation.
However, I’d add that it’s also useful to remember George Bernard Shaw and his “two countries divided by a common language”. Try suggesting a “fag break” to workers in the USA (as I did one coffee time in the 1970’s). Sent from my iPhone > On 26 Apr 2019, at 21:46, Kevin Cozens <ke...@ve3syb.ca> wrote: > >> On 2019-04-26 1:29 p.m., Wayne Burdick wrote: >> Some English words have become completely useless in practice, like >> "semiannual" and "biannual," either of which can mean "twice a year" or >> "every other year." In fact if you look up the definition for one, you >> often see the other shown as a synonym. > > The problem is due to people using words without understanding heir meaning. > There should be no confusion between semiannual and biannual. semi means > half, and bi is two. > > If you want to really find out how messed up is the English language and the > definitions of words, start solving cryptic crossword puzzles. Some words > have three completely different sets of meanings. > > -- > Cheers! > > Kevin. > > http://www.ve3syb.ca/ | "Nerds make the shiny things that > https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens | distract the mouth-breathers, and > | that's why we're powerful" > Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | > #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
