Next time someone on FFL calls you a racist, point out these eight cool words that they and most people use often, without realizing that they're being racists by doing so. Cool article on etymology, definitions courtesy of the American Heritage Dictionary:
http://www.cracked.com/article_16967_8-racist-words-you-use-every-day.html The words and phrases in question are: * hooligan * vandal * hip hip hooray! * barbarian * bugger * cannibal * gyp * picnic More related Word Fun links: 8 Everyday Words With X-Rated Origins http://www.cracked.com/article_16539_8-everyday-words-with-x-rated-origins.html * hysteria * orchid * seminar * venus flytrap * avocado * mastodon * manatee * fundamental 9 Words That Don't Mean What You Think http://www.cracked.com/article_15664_9-words-that-dont-mean-what-you-think.html * irregardless * peruse * ironic * pristine * nonplussed * bemused * enormity * plethora * deceptively And finally, now that you're completely confused, here is an invaluable and completely factual Q&A from Mister Language Person (Dave Barry) to clear everything up and make it all right again: Q. When should I say ``phenomena,'' and when should I say ``phenomenon?'' A. ``Phenomena'' is what grammarians refer to as a ``subcutaneous invective,'' which is a word used to describe skin disorders, as in ``Bob has a weird phenomena on his neck shaped like Ted Koppel.'' Whereas ``phenomenon'' is used to describe a backup singer in the 1957 musical group ``Duane Furlong and the Phenomenons.'' Q. What was their big hit? A. ``You Are the Carburetor of My Heart.'' TODAY'S BUSINESS WRITING TIP: In writing proposals to prospective clients, be sure to clearly state the benefits they will receive: WRONG: ``I sincerely believe that it is to your advantage to accept this proposal.'' RIGHT: ``I have photographs of you naked with a squirrel.'' Q. OK, sorry. Anyway, I have just returned from a trip to England, and I noticed that the English put an extra ``u'' in certain words, such as ``rumour,'' ``humour'' and ``The Roulling Stounes.'' Also they call some things by totally different names, such as ``lift'' when they mean ``elevator,'' ``bonnet'' when they mean ``lorry'' and ``twit'' when they mean ``former Vice President Quayle.'' My question is, don't they have any dentists over there? A. Apparently nout. Q. Please explain the correct usage of the word ``neither.'' A. Grammatically, ``neither'' is used to begin sentences with compound subjects that are closely related and wear at least a size 24, as in: ``Neither Esther nor Bernice have passed up many Ding Dongs, if you catch my drift.'' It may also be used at the end of a carnivorous injunction, as in: ``And don't touch them weasels, neither.'' Q. My husband and I recently received a note containing this sentence: ``Give us the money, or you seen the last of you're child.'' I say that the correct wording should be ``you have done seen the last of you're child,'' but my husband, Warren, insists it should be ``you have been done seeing the last of you're child.'' This has become a real bone of contention, to the point where Warren refuses to come out of the utility shed. What do you think? A. We think that an excellent name for a band would be: ``The Bones of Contention.''
