Editor's Corner

Today I have a couple more tidbits from an article by David Shariatmadari, called 8 Pronunciation Errors That Made the English Language What It Is Today.

When Sounds Disappear

English spelling can be a pain, but it’s also a repository of information about the history of pronunciation. Are we being lazy when we say the name of the third day of the working week? Our ancestors might have thought so. Given that it was once "Woden’s day" (named after the Norse god), the "d" isn’t just for decoration, and was pronounced up until relatively recently. Who now says the "t" in Christmas? It must have been there at one point, as the messiah wasn’t actually called Chris. These are examples of syncope.

When Sounds Intrude

Our anatomy can make some changes more likely than others. The simple mechanics of moving from a nasal sound ("m" or "n") to a non-nasal one can make a consonant pop up in-between. Thunder used to be "thuner," and empty "emty." You can see the same process happening now with words like hamster, which often gets pronounced with an intruding "p." This is a type of epenthesis.

Don’t forget, today is the last day to enter the contest!

· Prizes: I have two collections of mondegreens by Gavin Edwards. You can win either ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy or He’s Got the Whole World in His Pants.

· How to enter: All you have to do is talk to your friends, family, and co-workers and see if they want to sign up for our daily language tips, tricks, tidbits, and trivia. Have your buddies send me an email to sign up and have them mention your name. For each person you send, I will enter your name in the drawing. Five friends? Five chances to win!

· Additional details: I’ll accept new names anytime, but the contest ends at midnight, Thursday, March 13. The winner for each book will be picked at random and announced on Monday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day).

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

www.symitar.com

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
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Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
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I was just about to get started down the winding path of number rules, when I was distracted by an article on pronunciation errors. Yes, we’ve discussed specific examples of mispronunciation before, but this is more general and provides some terminology for your reading pleasure. The following information is from an article by David Shariatmadari, called 8 Pronunciation Errors That Made the English Language What It Is Today.

Words that used to begin with "n"

Adder, apron, and umpire all used to start with an "n". Constructions like "A nadder" or "Mine napron" were so common the first letter was assumed to be part of the preceding word. Linguists call this kind of thing reanalysis or rebracketing.

When sounds swap around

Wasp used to be waps; bird used to be brid and horse used to be hros. Remember this the next time you hear someone complaining about aks for ask or nucular for nuclear, or even perscription. It’s called metathesis, and it’s a very common, perfectly natural process. [KC – I plead completely guilty of saying and spelling “prescription” wrong until my husband teased me mercilessly. Don’t ask me to say “library” fast, either.]

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Your grandmother might not like the way you pronounce tune. She might place a delicate "y" sound before the vowel, saying tyune where you would say chune. The same goes for other words like tutor or duke. But this process, called affrication, is happening, like it or not. Within a single generation it has pretty much become standard English. [KC
– The “delicate ‘y’ sound” is something I might call “the annoying ‘y’ sound,” but I guess I’m more blunt with my pronunciation of these words. You might hear that same pronunciation from some people when they use it in the words
Tuesday and due.]

Enjoy the remainder of the day!

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

www.symitar.com

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

One of the changes I find myself making in a lot of documents is changing the word “if” to “whether.” These words can sometimes be used interchangeably, but not always. Since we are in the business of providing accurate documentation, let’s look at the rules behind the two words and some examples.

· Use if for conditional sentences—Sentences indicating that something might happen when a particular condition is met.

o George doesn’t know if he will leave for the Bahamas on Thursday; it depends on his work schedule. (He may leave Thursday if his work schedule allows.)

· Use whether to indicate a choice between two things.

o George doesn’t know whether he will leave for the Bahamas on Thursday or Friday; it depends on his work schedule. (He might leave on Thursday or Friday.)

In the following example, you could use if or whether interchangeably:

· Example 1

o I don’t know if I like African horned cucumbers; I’ve never had one.

o I don’t know whether I like African horned cucumbers; I’ve never had one.

In both cases, the message is that I haven’t had these cucumbers but I might like them once I try them.

In the following examples, you must choose between if and whether, depending on the meaning you want to impart:

· Example 2

o Mariella doesn’t know if Lola will come to her house for spring break or Easter. (Mariella doesn’t know if Lola is coming for spring break, Easter, or if she is coming at all.)

o Mariella doesn’t know whether Lola will come to her house for spring break or Easter. (Mariella isn’t sure which time Lola will pick for vacation, but it will either be spring break or Easter.)

· Example 3

o Text me if you are coming over after work. (Conditional. Text me only if you are coming over after work.)

o Text me whether or not you are coming over after work. (Not conditional. I’m asking you to text me either way.)

Note: If you are using “whether or not” to mean “regardless of whether,” then “or not” is required; otherwise, you can do away with “or not.”

Okay. You can relax now.

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

Welcome to Monday! I hope you all had a restful weekend, though with that dastardly time change I suspect some of you might be upset over that “lost” hour. Note: Babies, dogs, and honey badgers don’t care what the clocks says; they want what they want when they want it.

I thought I was finished with the confused word pairs, but I found a couple more for your pondering pleasure. The definitions are paraphrased from Merriam-Webster’s definitions; the examples are mine.

Envy vs. Jealousy

The word envy implies a desire or longing for something that someone else has. Jealousy is wanting what someone else has, but is often coupled with unhappiness, anger, and rivalry, particularly in romantic relationships.

· I envy Stephanie’s wavy hair. It always looks so full and pretty!

· Biff was always jealous of Chad’s way with the ladies; even Biff’s girlfriend threw herself at Chad as if she were single.

Continual vs. Continuous

Something continual happens again and again within short periods of time; it may stop, but not for long. Continuous means that the action goes uninterrupted; it continues without stopping.

· The pounding in her head was continual, stopping only after the migraine medicine kicked in.

· Spring water flows continuously from Kootenay Lake and has even during historic droughts.

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

Well, my guess is that after weeks of these misheard song lyrics, you will never forget what a mondegreen is! Today is the last of those I’ve picked for you, from three books by Gavin Edwards: ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy, When a Man Loves a Walnut, and He’s Got the Whole World In His Pants.

Remember, two of these books are up for grabs as contest prizes.

· Prizes: I have two collections of mondegreens by Gavin Edwards. You can win either ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy or He’s Got the Whole World in His Pants.

· How to enter: All you have to do is talk to your friends and co-workers and see if they want to sign up for our daily language tips, tricks, tidbits, and trivia. Have your buddies send me an email to sign up and have them mention your name. For each person you send, I will enter your name in the drawing. Five friends? Five chances to win! [KC – Your chances are great right now. I only have eight entries!]

· Additional details: I’ll accept new names anytime, but the contest ends at midnight, Thursday, March 13. The winner for each book will be picked at random and announced on Monday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day).

Okay, now for your mondegreen treats. These are presented as follows:

Group/Singer (Song Title)

Mondegreen. (Actual song lyrics.)

Enjoy!

Midnight Oil (Blue Sky Mining)

Who’s gonna shave me? (Who’s gonna save me?)

KC and the Sunshine Band (Keep It Comin’ Love)

Keep it common law (Keep it comin’, love)

Deep Purple (Smoke on the Water)

Slow-motion Walter/fire engine guy. (Smoke on the water/fire in the sky.)

Pink Floyd (Another Brick in the Wall [Part II])

The Dukes of Hazzard are in the classroom. (No dark sarcasm in the classroom.)

Pink Floyd (Shine on You Crazy Diamond)

Shine on you crazy blind man. (Shine on you crazy diamond.)

Whitesnake (Here I Go Again)

Like a drifter I was born to wear cologne. (Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.)

Soundgarden (Rusty Cage)

I’m gonna braid a rustic Cajun rug. (I’m gonna break my rusty cage and run.)

Carly Simon (You’re So Vain)

You probably think this song is about you / Don’t shoot! Don’t Shoot! (You probably think this song is about you / Don’t you? Don’t you?)

.38 Special (Hold on Loosely)

Hold on, Bruce Lee, and don’t let go. (Hold on loosely and don’t let go.)

INXS (Devil Inside)

Every single one of us is double in size. (Every single one of us the devil inside.)

Billy Joel (Movin’ Out—Anthony’s Song)

Who needs a house out of hackeysacks? (Who needs a house out in Hackensack?)

Alanis Morissette (You Oughta Know)

The cross-eyed baby that you gave to me (The cross I bear that you gave to me)

Elton John (Tiny Dancer)

Hold me closer Tony Danza (Hold me closer, tiny dancer)

Elton John (Someone Saved My Life Tonight)

Someone shaved my wife tonight (Someone saved my life tonight)

The Beatles (Get Back)

Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a woman (Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner)

Depeche Mode (Policy of Truth)

The coliseum roof (The policy of truth)

Neil Young (Pocahontas)

Indian blood and a fight with Cher (Indian rug and a pipe to share)

The Steve Miller Band (Abracadabra)

Have a cadaver/I wanna reach out and stab ya (Abracadabra/I want to reach out and grab ya)

Traditional (America the Beautiful)

Oh, beautiful for spaceship guys (Oh, beautiful for spacious skies)

Bon Jovi (Livin’ on a Prayer)

It doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not. (It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not.)

Cheap Trick (Dream Police)

Latrine police, they live inside of my head. (The dream police, they live inside of my head.)

The Bangles (Hero Takes a Fall)

There’ll be a prize toupee. (There’ll be a price to pay.)

Guns N’ Roses (Paradise City)

Take me down to the prairie-dog city (Take me down to the paradise city)

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

www.symitar.com

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

Today I have a few more word pairs that are often confused and misused. The original list is from Daily Writing Tips; the examples are from me.

Melted/Molten
Something that has melted has, often because of heat, changed from a solid state to a liquid state; something that is molten is presently in a liquid state due to melting. The connotation is of extremely hot liquid, such as steel or lava, and the term also refers figuratively to a glowing quality.

· Mandy attacked the triple-scoop ice cream cone with such fervor, she knocked the top two scoops to the ground and they melted in the hot summer sun. (Then she cried childishly, the tears melting the remaining scoop on the cone. Big baby!)

· The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has been pouring molten lava into the ocean since the early 1980s.

Misinformed/Uninformed
Someone who is misinformed has received erroneous information, whereas someone who is uninformed lacks information.

· The devious travel agent intentionally misinformed his clients by telling them that “the happiest place on earth” was Fargo, North Dakota—not Disneyland.

· Debbie did not read the crime statistics on Barcelona before her cruise ship docked; thus uninformed, her purse was stolen within her first twenty minutes on land.

Nauseating/Nauseous
Someone or something that is nauseating causes nausea; someone experiencing nausea is nauseous. This distinction is often not observed in colloquial writing, but careful writers maintain it.

· The smell of fish, eggs, or broccoli early in the morning can be nauseating.

· Joanie said she was nauseous for three months straight when she was pregnant with her son.

Here are a few pets and their owners who are sometimes confused, too:

Photos from http://www.funnycutestuff.com/2011/dogs-that-look-like-their-owners/

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

For the next couple of days, let’s have a look at some word pairs that are often confused and misused. The original list is from Daily Writing Tips; the examples are from me.

Childish/Childlike
Childish suggests immaturity behavior befitting a child, while childlike pertains to more positive qualities such as innocence and curiosity.

· Thomas was 30 years old, but his childish behavior prevented him from keeping girlfriends for long; most women couldn’t look past the messy eating, frequent tantrums, and diaper-wearing.

· Daisy’s most charming quality is the childlike way she approaches new experiences: with sheer joy and glee.

Inexplicable/Unexplainable
These words are nearly identical in meaning, but inexplicable has developed a unique connotation of an illogical or irrational quality, as in references to odd behavior or supernatural phenomena.

· To Mrs. Cumberbun’s millionaire friends, her choice to use disposable red SOLO® cups and paper napkins during the Winter Ball was inexplicable.

· The green, saucer-shaped object flying through the midnight sky was unexplainable.

Invaluable/Valuable
Something valuable has value; something invaluable has value that, because of its quality or intangible importance, cannot be quantified.

· “Babyface,” as they’d nicknamed the burglar, was known for wearing a doll mask and stealing the most valuable diamonds known to man.

· When I’m struggling for the right words, my lovely co-editor Donna offers suggestions that are invaluable to me. What would I do without her? J

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

www.symitar.com

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
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Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
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Hello all!

Today’s tidbit is from a pet peeve a reader has with the term “a lot.” This one’s easy:

· lot: a parcel of land

· Lot: A biblical character with a pillar of salt for a wife.

· a lot: often, much, to a considerable degree

· allot: to assign a portion to

· alot: This is not a word so don’t use it!

Now, time for a new contest!

Last week I mentioned I’d be doing another contest. The goal of this contest will be familiar: get the word out and find new subscribers for Editor’s Corner. The rules and prizes this time are a bit different.

· Prizes: I have two collections of mondegreens by Gavin Edwards. You can win either ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy or He’s Got the Whole World in His Pants.

· How to enter: All you have to do is talk to your friends and co-workers and see if they want to sign up for our daily language tips, tricks, tidbits, and trivia. Have your buddy send me an email to sign up and have them mention your name. For each person you send, I will enter your name in the drawing. Five friends? Five chances to win!

· Additional details: I’ll accept new names anytime, but the contest ends at midnight, Thursday, March 13. The winner for each book will be picked at random and announced Friday, March 14.

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

www.symitar.com

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

Good morning folks!

Over the past couple of years, I’ve sent out several different articles on regional differences in terms. The last one was in November and it was called Nuts. My article included several maps from a study on language. For example, this map shows the differences in the way people across the United States pronounce “been”:

Look familiar?

This weekend, my husband found a follow-up to this study in The New York Times “Sunday Review” online. Several people involved in collecting the original survey data and making the language maps have set up a quiz which predicts where you’re from based on your answers. I think it is fascinating stuff! The results based on my answers? Considering I was raised in Seattle, I think they did a great job! (See my results below.)

If you want to take the test and read more about the study, check it out here! (Try Chrome if IE hasn’t been updated on your PC.) For some additional articles in Editor’s Corner, you can try Regional Ravings and Regional Differences.

Have fun!

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

Happy Friday!

I have another set of mondegreens (misheard song lyrics) to start off your weekend with a chuckle. Today I’ve selected some that have a food theme. (Well, I guess the one about aspirin and gin doesn’t exactly fall into the traditional pyramid of balanced nutrition.) Next week I’ll have my final set of mondegreens for you, but I will also be giving away the series of books they are from. One is going to Renee Deane, who encouraged me to go on this mondegreen kick. That leaves two others…sounds like time for another contest! (Details and rules to follow.)

As before, these mondegreens are from books by Gavin Edwards: ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy, When a Man Loves a Walnut, and He’s Got the Whole World in His Pants.

Group/Singer (Song Title)

Mondegreen. (Actual song lyrics.)

Wham! (Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go)

Wake me up, and pour some cocoa (Wake me up, before you go-go)

The Rolling Stones (Beast of Burden)

I’ll never leave your pizza burnin’. (I’ll never be your beast of burden.)

The Steve Miller Band (Jungle Love)

The question to everyone’s answer is usually aspirin with gin. (The question to everyone’s answer is usually asked from within.)

Simon and Garfunkel (I am a Rock)

· I am a rock, I am an onion.

· I am a rock, I am in Thailand.

(I am a rock, I am an island.)

Rupert Holmes (Escape)

If you like bean enchiladas (If you like pia coladas)

The Eagles (Hotel California)

On a dark desert highway, Cool Whip in my hair. (On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.)

Foreigner (Double Vision)

My mind is bacon, but my body’s Sizzlean. (My mind is racing’, but my body’s in the lead.)

The Ramones (I Wanna Be Sedated)

I want a piece of date bread (I wanna be sedated)

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

www.symitar.com

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.