Editor's Corner

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

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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

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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
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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

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Good morning!

Yesterday I wrote about the term “sea change,” and as someone reminded me, my misinterpretation of the phrase as “seed change” is called an “eggcorn.” We’ve talked about these before. The term is fairly new and it comes from a discussion about a woman who misheard the word acorn as eggcorn.

It’s not the same thing as a mondegreen (misheard song lyric) but it is similar. Today I will treat you with a few animal-themed eggcorns from the Eggcorn database.

They are presented in the following order:

<actual term> à <misheard term>

Definition of term or idiom (from Merriam-Webster or The Free Dictionary)

Examples using the eggcorn and where the examples were found

stark raving à stark raven

Definition: completely crazy; out of control

· Monsters from the Id have driven them stark raven mad. (sci.sceptic)

crosier à crow’s ear

Definition: The hooked staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office.

· The 84-year-old John Paul was laid out in Clementine Hall, dressed in white and red vestments; his head covered with a white bishop’s miter and propped up on three dark gold pillows. Tucked under his left arm was the silver staff, called the crow’s ear, which he had carried in public. (International Herald Tribune, Apr 4, 2005)

Like a bull in a china shop à Like a bowl in a china shop

Definition: A very clumsy creature in a delicate situation; careless behavior in a sensitive situation.

· And she’s described in reports as a bowl in a china shop, but somebody of unassailable high ethics, and also as a direct, directly reporting to the then chief financial officer. (CNN.com, rush transcript, January 16, 2002)

Put the cart before the horse à Put the cat before the horse

Definition: To do things in an order that is not conventionally considered logical; to do things the wrong way.

· A population policy that is not predicated on the result of a credible census, in our view, is tantamount to putting the cat before the horse. (THISDAYOnLine.com, November 16, 2004)

· But perhaps to expect that the Attorney-General’s Office and the Government in general can eradicate corruption is to put the cat before the horse. (Daily Nation [Kenya], September 13, 1998)

scapegoat à escape goat

[KC – I love this one. I imagine making my getaway from the crime scene on my escape goat!]

Definition: A person who is unfairly blamed for something others have done.

· This replacement was an escape goat for a vindictive coward. (The Writer’s Association)

· In the eyes of most Somalis, these warlords are using Ethiopia as an escape goat to achieve their political agenda… (Somali News)

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

A couple nights ago, during an insomniac haze, I grabbed a Money magazine to read and lull myself back to sleep. Instead of returning to the land of slumber, however, I was awakened by the phrase “affecting a sea change.” I’d heard this before, but honestly, I thought people were saying “a seed change” and that they were a little loco. I knew that they were talking about a major change, but I just couldn’t figure out what gardening had to do with it.

Shiver me timbers, here’s some information behind that phrase. From Merriam-Webster:

sea change (noun): a big and sudden change

archaic

1: a change brought about by the sea

2: a marked change: transformation <a sea change in public policy>

According to Wikipedia, by way of the Oxford English Dictionary, the term sea change:

…originally appears in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest in a song sung by a supernatural spirit, Ariel, to Ferdinand, a prince of Naples, after Ferdinand’s father’s apparent death by drowning:

"Full fathom five thy father lies,

Of his bones are coral made,
Those are pearls that were his eyes,
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change,
into something rich and strange,
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell,
Ding-dong.

Hark! now I hear them, ding-dong, bell." [KC-While Shakespeare was an amazing playwright, I can’t really sing praises for his songwriting.]

The term sea-change is therefore often used to mean a metamorphosis or alteration. For example, a literary character may transform over time into a better person after undergoing various trials or tragedies (e.g., "There is a sea change in Scrooge’s personality towards the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.")

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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Oh my goodness. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I can take any more of these comma rules! Here are the last two I will share with you. If you forget any of these rules or want to read more guidelines on comma usage, check Purdue’s Quick Rules or Extended Rules for Using Commas. Now, I’m going to go up to the roof of the parking structure to celebrate the end of this lesson with a scream.

· Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation.

Examples:

o John said without emotion, "I’ll see you tomorrow."

o "I was able," she answered, "to complete the assignment."

o In 1848, Marx wrote, "Workers of the world, unite!"

[KC] Note the punctuation at the end of the phrases above (period, exclamation point) goes inside the quotation mark. For more on that topic see previous posts on “punctuation in quotes,” or wait with bated breath for future editions of Editor’s Corner.

· Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion or misreading.

Example:

To George, Harrison had been a sort of idol.

Kara Church

Senior Technical Editor

Good morning!

Today’s Editor’s Corner is brought to you by DailyWritingTips. This list of animals with their corresponding adjectives may come in handy the next time you need to describe a co-worker’s animal-like behavior.

ant: formicine

ass: asinine

bear: ursine

bird: avian

bull: taurine

crow: corvine

dog: canine

dove: columbine

elephant: elephantine

fish: piscine

fox: vulpine

hornet/wasp: vespine

horse: equine

lion: leonine

peacock: pavonine

pig: porcine

seal: phocine

serpent: serpentine

sheep: ovine

swan: cygnine

tiger: tigrine

tortoise: testudine

wolf: lupine

viper: viperine

Here are some examples:

Bad writing brings out Kara’s taurine characteristics.

Ron guarded the cookies on the counter in a leonine manner.

Donna’s posture is cygnine-like.

Thank you,

Jackie Solano

Technical Writer, Episys Technical Publications

Symitar®

8985 Balboa Avenue

San Diego, California 92123

Direct Line: 619-542-6711

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