Comments on: Words and punctuation http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/ a web-log Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:48:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Ethan Glasser-Camp http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-8 Ethan Glasser-Camp Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:26:26 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-8 Hi, Both senses of "momentarily" are listed in Webster's. Please see <a href="http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000437.html" rel="nofollow">this entry on Language Log</a>. Ethan Hi,

Both senses of "momentarily" are listed in
Webster’s. Please see this entry on Language Log.

Ethan

]]> By: ads http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-9 ads Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:53:18 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-9 Thanks for the information, Ethan. It seems to me that having two contradictory meanings devalues the word. I'll try to make sure I only use it when the meaning is obvious. Thanks for the information, Ethan. It seems to me that having two contradictory meanings devalues the word. I'll try to make sure I only use it when the meaning is obvious.

]]> By: Andrew http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-10 Andrew Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:19:03 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-10 Using 'momentarily' in that context is, however, at the very least an americanism - and as such is incorrect in (at least British) English usage. An American dictionary such as Websters would probably list both options; the OED lists it as a fourth possible meaning, and specifies that it is only used in such a way in North America. Dr. Johnson only gave one meaning in his dictionary - 'for a moment'. The other one that annoys me is Americans using 'alternate' when they mean 'alternative' - the two words have entirely different meanings. Using 'momentarily' in that context is, however, at the very least an americanism - and as such is incorrect in (at least British) English usage. An American dictionary such as Websters would probably list both options; the OED lists it as a fourth possible meaning, and specifies that it is only used in such a way in North America. Dr. Johnson only gave one meaning in his dictionary - 'for a moment'.

The other one that annoys me is Americans using 'alternate' when they mean 'alternative' - the two words have entirely different meanings.

]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-11 Anonymous Coward Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:30:19 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-11 He he he... Isn't it a <em>little</em> ironic that you have a spelling error in a post in which you complain specifically about spelling errors? ;-) Add to that the fact that the error is exactly in the word you complain about, and the irony gets even bigger. :-) (last paragraph, look for "momentary") [ Or, maybe I'm just not in on the joke, and this is intentional... ] He he he… Isn't it a little ironic that you have a spelling error in a post in which you complain specifically about spelling errors? ;-) Add to that the fact that the error is exactly in the word you complain about, and the irony gets even bigger. :-) (last paragraph, look for "momentary")

[ Or, maybe I'm just not in on the joke, and this is intentional… ]

]]> By: ads http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-12 ads Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:51:47 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-12 The words 'momentary' and 'momentarily' are related, but neither is misspelled. I could have made my rant clearer, I admit, but then it wouldn't have had all the characteristics of a rant. The words 'momentary' and 'momentarily' are related, but neither is misspelled. I could have made my rant clearer, I admit, but then it wouldn't have had all the characteristics of a rant.

]]> By: Ethan Glasser-Camp http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-13 Ethan Glasser-Camp Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:43:28 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-13 ads: I don't think "for a moment" and "in a moment" are contradictory, per se -- both are adverb forms of "moment" and can (in my opinion) justifiably mean either of those. I think it's legitimate to say "I don't like to use the word momentarily to mean 'in a moment', because the word comes from momentary which unambiguously means 'the duration of a moment', so it sounds weird", but I don't think flagging it as an error is OK. Andrew: Then if someone uses the word in this way, you have to at least consider that they might be using an Americanism (especially one they might have picked up anywhere on the Internet) rather than demonstrating an ignorance of the English language. You might say there's no difference but I think that's another argument. :) Ethan ads: I don't think "for a moment" and "in a moment" are contradictory, per se — both are adverb forms of "moment" and can (in my opinion) justifiably mean either of those. I think it’s legitimate to say "I don't like to use the word momentarily to mean 'in a moment', because the word comes from momentary which unambiguously means 'the duration of a moment', so it sounds weird", but I don't think flagging it as an error is OK.

Andrew: Then if someone uses the word in this way, you have to at least consider that they might be using an Americanism (especially one they might have picked up anywhere on the Internet) rather than demonstrating an ignorance of the English language. You might say there’s no difference but I think that’s another argument. :)

Ethan

]]> By: Matt Johnson http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-14 Matt Johnson Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:44:51 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-14 The OED actually lists two definitions which fit the 'shortly' definition of momentary, albeit marked 'rare' and 'chiefly n. amer'. It's also entirely possible that the person using it was intending to be writing in American rather than English. Having said that, I'm also annoyed by people who can't spell, punctuate or use the correct words. Particularly those who should know better. (I'm looking at 'b4' and 'u' here for things which really get me annoyed). Well, if I'm annoyed be these I just have to think about these comics to cheer me up again: http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20050321.html http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20031003.html http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20051023.html The OED actually lists two definitions which fit the ’shortly' definition of momentary, albeit marked 'rare' and 'chiefly n. amer'. It’s also entirely possible that the person using it was intending to be writing in American rather than English.

Having said that, I'm also annoyed by people who can't spell, punctuate or use the correct words. Particularly those who should know better. (I'm looking at 'b4' and 'u' here for things which really get me annoyed).

Well, if I'm annoyed be these I just have to think about these comics to cheer me up again:

http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif
http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20050321.html
http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20031003.html
http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20051023.html

]]> By: Andrew http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-15 Andrew Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:57:33 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-15 My point re Americanisms was merely that while it is an Americanism it is still not a correct usage of the word in canonical English. In England saying something would happen momentarily should be giving across only one meaning - the two meanings <strong>are</strong> contradictory; their meanings are sufficently different that if you accept both as options it would be almost better to use a different word. If someone asked if he could interrupt you momentarily then that would mean the difference between a quick question and a long lecture. There are many cases of words that do have multiple meanings - but I can think of few that have meanings that cannot be differentiated from the context. My point re Americanisms was merely that while it is an Americanism it is still not a correct usage of the word in canonical English. In England saying something would happen momentarily should be giving across only one meaning - the two meanings are contradictory; their meanings are sufficently different that if you accept both as options it would be almost better to use a different word. If someone asked if he could interrupt you momentarily then that would mean the difference between a quick question and a long lecture. There are many cases of words that do have multiple meanings - but I can think of few that have meanings that cannot be differentiated from the context.

]]> By: Simon Farnsworth http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-16 Simon Farnsworth Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:13:21 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-16 Matt: Using "b4" and "u" seems to come from a selfish view of the time involved in dealing with a piece of text. Yes, they speed things up for the writer, saving them a matter of seconds; however, each reader loses time in decoding what was meant. Once you get enough readers, no amount of saving time writing saves time overall. Generally, these writers are selfish enough to assume that people will take time to read and comprehend their post; in practice, they forget that if it's too much work to understand what's being said, the easy option is to ignore them. This is especially true when you're asking for help; if I can't work out what your problem is, it's far easier to ignore you than it is to ask for more details. Matt: Using "b4" and "u" seems to come from a selfish view of the time involved in dealing with a piece of text. Yes, they speed things up for the writer, saving them a matter of seconds; however, each reader loses time in decoding what was meant. Once you get enough readers, no amount of saving time writing saves time overall.

Generally, these writers are selfish enough to assume that people will take time to read and comprehend their post; in practice, they forget that if it’s too much work to understand what’s being said, the easy option is to ignore them. This is especially true when you're asking for help; if I can't work out what your problem is, it’s far easier to ignore you than it is to ask for more details.

]]> By: werutzb http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-9275 werutzb Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:50:36 +0000 http://blog.wompom.org/index.php/2007/02/15/words-and-punctuation/#comment-9275 Hi! I want to extend my SQL capabilities. I red so many SQL books and would like to get more about SQL for my occupation as mysql database manager. What can you recommend? Thanks, Werutz Hi!

I want to extend my SQL capabilities.
I red so many SQL books and would like to
get more about SQL for my occupation as mysql database manager.

What can you recommend?

Thanks,
Werutz

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