Jetshing's Blog

“Wired Style: Principles of English Usage in the Digital Age”(ed. Constance Hale, HardWired, 1996, ISBN 1-888869-01-1) says:”What’s the plural of that small, rolling pointing device invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964? We prefer ~mouses~. ~Mice~ is just too suggestive of furry little creatures. But both terms are common, so take your pick. We actually emailed Engelbart to see what he’d say. His answer? ‘Haven’t given the matter much thought.’ “In fact, Engelbart shared credit for … Read entire article »

The attributive use of “quality”, as in “quality workmanship”, is sometimes questioned. The alternative that nobody will object to is “high-quality” (for which OED’s first citation is from 1910). OED’s first citation of “quality” in the sense “high quality,excellence” is from Shakespeare (1606): “The Grecian youths are full of qualitie, Their loving well composed, with guift of nature.”(Troilus and Cressida, IV iv). It seems to have been in steady use since then. The proverb “Quality is better than quantity” is first recorded in 1604 in the form “The gravest wits [...] The qualitie,not quantitie, respect.” The attributive use of “quality” is another matter. OED has a citation of “quality air” from 1701; but there is only scattered evidence between then and the following note in “A Manual for Writers”, by John Matthews … Read entire article »

The constructions at issue are: I cannot but think (that S)– where S is some sentence I cannot help but think (that S) I cannot help thinking (that S) Let’s turn cannot into can’t so it sounds like English — nobody ever says cannot, they write it. With this proviso, I’d opine that No. (1), I can’t but think stinks; and the same is true of the cannot form, so that’s one bum steer Miss F. left you with. Do not say or write I cannot but think …, then. One down. That leaves Nos. (2) and (3), and (3) is very straightforwardly OK (with can’t, that is). So Miss F. is batting .500 so far. (2) is maybe a little precious — I mean, what’s the but doing for you with an infinitive in (2) that … Read entire article »

Here are some idioms using shapes. Square square meal = a big meal: “After all that travelling, we needed a square meal.” be back to square one = to be back to where you started: “I don’t feel we’re making any progress – we’re back to square one.” look someone square in the eye = look at someone directly: “He looked me square in the eye and denied taking the money.” fair and square = completely fair: “We negotiated the … Read entire article »