not really a pet peeve, just an observation

[low_delta]

"Alright" is not a real word. It is not alright to use it.

Comments

..

[whorlpool.livejournal.com]

Actually, it is a real word. It's in all of my dictionaries.

[dwivian]

Define "real word".

[queenofstripes.livejournal.com]

Lewis Carroll must give you fits. ;p

[specificocean.livejournal.com]

Yes, but what happens is that with increasing use, it BECOMES a word.....

Or meaning changes....e.g. things 'impacting'......

Re: ..

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I knew you wouldn't be able to resist this one.

Funny though. I had a teacher tell me that once, and every time I looked it up it turned out she was right. I guess you just have ifferent dictionaries than I.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yep.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Actually I enjoy reading made up words. It's just when the words are passed off as real ones...

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

There is that...


But no, this word didn't really bother me.

[specificocean.livejournal.com]

Me either.

But the misuse of impact does.

The dictionary people agree, while conceding that the usage will eventually become standard....:-(

Re: ..

[whorlpool.livejournal.com]

In any case, it wouldn't matter even if it wasn't in a dictionary. Language does change. If everyone's using a word a certain way, that word usage eventually _becomes_ correct.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I hate it when people turn nouns to verbs. Verbing annoys me.

Re: ..

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately. ;-)

[specificocean.livejournal.com]

I also dislike that....excess verbiage, perhaps?.....*g*

Re: ..

[whorlpool.livejournal.com]

nonono

VERY fortunately

Re: ..

[dwivian]

That doesn't make it a word....

Dictionaries take the path of either

1) recording words in use, or
2) recording language in use

lots take the second path, and as a result some horrible things are "in the dictionary". Like "ain't".....

Re: ..

[whorlpool.livejournal.com]

*rolls eyes*

In this case, though, it's a word.

Re: ..

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but sometimes there should be a vote.

I'm wondering when "alls," and "yous" will show up in the dictionaries.
(thanks Blonnie)

[emschin.livejournal.com]

"Verbing annoys me" Laugh and laugh and laugh!!

[emschin.livejournal.com]

My dictionary has a special little box to discuss "alright" It says the one word spelling appeared about 75 years after "all right" reappeared after a 400 year long absence.

"Since the early 20th century some critics have insisted alright is wrong, but is has its defenders and its users." ( blah blah blah...
and then they cite it as having been used by Gertrude Stein.)

I like Gertrude Stein but her usage is hardly normative!!

[banana.livejournal.com]

I already know this. ;~)

[sirreal13.livejournal.com]

All right, already... I didn't grow up close by da lake to be taught how ta speak English. Get me a beer once, long as you're up, hey?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

"Verbing weirds language."
-Calvin

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure the existence of the word "already" is what fooled people into thinking that "alright" was a word.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Get me a beer once, hey.

Sheesh.

:-D

[banana.livejournal.com]

So why is already all right and alright ain't?

And does alcoves mean every single cove?