The life of a grammar nerd is difficult. We’re forced to grin and bear it while others “bare” it, to pretend that all this “impacting” we hear about on the nightly news isn’t giving us toothaches, and to refrain from ever using the word “forte” in spoken language, lest (not “less”) our listeners think we don’t know how to pronounce it. Which we do. It rhymes with “torte” (see usage note).
Recently, I’ve noted a disturbing rise in the number of people who use the word “penultimate” to mean “quintessential”. I have isolated two possible causes of this error: (1) that the individual meant to use “paradigmatic,” and (2) that the individual thinks, “Well, I bet ‘penultimate’ is even more ultimate than ‘ultimate.'” It isn’t. It means “next to last.” I’m totally with you when you argue that Steve McQueen is the ultimate cool. When you argue, however, that he’s the penultimate cool, I wonder who stole his crown and how you know there is no coolness beyond this usurper.
In addition, I’ve previously blogged about the travesty that is the growing popularity of using the phrase “begs the question” to mean “prompts one to ask the question.” This usage make my eyes bleed. For the love of all things holy, please stop. Can’t we make some kind of deal, here? I’m not above negotiation abd cooperation. I’ll let you say, “practically begs me to ask the question.” Will that make you happy?
There. I’ve said my piece. And now, pressure lessened, back to the grind.
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