Is "decider" a real word?

[David]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Yeah, "descriptivist". WTH?

In language matters, "descriptive" (or "descriptivist") refers to scientific linguistics: observing & analyzing facts of speech & writing as they occur, without passing value judgments of correctness or fitness or desirability on those usages. "Prescriptive" (or "prescriptivist") refers to making such judgments about usages: prescribing normative rules for a language instead of simply describing how language is used.

When you get usage guidance or grammar advice from a guide or dictionary, you are getting prescriptive guidance. But ever since Webster's Third dictionary in 1961, that particular family of dictionaries has adopted a descriptive approach to its dictionaries: to report how language is used instead of to guide usage.

But the usage screwup I was thinking of in my post:

If you want reliable & accurate usage guidance online, avoid Merriam-Webster dictionaries (widely known & proud of their descriptivist approach to usage) & use instead the American Heritage Dictionary.

was the example of something called zeugma. When I said, "widely known & proud of ..." that was an example of an error called zeugma (you pronounce it "zoog-muh"). Zeugma is a figure of speech in which one word is forced to serve a role in two constructions (often by ellipsis), & that forcing is generally ungrammatical. You can see in my example that "widely known" & "proud of" both qualify the noun phrase "their descriptivist approach to usage." But the problem is that, while "proud of" is correct because it contains the correct preposition, "widely known" doesn't contain its own preposition--you are meant to join it ("zeugma" means "joining" or "yoking together") to the only explicit preposition in the phrase (which is "of"). However, something isn't said to be "widely known of"; to be correct, it should be "widely known for."

So I should have written: "If you want reliable & accurate usage guidance online, avoid Merriam-Webster dictionaries (widely known FOR & proud of their descriptivist approach to usage) & use instead the American Heritage Dictionary."

I think it sounds more complicated than it really is. But just think of the words in your sentence & how they relate to words & phrases that both precede & follow them. Zeugma isn't always incorrect, but it generally is.

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by David

I think it sounds more complicated than it really is

also known as DUH

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by David

In language matters, "descriptive" (or "descriptivist") refers to scientific linguistics: observing & analyzing facts of speech & writing as they occur, without passing value judgments of correctness or fitness or desirability on those usages. "Prescriptive" (or "prescriptivist") refers to making such judgments about usages: prescribing normative rules for a language instead of simply describing how language is used.

When you get usage guidance or grammar advice from a guide or dictionary, you are getting prescriptive guidance. But ever since Webster's Third dictionary in 1961, that particular family of dictionaries has adopted a descriptive approach to its dictionaries: to report how language is used instead of to guide usage.

But the usage screwup I was thinking of in my post:

If you want reliable & accurate usage guidance online, avoid Merriam-Webster dictionaries (widely known & proud of their descriptivist approach to usage) & use instead the American Heritage Dictionary.

was the example of something called zeugma. When I said, "widely known & proud of ..." that was an example of an error called zeugma (you pronounce it "zoog-muh"). Zeugma is a figure of speech in which one word is forced to serve a role in two constructions (often by ellipsis), & that forcing is generally ungrammatical. You can see in my example that "widely known" & "proud of" both qualify the noun phrase "their descriptivist approach to usage." But the problem is that, while "proud of" is correct because it contains the correct preposition, "widely known" doesn't contain its own preposition--you are meant to join it ("zeugma" means "joining" or "yoking together") to the only explicit preposition in the phrase (which is "of"). However, something isn't said to be "widely known of"; to be correct, it should be "widely known for."

So I should have written: "If you want reliable & accurate usage guidance online, avoid Merriam-Webster dictionaries (widely known FOR & proud of their descriptivist approach to usage) & use instead the American Heritage Dictionary."

I think it sounds more complicated than it really is. But just think of the words in your sentence & how they relate to words & phrases that both precede & follow them. Zeugma isn't always incorrect, but it generally is.

No I get it, I just didn't know about that rule. Although if I were editing I would have added the prep knowing it wasn't right that it was missing.

I knew I should've looked that damn word up! Oops.

[DrummerDeanna]

Ah a grammar lesson..there's something I can get behind.

You all rock for pointing out the thing already pointed out. I have to strongly agree on the "your" vs. "you're" the sucky thing is with online speak they've all with replaced with "ur" - if I see a message with that in it I pretty much stop reading it.

Online speak have become unreadable to me.

That said, my biggest pet peeves is when people say, "anyways" I HATE that. There is no need for an "s" at the end of that word. And "Where are you at? " NO need for an "at" at the end of that sentence. There are many spoken/written things that bug me...but I write for a living...that may be a reason.

Disclaimer: My writing on the Ledge should in no way reflect my professional writing....I'm way casual on here, and throw many rules to the wind.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

And "Where are you at? " NO need for an "at" at the end of that sentence. There are many spoken/written things that bug me...but I write for a living...that may be a reason.

What about "where you at?" That's always nice.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by skcin

Well then, while I'm at it, it's spelled "alright." And "you're." OK, I'm done for now. Carry on.

Very good.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by skcin

What about "where you at?" That's always nice.

My personal fave... "where you been at?"

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

My personal fave... "where you been at?"

That is a slang that likely derives from New Orleans - only there it is "Where y'at" - hence, they are called "Yat's."

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Disclaimer: My writing on the Ledge should in no way reflect my professional writing....I'm way casual on here, and throw many rules to the wind.

ditto. I have said many times that I prefer the use of "enuff" for enough, "tho" for though, "thru" for through, etc. Im kinda lazy and when you are typing as much as I am you tend to take shortcuts. I do NOT however do the "u-r" thing or "ur" which when I first see it, I pronounce "Ur" as in Sumer or Gilgamesh etc...

Ive really tried hard to cut back on the .... usage but sometimes, I just trail off.
I AM careful with my "your" and "you're" and "dese" "dems" and "dose"
ar ar!

[Livia]

http://decider.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

To the tune of "I Am The Walrus" (click on the link above so you can see the pic and hear the song)

I am me and Rummy's he, Iraq is free and we are all together
See the world run when Dick shoots his gun, see how I lie
I'm Lying...

Sitting on my own brain, waiting for the end of days
Corporation profits, Bloody oil money
I'm above the law and I'll decide what's right or wrong

I am the egg head, I'm the Commander, I'm the Decider
Koo-Koo-Kachoo

Baghdad city policeman sitting pretty little targets in a row
See how they die when the shrapnel flies see mothers cry
I'm Lying...I'm Ly-ing...I'm Lying...I'm Ly-ing

Yellow cake uranium, imaginary WMD's
Declassifying facts, exposing secret agents
Tax cuts for the wealthy leaving all the poor behind

CHORUS

Sitting in the White house garden talking to the Lord
My thoughts would be busy busy hatching If I only had a brain

CHORUS

(courtesy of Paul Hipp)

Contact: [email protected]

[Red]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

That said, my biggest pet peeves is when people say, "anyways" I HATE that. There is no need for an "s" at the end of that word.

Ugh, I know! And that one is so common too, which completely drives me nuts.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Red

Ugh, I know! And that one is so common too, which completely drives me nuts.

It's one of my favorite things to say.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Livia

http://decider.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

To the tune of "I Am The Walrus" (click on the link above so you can see the pic and hear the song)

I am me and Rummy's he, Iraq is free and we are all together
See the world run when Dick shoots his gun, see how I lie
I'm Lying...

Sitting on my own brain, waiting for the end of days
Corporation profits, Bloody oil money
I'm above the law and I'll decide what's right or wrong

I am the egg head, I'm the Commander, I'm the Decider
Koo-Koo-Kachoo

Baghdad city policeman sitting pretty little targets in a row
See how they die when the shrapnel flies see mothers cry
I'm Lying...I'm Ly-ing...I'm Lying...I'm Ly-ing

Yellow cake uranium, imaginary WMD's
Declassifying facts, exposing secret agents
Tax cuts for the wealthy leaving all the poor behind

CHORUS

Sitting in the White house garden talking to the Lord
My thoughts would be busy busy hatching If I only had a brain

CHORUS

(courtesy of Paul Hipp)

Contact: [email protected]

Major points for posting this! this is hilarious!

[madformac]

Very funny link.. Why do I laugh every time he opens his mouth?

[skcin]

Originally Posted by madformac

Very funny link.. Why do I laugh every time he opens his mouth?

You're better off than I, since I cry every time he opens his mouth.