Comments on: Troublesome Words Explained by Bill Bryson

By: Robyn McMaster

Robyn McMaster — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:11:20 +0000

Loved the Koala, too. In Australia kids have toy Koala "bears" rather than teddy bears. Maybe that's how bear gets added to Koala. Robyn McMasters last blog post..Tap Social Media to Spread Happiness

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:43:04 +0000

Robyn, Excellent point - one which Bryson makes again and again in his book. Another example. I can remember the time when it was strictly forbidden to use "hopefully" in the sense of "it is hoped that". Now, the rule has loosened up. Brad Shorrs last blog post..Fix Your Content Strategy with a Web Site Evaluation

By: Robyn McMaster

Robyn McMaster — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:09:55 +0000

Since our language changes and evolves words gather new meanings over time. I’ve seen the words optimal and optimize used to mean the highest level one might reach. Perhaps we’ll be seeing this shift. I just checked Roget’s Thesaurus, and the one word connected to it is “best.” That would indicate a very different concept…. My sense is that the meaning is shifting.

Words can be tricky because they are not necessarily static.

Enjoyed some of the particulars you decided to share. Thanks.

Robyn McMasters last blog post..Tap Social Media to Spread Happiness

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:30:22 +0000

Cath, Bryson has several books out, and I plan to read them all. Ulla, Your English is just fine! I took German in high school, but all I can remember is a few words and the fact that many of your words are very, very long. Andrew, This book is full of helpful little clarifications like that. I think you'd enjoy it. Brad Shorrs last blog post..Fix Your Content Strategy with a Web Site Evaluation

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:45:35 +0000

Interesting, I'm an Aussie and an English teacher, and yet I did not pick up on that about koalas. According to Wikipedia, the name 'koala bear' became popular when the word was first translated from Latin into English due to the teddy-bear like appearance of the animal. Andrews last blog post..Must you pay on time when you’re short on cash?

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:26:28 +0000

Brad, as long as nobody expects flawless English from me, I am totally okay:-) and German has many inconsistencies and quirks, even for Germans... Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Gift of Time

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:41:09 +0000

Hi Brad – I’m glad you mentioned it. It reminded me that I didn’t finish the Bill Bryson Australia book yesterday and I can’t remember where I put it. I didn’t realise koala’s weren’t bears – it sounds like a useful dictionary.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:28:36 +0000

Hi Joanna, I did read Brian’s post – the book takes things several steps further (not farther). Or is it farther? Anyway, your parents and mine sound like they have much in common. Also thanks for the tip on the Amazon review permalink – that was new to me!

Ulla, English must be a puzzling second language. Or is German also full of little quirks and inconsistencies?

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:48:28 +0000

Ulla, sounds like you need to get yourself a non-US English editor:-) Joanna Youngs last blog post..A Simple Guide to Compiling a Free E-Book

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:40:43 +0000

Joanna, I read Brian Clark's post as well and I was kind of irritated - thought afterwards was okay. But at the moment as I write this my firefox editor underlines "afterwards" and proposes "afterward". Well, funny, isn't it? Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Gift of Time