New eggcorn spotted in the wild: "sure up" instead of "shore up"
#englishusage
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Thanks to 3 Quarks Daily and The Browser for sharing my latest grammar nerdout with their readers:
https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2025/05/the-trouble-with-dangling-modifiers.html
https://thebrowser.com/free/tattoos-trouble/?ref=the-browser-newsletter
3 Quarks Daily · The trouble with dangling modifiers - 3 Quarks DailyStan Carey at Sentence first:
The trouble with dangling modifiers. New blog post:
https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/the-trouble-with-dangling-modifiers/
Sentence first · The trouble with dangling modifiers
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On the blog, a review of the linguistics book 'New Horizons in Prescriptivism Research' https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2025/04/24/book-review-new-horizons-in-prescriptivism-research-2024/
Sentence first · Book review: ‘New Horizons in Prescriptivism Research’ (2024)
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Dangling modifier in the Irish Times Weekend Quiz. As a usage dictionary notes, "It's the funny ones that cause trouble." https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/a-hovering-dangling-modifier/
Question for non-United States folks ... Is the adjective/description "US-American" common, or at least familiar to you? I noticed this caption on #wikipedia. (It's better than "USian," I suppose.)
Arguments against the U.S. using "American" as its demonym are duly noted, but unpersuasive. Look, no other country's name contains the word America. And every alternative is awkward.
By the way, do people from South Sudan, the DRC, or Chad criticize the Central African Republic for claiming "Central African" as their demonym? Have they considered "CA-Republican" instead?
There are multiple questions in Geoff Lindsay’s short multiple choice questionnaire on the changing use of *multiple* in English.
It only took me a couple of minutes.
english speech services · Multiple survey - english speech servicesMultiple survey
A brief history (and critique) of English spelling reform that I once wrote for @HistoryToday:
https://www.historytoday.com/brief-history-english-spelling-reform
Supplementary notes on the history of English spelling reform:
https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/the-history-of-english-spelling-reform/
A thing about language that a lot of people don't know is that you can dislike a usage intensely – a pronunciation, a piece of grammar, etc. – without presuming to reject it on behalf of all people, in all places, for all time
I like to sometimes for no other reason than just because I can and because it bothers pedants split an infinitive extravagantly
John Waters on Ivy Compton-Burnett, from his marvellous book "Role Models"
People will be wondering how to use hyphens till the coworkers come home
Fun facts about the word "ourself":
—It's older than "ourselves"
—It can be singular or plural
—It has multiple grammatical roles
—All good dictionaries still list it
—Shakespeare used it *dozens* of times
—You can use it too, if you want
https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2022/03/25/we-ourself-can-use-this-pronoun/
Sentence first · We ourself can use this pronoun
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When something is described as 'robust' - a favourite word of politicians and others in positions of authority, I generally interpret what has the adjective applied to it as being just about adequate.
Nation.Cymru · 'Robust’ assisted dying Bill unveiled as PM says MPs won’t be pressured on voteAn assisted dying Bill claimed to be the “most robust” in the world has been unveiled as the Prime Minister insisted MPs must “make their own mind up” on the controversial issue. Sir Keir indicated he is yet to decide on the proposed law, which is due to have its first debate at the end […]
"The homes at Upper Achintore in Fort William were delivered by Glasgow-based construction firm The JR Group, on behalf of Link Group."
From which housing warehouse were they 'delivered'?
The Herald · Housebuilder completes landmark Highland homes development
The language of Shakespeare and Chaucer has become the language of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation barriers.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/terrorism-advice-means-keynsham-remembrance-9670784
Somerset Live · 'Terrorism advice' means Remembrance Parade 'undermined'Despite there being no indication of suggested threat to the parade
It's an overbridge, i.e. an arched span carrying the railway over a path, track or road, not a tunnel.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/proposal-develop-former-railway-tunnel-9674325
Bristol Live · Proposal to develop former railway tunnel used for criminal activity refusedThe council cited environmental impacts for the refusal of the planning application
Writing tip: Ignore dogmatic usage advice based on the superstitions and pet preferences of 19th-century grammarians
Sometimes I wish the past tense of "read" was spelt differently so that a subjectless report like "Read such-and-such a book" wouldn't look like a command
Can't think of a viable alternative, though, and even if I could, it wouldn't catch on