It was a sad day for that son of Hoyt blood when he discovered a comment from one sister on his Facebook page:
"wEIrd"
That is all. Of words, no more; of meaning, no greater explanation. But, it did not take him long to discover its import.
Was she correcting his spelling of the word in his wall post: "wierd"? But, how could it be, since he was so certain of that spelling? With doubt increasing in his mind, he explored a new browser tab and entered his own spelling of the disputed adjective into that ever popular and useful dictionary, the Google search engine.
Imagine his emotions when he discovered this caption in the first result to be produced: "Used by people that cannot correctly spell the word 'weird.'" The incredulity, and then the shame! He groaned and threw himself to the ground, dragging his countenance in the dust. From childhood he had been misled! And, to be classed with "people who cannot correctly spell..."!
I perceive now that it was an ill-timed piece of advise for me to note that had he given a greater application to the language arts for his own improvement, he probably would have been spared this incident which occasioned so much remorseful agony. Indeed, he would have been spared the mortifying realization that he, who readily criticized the illiteracy so often found in the utterances of the American tongue, was also guilty of such a simple misuse of language. Needless to say, he did not receive these accurate assertions with an impartiality that I would have hoped of him.
Generally, sage advice is not wasted upon him, but this time I thought it had been. Entirely irregardless of that matter, I thought I would make it known to others so that they might take note and improve their minds by it.
With sincere regards,
Trallferd (JALGT)
Oh Trallferd! I hope Derek didn't really drag his countenance in the dust! And misled from his youth?! - by whom?
ReplyDeleteDragged his countenance in the dust! I hope you would know a poetical liberty when you see one. No, he dragged it across a wood floor and filled his forehead with splinters...
ReplyDeleteThe fact of his being mislead does not necessitate that act was performed by someone else, although it could have been. (I don't know. I am not that familiar with his childhood.) He has spelled it that way for years, so he tells me.
And, by the way, he told me to tell you that he does not appreciate crowing, even from a sister. I suspect he is not familiar with all the particulars of your comment, since I could not exactly tell him it was a follow-up to my own rant after all...
-JAGLT
Does Mr. Hoyt/Trallferd wish to be informed that "irregardless" is an erroneous word? Or not?
ReplyDeleteRegardless, 'tis done.
Please take note of the following:
ReplyDelete"Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead."
--Merriam-Webster Dictionary
oh my.....
ReplyDelete"Dragged it across a wood floor and--" !! Even worse!
ReplyDeleteWait... I didn't crow over you, did I?