Comments on: Using Phrases You Don’t Understand http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/03/using-phrases-you-dont-understand/ Because everyone else already has one Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:36:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Melissa JG http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/03/using-phrases-you-dont-understand/#comment-587 Melissa JG Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:45:14 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=432#comment-587 RIGHT ON! "Intents and/intensive purposes" is one of those things that now that you've mentioned it, I can't remember how i've been doing it. Both seem familiar. Nonetheless, it should be avoided in formal writing, because it's a cliche. Thank you, though, for making sure that I will not make this mistake again. If I ever did. :) One common one is "premiere" and "premier," which I saw a couple of days ago at the Behnke Nurseries in Potomac (evidently they supplied the "premier of Extreme Makeover" with their new landscaping, the lucky devil). When I worked at the PR office in St. Mary's, we were forever finding this mix-up in the local papers. I have been burned so many times on the picking-up-new-words-in-a-book-and-not-checking-it thing (or so it feels like, since it is so humiliating). Studying for the GREs last fall showed me what a yutz I have been all along. RIGHT ON!

“Intents and/intensive purposes” is one of those things that now that you’ve mentioned it, I can’t remember how i’ve been doing it. Both seem familiar. Nonetheless, it should be avoided in formal writing, because it’s a cliche. Thank you, though, for making sure that I will not make this mistake again. If I ever did. :)

One common one is “premiere” and “premier,” which I saw a couple of days ago at the Behnke Nurseries in Potomac (evidently they supplied the “premier of Extreme Makeover” with their new landscaping, the lucky devil). When I worked at the PR office in St. Mary’s, we were forever finding this mix-up in the local papers.

I have been burned so many times on the picking-up-new-words-in-a-book-and-not-checking-it thing (or so it feels like, since it is so humiliating). Studying for the GREs last fall showed me what a yutz I have been all along.

]]> By: Kara http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/03/using-phrases-you-dont-understand/#comment-586 Kara Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:20:47 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=432#comment-586 I guess what doesn't make sense to me about "intensive purposes" is that it doesn't really fit into the context of a sentence like, "but for all intensive purposes, I'm a woman." In that context, it makes no sense to me. Well it could make sense if you prefaced it with something like, I don't have breasts but for all intensive purposes, I'm a woman. For example, I still get my period." I don't know, first thing that came to mind. I guess what doesn’t make sense to me about “intensive purposes” is that it doesn’t really fit into the context of a sentence like, “but for all intensive purposes, I’m a woman.” In that context, it makes no sense to me. Well it could make sense if you prefaced it with something like, I don’t have breasts but for all intensive purposes, I’m a woman. For example, I still get my period.” I don’t know, first thing that came to mind.

]]> By: jess http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/03/using-phrases-you-dont-understand/#comment-585 jess Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:12:51 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=432#comment-585 I thought it was "intensive purposes" for a long time (well, until late junior high school) -- which DOES make sense to me. Though it's a little different than "intents and purposes." "emphasized purposes" I thought it was “intensive purposes” for a long time (well, until late junior high school) — which DOES make sense to me. Though it’s a little different than “intents and purposes.” “emphasized purposes”

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