<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for You’ll never guess]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Danothebaldyheid http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/ Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:00:19 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/1 Can't count

Those wacky lexicographers can't count! That's quite clearly two words. Being good at English is no substitute for mathematic expertise....

]]> Can't count

Those wacky lexicographers can't count! That's quite clearly two words. Being good at English is no substitute for mathematic expertise....

]]> Comment #2 by mihan http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/ Wed, 15 Nov 2006 04:10:55 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/2 words, words

I would accept it as a "word" if they hyphenated it, thus rendering it an adjective. As is, though, it is unsatisfying.

]]> words, words

I would accept it as a "word" if they hyphenated it, thus rendering it an adjective. As is, though, it is unsatisfying.

]]> Comment #3 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/ Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:40:44 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/3 just goes to show ...

you can't even trust the Oxford English Dictionary.

Well, one might wonder if the OED people in England and the NOAD people here really see eye-to-eye.

Whatever, there can be no doubt that when the NOAD people picked "carbon neutral," and referred to it as "a word," they knew perfectly well that they would be yanking the chains of a lot of conventional types.  I would naturally write it as Mihan suggests, "carbon-neutral."  But they are right about how compound English words work.  This new adjective has one well-defined meaning, and the presence of both the base adjective "neutral" and the nominal adverb "carbon" in front of it is essential.  Anyway, there are three ways to make such compounds in English: two words, two words with a hyphen, one word.  And different words are written differently at different stages of their evolution.  I do not exactly know if we currently write "man eater," "man-eater" or "maneater."  I would opt for the second, being a hyphenophile, but what do I know.  

These differences are not unimportant, I would say to the NOAD people.  A "blue bird" is not the same as a "bluebird."

And the more or less general rule, that compound adjectives should have a hyphen, is not just some purist's artificiality.  It truly helps us understand more quickly the syntax of the sentence in which it occurs.

But anyway, from their short list (or is that short-list?; or shortlist?), I would have voted for "fishapod."

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

]]> just goes to show ...

you can't even trust the Oxford English Dictionary.

Well, one might wonder if the OED people in England and the NOAD people here really see eye-to-eye.

Whatever, there can be no doubt that when the NOAD people picked "carbon neutral," and referred to it as "a word," they knew perfectly well that they would be yanking the chains of a lot of conventional types.  I would naturally write it as Mihan suggests, "carbon-neutral."  But they are right about how compound English words work.  This new adjective has one well-defined meaning, and the presence of both the base adjective "neutral" and the nominal adverb "carbon" in front of it is essential.  Anyway, there are three ways to make such compounds in English: two words, two words with a hyphen, one word.  And different words are written differently at different stages of their evolution.  I do not exactly know if we currently write "man eater," "man-eater" or "maneater."  I would opt for the second, being a hyphenophile, but what do I know.  

These differences are not unimportant, I would say to the NOAD people.  A "blue bird" is not the same as a "bluebird."

And the more or less general rule, that compound adjectives should have a hyphen, is not just some purist's artificiality.  It truly helps us understand more quickly the syntax of the sentence in which it occurs.

But anyway, from their short list (or is that short-list?; or shortlist?), I would have voted for "fishapod."

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

]]> Comment #4 by mihan http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/ Fri, 17 Nov 2006 04:09:13 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/4 Conventional types

That's funny.

]]> Conventional types

That's funny.

]]> Comment #5 by MarchDancer http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/ Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:37:54 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-for-2006/5 Carbon Neutral

Carbon Neutral. Meaning what, exactly? Will I find a definition in the Oxford Dictionary? I've seen articles discussing all around this new "word-that-is-really-two-words", as if I'm supposed by the ultimate deciders to have learned the meaning through the process of osmosis by seeing it written so often. Well, I haven't. A definitive reply would be most appreciated. If these word(s) has a usable meaning, which surely do make the grammatical choice(s) more difficult, I promise to slide it into my next appropriate post. Wherever they might fit.

In Peace, Harmony and Unity may we find ways to work together to meet our common goal - the health of our earthly Home.

]]> Carbon Neutral

Carbon Neutral. Meaning what, exactly? Will I find a definition in the Oxford Dictionary? I've seen articles discussing all around this new "word-that-is-really-two-words", as if I'm supposed by the ultimate deciders to have learned the meaning through the process of osmosis by seeing it written so often. Well, I haven't. A definitive reply would be most appreciated. If these word(s) has a usable meaning, which surely do make the grammatical choice(s) more difficult, I promise to slide it into my next appropriate post. Wherever they might fit.

In Peace, Harmony and Unity may we find ways to work together to meet our common goal - the health of our earthly Home.

]]>