Ect., ect., ect.

Mollygo

But decimate, whilst it doesn’t mean utterly destroy also means to destroy or remove a large proportion so saying only 10% is inaccurate as well.
Are you good on who’s and whose?

10% is accurate. The word comes from a Roman legionary punishment where every tenth man was executed. I make that 10%...

Split infinitives are fine. They also arise from Latin, in which the infinitive is expressed by one word; pedantic classical linguists argued that it couldn't be split in Latin, so it couldn't be split, despite the fact that English infinitives are two words. . I think we've passed that now...

Anyway. Happy New Year to all pedants?

Mamardoit

I always notice it. I did latin at school but lots didn't and it is probably an easy mistake to make. My spelling isn't great and I hope others don't judge me because of that.

Didn't do Latin, but I did French - 'et' meaning 'and'. Had no idea what 'cetera' meant, but I could logically guess.

There you go, etymology of et cetera:

www.etymonline.com/word/et%20cetera

MaizieD the Oxford Dictionary of English gives that as the historical definition related to the Roman army and tithes in Cromwell’s time. It also gives the meaning in current usage, which says a large number, e. g. the virus decimated the population of a village in SouthSudan where vaccines were limited in supply.
May we both be right?

As a retired English teacher, any spelling mistake makes me want to shout, "Will you please remember to use the dictionary?"

However, "Crossing the boarders" did make me laugh. I clicked on the thread expecting it to be a discussion of someone's problems with a boarder, and stared in disbelief at the actual content.

It might be nice to remember that a real life person made that thread, and possibly may look at this one, too.

Billybob4491

Sign seen in a Charity Shop "anyone caught shoplifting will be bard in the future". Just so....

Is the charity shop overstocked with harps?

I keep seeing that insufferable character from Asterix in my mind's eye. What's his name? Toubardourex?

MissAdventure

It might be nice to remember that a real life person made that thread, and possibly may look at this one, too.

Well, it certainly was not my intention to hurt anyone, so I am sorry if I did.

I had mistakenly assumed that Pedant's Corner was for people who enjoyed a quiet non-malicious laught at their own and others' typing errors or other slips of the pen, and that we were not seens as commenting nastily on the standard of their education.

Perhaps the thread title should include the expression Caveat emptor!

Mollygo

MaizieD the Oxford Dictionary of English gives that as the historical definition related to the Roman army and tithes in Cromwell’s time. It also gives the meaning in current usage, which says a large number, e. g. the virus decimated the population of a village in SouthSudan where vaccines were limited in supply.
May we both be right?

Decimate has always meant to kill one in ten. Nowadays it is used as though it means annihilate or exterminate which is just plain wrong.

I’m puzzled. Do pedants not accept that language evolves?
I agree that decimate does not mean annihilate or exterminate, even in the Oxford Dictionary of English, but if as pedants we only ever use the original meaning of any word -usually listed as ‘historical meaning’ in a dictionary, there would some very stilted conversations going on.
Never mind. Merriam-Webster put this very simply.
www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-original-definition-of-decimate, though it’s a long article.

MissAdventure

It might be nice to remember that a real life person made that thread, and possibly may look at this one, too.

I didn't mean to either and did apologise - we never know if someone is dyslexic or autocorrect takes charge.

Sometimes it does sound like a deliberate play on words, though, and can be quite funny.

whatever etc

grandtanteJE65

Billybob4491

Sign seen in a Charity Shop "anyone caught shoplifting will be bard in the future". Just so....

Is the charity shop overstocked with harps?

I keep seeing that insufferable character from Asterix in my mind's eye. What's his name? Toubardourex?

Forget Toubardourex

Here is a link about the Welsh Bard, Hedd Wyn:

www.visitwales.com/things-do/culture/hedd-wyn-soldier-poet-snowdonia

Esspee, right you are.?

I got a letter dictated by a consultant I have been seeing.
It said "the blood test done by yourself on the....."

It’s just rude to correct other posters spelling or grammar on a public forum. Not everyone has had the benefit of a good education. English may not be a poster’s first language.
I guess you can take the teacher out of the classroom but etc.ect.

I agree.

I guess you can take the teacher out of the classroom, we shouldn't all be tarred with the same brush. That too is rude!

As a teacher and mother of a child, who has dyslexia, I wouldn't dream criticising anyone, who mispells on a public forum.
In fact I often make mistakes, myself.

I agree with you, too.

Life is far to short to get annoyed how posts are written and the words used. I often have complete brain fog and cannot for the life of me think how to spell a word, or write something. Just had to ask Mr B how to spell loss for goodness sake. Also auto correct doesn’t help as it changes words and spelling without noticing. I also use etc.

But this is pedants corner !

Yes, but talking about something that was spelled wrong on another thread, when it had already been bought up in that thread, and no doubt upset the person goes beyond pedantry.

I also use etc
No problem with that Barmeyoldbat
It’s ect OP was lamenting?

So much has been said already and we pedants will always feel the pain, so here is my contribution -

So you don't know Nigel Molesworth of St Custards .
I have quoted him myself in the past