Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
"For all intensive purposes..."
- Thread starter El Güero
- Start date
I don't think so. "It's nearly one of a kind and utterly original. Nearly." Unique is......unique.
I've something very similar in a technical context where to things share very few but are likely to share some characteristics. Mostly dissimilar would also work as a description to, I suppose, but the nearly modifier is the one used in the literature.
I reckon 'nearly unique' would be fine - 'almost unique' is the cliché - meaning very close to unique. It's like 'almost perfect' or 'nearly straight' - expressing a common state in real life that's very close to, but not quite reaching the superlative. I love 'minty' instead of mint condition.
Two entirely different words that share enough similarity as to express the same idea. They get away with this most of the time. Fair enough too, if minty means very close to mint. That's the intended meaning most of the time, one would hope. Watch the superlatives. Lots of things can't justifiably be called mint, once out of the box, but minty's cool.
Back to the challenge though, words like fundamental, critical, crucial, perfect, peerless, ideal etc., often get mangled in similar ways. Test 'em. Something can't be absolutely critical. It's either critical or it's not, and so on. But, there is a way, if you're desperate. I may be mistaken
It may not be ideal language but, if you're game, all you need to do is separate the modifier with a period, (or a full stop, same diff.). So, if you want to exclaim something like, "The diamond is absolutely flawless", please don't. Make it instead that, "The diamond is flawless. Absolutely, positively, seriously, it is." etc. and you might just get away with it. Technically, you won't be in error, which is always a bonus. Remember though to always look for thevery best way to say what you need to say. It's always worth the extra effort. And, it sharpens the mind.
Two entirely different words that share enough similarity as to express the same idea. They get away with this most of the time. Fair enough too, if minty means very close to mint. That's the intended meaning most of the time, one would hope. Watch the superlatives. Lots of things can't justifiably be called mint, once out of the box, but minty's cool.
Back to the challenge though, words like fundamental, critical, crucial, perfect, peerless, ideal etc., often get mangled in similar ways. Test 'em. Something can't be absolutely critical. It's either critical or it's not, and so on. But, there is a way, if you're desperate. I may be mistaken
It may not be ideal language but, if you're game, all you need to do is separate the modifier with a period, (or a full stop, same diff.). So, if you want to exclaim something like, "The diamond is absolutely flawless", please don't. Make it instead that, "The diamond is flawless. Absolutely, positively, seriously, it is." etc. and you might just get away with it. Technically, you won't be in error, which is always a bonus. Remember though to always look for the
Oh, lordy. If "minty" is appropriate, would that open the door to "uniquey?" (As in, equivalent to unique, but not.)
That seems deeply wrong on many levels.
That seems deeply wrong on many levels.
I must admit that a lot of the previous examples also make me grate my teeth.
Some of the most irritating misuse of words and grammar, from my perspective, are when people say things like "I didn't do anythink" when they mean "anything" (although you could argue that they didn't do any thinking when they mis-spoke).
"Everythink" (or more usually "evryfink") gets used instead of "everything" as well.
Somebody already pointed out how, for them, it's like fingernails on a blackboard when somebody says something like "7 pm in the evening"...me too
The misuse of the word "literally" is a thorn in my side as well...somebody recently said to me "I literally split my sides laughing" and was puzzled when I said "and yet you are still alive".
I've noticed that interviewees on radio and television get asked their opinion on somethink (sic) and start their reply "well I, myself, personally think that..." How many references to oneself does one need?
Finally, to the marketing department of Finish Quantum Max dishwasher tablets: I would have bought them, if only the packaging hadn't read "Sparkling clean, less chemicals"
Some of the most irritating misuse of words and grammar, from my perspective, are when people say things like "I didn't do anythink" when they mean "anything" (although you could argue that they didn't do any thinking when they mis-spoke).
"Everythink" (or more usually "evryfink") gets used instead of "everything" as well.
Somebody already pointed out how, for them, it's like fingernails on a blackboard when somebody says something like "7 pm in the evening"...me too
The misuse of the word "literally" is a thorn in my side as well...somebody recently said to me "I literally split my sides laughing" and was puzzled when I said "and yet you are still alive".
I've noticed that interviewees on radio and television get asked their opinion on somethink (sic) and start their reply "well I, myself, personally think that..." How many references to oneself does one need?
Finally, to the marketing department of Finish Quantum Max dishwasher tablets: I would have bought them, if only the packaging hadn't read "Sparkling clean, less chemicals"
Are you telling me that it's not "grit ..."?
Last edited:
Then there's:
That movie was advertised in my city as "Superman versus Batman", not visa (sic) versa.
