Semantics (A rant)

[cheaton]

Admittedly I'm probably more annoyed by symantic errors than most. But there is one that drives me over the edge. Its when someone describes something as "very unique" or "the most unique". Unique means one of a kind. Something can't be very one of a kind or more one of a kind. It is unique, or it is not unique, it is not very, or more, or quite, or the most, or any other combination of any other word with the word unique. The same goes with the word "original". It is the original or it isn't. Anyway, rant complete. Discuss!

[Chip]

IMHO, I think something can be more original or more unique than another unique or original object. Maybe I am wrong, but I think there can be degrees.

Sae Midori is a unique breed of tea, but Yutaka Midori is more unique, having more unique qualities.

I have an original Hagi cup by Deishi, but, this one Seigan Hagi cup is the most original cup I have ever seen.

"Irregardless, I could care less." (now that bugs me ... )

[woozl]

How about "a new custom" or "a new tradition"?
I mean come on now how can a tradition be new?

[cheaton]

IMHO, I think something can be more original or more unique than another unique or original object. Maybe I am wrong, but I think there can be degrees.

Sae Midori is a unique breed of tea, but Yutaka Midori is more unique, having more unique qualities.

I have an original Hagi cup by Deishi, but, this one Seigan Hagi cup is the most original cup I have ever seen.

"Irregardless, I could care less." (now that bugs me ... )

Now see chip, I understand the mentality behind the usage... however, wouldn't it be more beneficial to a reader or listener to actually describe the qualities that make something "unique". What about Sae Midori makes it unique? what about Yutaka Midori makes it unique? Comparing one to the other what makes them different? They are both unique with different qualities. The one is not more unique than the other. Something can be more bold, more beautiful, more tasty, more floral, more round, more textured, more brightly colored.. in otherwords, being unique is a state that implies something is one of a kind, everything else are descriptives that descirbe what makes something unique. So there! Booya! Eat my superior argument! *strut* (JK!) I feel we're better served to encourage people to be descriptive than encourage them to generalize with improper use of terms. Discuss more!

[scruffmcgruff]

Something like "distinct" would be much better to use for tea breeds, IMO. Technically speaking, everything is unique on a microscopic level, but if we were to use the word "unique" that way it would become meaningless.

I think a custom or tradition can be new, relatively speaking. It's not like we only consider things from the Iron Age or older to be traditions, right? I'm guessing you mean when someone declares a fad to be a new tradition, in which case it's all marketing.

The thing that REALLY bugs me is people using the word "literally" when they really mean "figuratively." It seems like nobody would be dumb enough to confuse antonyms like these, but I've literally seen this error trillions of times.

[Intuit]

Figuratively and literally have opposite meanings. On first reading of Scruffs post, I didn't catch the reason for confusion in the use of these terms. I went looking for an explanation, and found it in the following article.

It's a matter of modifier intensity.

What is the Difference Between Literally and Figuratively?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-dif ... tively.htm

[geeber1]

How about "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less?"
That one drives me crazy!

[scruffmcgruff]

Figuratively and literally have opposite meanings.

I thought that was pretty obvious, but thanks...

How about "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less?"
That one drives me crazy!

Me too! Also variations like "I could give a crap" (when they aren't talking about digestive health).

[Victoria]

How about "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less?"
That one drives me crazy!

LOL, I kind of like this one. "I could care less", but it's not worth the effort.

[Intuit]

Everything is unique at some level of examination (distinguished upon magnification or by chemical differentiation), typically a molecular level, although it's true that many organisms can be differentiated at a microscopic level.

'Breed' is a technically correct - but rather odd term - to apply to established plant type or subtype.

n.

1. A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation.
2. A kind; a sort: a new breed of politician; a new breed of computer.

A custom can be recently acquired/introduced behavior that is broadly accepted and practiced with in a group or population. Agree that 'tradition' implies a history of acceptance and common use.

My beef is the use of texting abbreviations in public discussion forums.

[Victoria]

Oops! Well, I consider public discussion forums informal.

None of the above bothers me, I guess I'm easy going.
Sometimes the usage just reflects the person's personal style.

It doesn't mean they can't construct a proper sentence when
required.

[Geekgirl]

Figuratively and literally have opposite meanings.

I thought that was pretty obvious, but thanks...

Maybe Intuit should have looked up the meaning of "antonym."

Intuit, that article you linked was mostly linguistic crap. (Figuratively speaking, of course.) "Literally" and "figuratively" are not modifiers and using them does not add any real intensity, although the user might be intending to use them to express intensity. Of course, one can arbitrarily pick any word to add intensity, but it does not make it so, nor does it make it an accepted modifier.

Of course, that whole editorial may be some kind of joke or satire. After all, the writer clearly states that this is not the correct usage, even while stating in the very next sentence he says we "can say it is a modifier to to intensify..."

LOL. FWIW. IMNSHO.

[kymidwife]

OK, here's my pseudo-rant called "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff".

I have a specific amount of energy to spend daily, and I ration it out according to priority, making sure I have enough to maintain physiological functioning, work, take care of others, brew tea, spread alittle love, and any other basic necessities. I like to save the rest for pleasure and entertainment if at all possible. I have no plans to allocate any of my energies toward critiquing linguistic variations until there's something rewarding in it for me.

[sriracha]

My beef is the use of texting abbreviations in public discussion forums.

Mm. Stuff like "u", "ur" and the like. Absolutely infuriating.

[geeber1]

OK, here's my pseudo-rant called "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff".

I have a specific amount of energy to spend daily, and I ration it out according to priority, making sure I have enough to maintain physiological functioning, work, take care of others, brew tea, spread alittle love, and any other basic necessities. I like to save the rest for pleasure and entertainment if at all possible. I have no plans to allocate any of my energies toward critiquing linguistic variations until there's something rewarding in it for me.

Well put, Sarah!