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I've been thinking about how 'pants' became 'pant'. So far, I've only seen it used for women's garments and there may be a reason.A certain ensemble used to be called a 'pants suit'. Lately, the term 'pantsuit' seems to be used. It's even shown up in crosswords. Could that be how 'pants' lost its 's'?
Quote from: Thipu1 on September 07, 2012, 10:14:52 AMI've been thinking about how 'pants' became 'pant'. So far, I've only seen it used for women's garments and there may be a reason.A certain ensemble used to be called a 'pants suit'. Lately, the term 'pantsuit' seems to be used. It's even shown up in crosswords. Could that be how 'pants' lost its 's'?Oooo, possibly, though I haven't seen pantsuit myself *says Dark Magdalena as she dons her pants suit for her interview*.
Quote from: Dark Magdalena on September 07, 2012, 10:35:41 AMQuote from: Thipu1 on September 07, 2012, 10:14:52 AMI've been thinking about how 'pants' became 'pant'. So far, I've only seen it used for women's garments and there may be a reason.A certain ensemble used to be called a 'pants suit'. Lately, the term 'pantsuit' seems to be used. It's even shown up in crosswords. Could that be how 'pants' lost its 's'?Oooo, possibly, though I haven't seen pantsuit myself *says Dark Magdalena as she dons her pants suit for her interview*.Good luck on the interview... and remember, if a customer asks you for a ride, it's probably a bad idea!
The present participle refers to ongoing action, but it isn't necessary to use it for *every* ongoing action. If you break it down, the participle (going) tends to be used for right now, temporary ongoing actions, while the plain verb (go) is more for permanent, regular, habitual actions. I'm going to Bob's house. I go to Bob's every Saturday.I came across a press release recently promoting a "sneak peak" airing of a TV show. This was a professional publicist who should know better. I'm pretty sure there were no mountaintops in this show.
Quote from: Editeer on September 06, 2012, 07:50:09 PMMeanwhile, the industry also adds unnecessary -ing to nouns. You don't buy sheets; you buy sheeting. Look at our lovely toweling. New, 100% cotton, no-iron shirting. So when will they put the two trends together and offer us panting? I’ve never seen this, though I don’t doubt it happens and would also bother me.However, the words shirting, sheeting, and toweling all do have a place in the industry: describing the fabric goods before they are made into shirts, sheets, and towels. Of course, instead of panting, we have "bottom-weight".
Meanwhile, the industry also adds unnecessary -ing to nouns. You don't buy sheets; you buy sheeting. Look at our lovely toweling. New, 100% cotton, no-iron shirting. So when will they put the two trends together and offer us panting?
This one is coming up a lot lately because it's an election year in the U.S.: It's So-cial Se-cur-i-ty, people. Six syllables! But over and over again I hear politicians and commentators saying "Sosh-curty," or similar mushmouthed abominations. This isn't a regional pronunciation thing -- *everybody* does it. How hard is it to sound out a two-syllable word and a four-syllable word? And don't get me started on people who ask for your Social Security number with "What's your social?" or worse, "What's your sosh?"
Quote from: baglady on September 06, 2012, 05:17:50 PMThis one is coming up a lot lately because it's an election year in the U.S.: It's So-cial Se-cur-i-ty, people. Six syllables! But over and over again I hear politicians and commentators saying "Sosh-curty," or similar mushmouthed abominations. This isn't a regional pronunciation thing -- *everybody* does it. How hard is it to sound out a two-syllable word and a four-syllable word? And don't get me started on people who ask for your Social Security number with "What's your social?" or worse, "What's your sosh?"The above reminds me as well of the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," which is so often called the "Macy Day Parade." I even once heard a TV announcer call it that. Whaa?
A bed does not sleep. Someone may sleep on a bed, but it is impossible for an inanimate object to sleep. Therefore, catalogue, do not say that a bed "sleeps" two. Never mind the fact that you never say the two of what a bed sleeps - days? years? centuries?
Quote from: violinp on September 08, 2012, 06:14:51 PMA bed does not sleep. Someone may sleep on a bed, but it is impossible for an inanimate object to sleep. Therefore, catalogue, do not say that a bed "sleeps" two. Never mind the fact that you never say the two of what a bed sleeps - days? years? centuries?There's a brand of canned soup here (U.S.) that is advertised as being hearty and filling. The slogan is: "The soup that eats like a meal!" I can never hear/see the commercial without saying, "The soup that eats like a horse!" or "The soup that eats like a pig!" Besides, why would you want to bring home soup that would eat *your* food?
