Nasty neologisms

[mercia]

since the words emigrant and immigrant both end the same way, the sentence in #1 could equally convey (to me) two opposite meanings.

i.e. fewer people have left Scotland to live elsewhere than have left other parts of the UK

I guess the context made it clear.

[Bryn]

I did not hear the use, and therefore the context, of "onlineness", but on reading it "the onlineness of the long distance poster" came to mind.

[amateur51]

I did not hear the use, and therefore the context, of "onlineness", but on reading it "the onlineness of the long distance poster" came to mind.

[ahinton]

I did not hear the use, and therefore the context, of "onlineness", but on reading it "the onlineness of the long distance poster" came to mind.

Absolutely Brynliant!

[french frank]

I think they should be considered neologisms only when they enter common usage. Anyone can make up a word.

I'd guess 'onlineness' won't (unless it 'trends' after being discussed here ) and 'migranted' may well, especially if it's already in professional jargon. As a sub, I remember painstakingly replacing 'alarmed' (as in 'the car/door/house was alarmed') when it started to appear in journalists' stories. When I came across it more regularly in other places, I decided let it through. And this I took to be the sub-editor's job: to read the story in the way the average newspaper reader would and adjust anything that might puzzle them.

[3rd Viennese School]

"Garagesque". Definetly has something of a frenchiness about it.

Good word for an pop album title though!

Sometimes here in this office we get what I describe as "Desky" days.

3VS

[Bryn]

... when it started to appear in journalists' stories. When I came across it more regularly in other places, I decided let it through.

OH, so you reversioned your personal guidelines, eh?

[Stillhomewardbound]

But 'onlineness' is a very poor word compound. It's not clear what its intent is for one thing.

If I heard that word I would take it to refer to the reliability of one's internet connection, not the extent of a person's interactivity.

As has been suggested, the 'ness'ing of a word is plain lazy. The rot set in in the 50s I think. America of course when it was first used to describe the condition of a being a person called 'Elliot', which of course gave us 'Elliot Ness'!!

[Chris Newman]

As has been suggested, the 'ness'ing of a word is plain lazy. The rot set in in the 50s I think. America of course when it was first used to describe the condition of a being a person called 'Elliot', which of course gave us 'Elliot Ness'!!

I remember being startled in 1963 when my Physics teacher told us "We can begin to weigh the condensate once the steam begins profusing out of the nozzle."

[ahinton]

But 'onlineness' is a very poor word compound. It's not clear what its intent is for one thing.

If I heard that word I would take it to refer to the reliability of one's internet connection, not the extent of a person's interactivity.

As has been suggested, the 'ness'ing of a word is plain lazy. The rot set in in the 50s I think. America of course when it was first used to describe the condition of a being a person called 'Elliot', which of course gave us 'Elliot Ness'!!

The rot set in well before that in my native Scotland where a certain monster was persuaded to assume the mantle of lochness.

[amateur51]

I remember being startled in 1963 when my Physics teacher told us "We can begin to weigh the condensate once the steam begins profusing out of the nozzle."

From my record-selling days, one fond memory: 'Have you got an LP of the 'Impromptludes' by Schubert, please?'

How we all tried soooo hard not to laugh

[MrGongGong]

"Tasked" seems to annoy me
but not sure that it should ???

[mangerton]

"Tasked" seems to annoy me
but not sure that it should ???

My yardstick tends to be the COD which I got as a school prize in 1962. Interestingly, it gives "task" as a noun and transitive verb, but like you it's not a usage I'm very keen on.

[french frank]

OH, so you reversioned your personal guidelines, eh?

Only thing to do with language usage, Bryn.

But there's a difference between 'accepting' certain usages and using them oneself. I maintain a very standard, colourless vocabulary because I always feel that introducing the latest words and phrases is sending out a message that one is ultra cool. Which I'm not . Hmmm, don't think I've used that emoticon before - I'll be joining Twitter next ....

[vinteuil]

But there's a difference between 'accepting' certain usages and using them oneself.

Ah, the distinction I remember from my Linguistics tutorials - between "competence" and "performance". That's something I haven't thought much about for the last forty years! ...