Pedants' Paradise

[Padraig]

Possibly even uniquer?

No no. 'More unique' is the best of those two.

[Bryn]

No no. 'More unique' is the best of those two.

[Serial_Apologist]

I've just had a newsletter from a magazine editor expressing gratitude, in these times when newsagents have been closed, for my continuing subscription - now even more invaluable. I wonder whether to reply saying, Not at all re the subscription, but I don't think you can say 'more invaluable'.

Actually, the newsletter is from the marketing department, but has the editor's name at the bottom. I wouldn't want to get anyone sacked so perhaps I will let the matter rest

It reminds me of those TV ads which advertised "OMO [or other brand] washes whiter!", as Dad shook his head for the umpteenth time saying, "There can be no such thing as whiter than white!"

[vinteuil]

It reminds me of those TV ads which advertised "OMO [or other brand] washes whiter!", as Dad shook his head for the umpteenth time saying, "There can be no such thing as whiter than white!"

... whereas chez nous - the TV ads saying "nothing washes whiter than xxxx" - my father for the umpteenth time wd snort "And that's why I use nothing!"



.

[Leinster Lass]

It reminds me of those TV ads which advertised "OMO [or other brand] washes whiter!", as Dad shook his head for the umpteenth time saying, "There can be no such thing as whiter than white!"

'The TV commercial said "Nothing works better than Anadin", so I used nothing, got better AND saved money'.

[Serial_Apologist]

... whereas chez nous - the TV ads saying "nothing washes whiter than xxxx" - my father for the umpteenth time wd snort "And that's why I use nothing!"



.

[gurnemanz]

Reminds me of the person who claimed: "I don't drink Guinness because of the advertising. I drink it because it's good for me."

[Leinster Lass]

Reminds me of the person who claimed: "I don't drink Guinness because of the advertising. I drink it because it's good for me."

[gurnemanz]

I've just heard the word "mentee" used by a contributor to Tom Service's programme. This doesn't work as a word, since there is no verb "to ment". Just checked. It is based on Mentor, the name of a Greek mythological figure. There is a verb "to mentor", so logically someone subjected to this process would have to called a "mentoree".

[Leinster Lass]

I've just heard the word "mentee" used by a contributor to Tom Service's programme. This doesn't work as a word, since there is no verb "to ment". Just checked. It is based on Mentor, the name of a Greek mythological figure. There is a verb "to mentor", so logically someone subjected to this process would have to called a "mentoree".

'Mentee' is defined in the Cambridge English Dictionary, Webster and elsewhere - ' a person who is advised, trained, or counselled by a mentor'. I don't like it particularly, but it's clearly used often enough to merit inclusion in these esteemed works of reference.

[french frank]

I've just heard the word "mentee" used by a contributor to Tom Service's programme.

OED say it's US originally, first reported in 1965. Another illogicality like attendee (originally and chiefly US, 1961). The noun would presumably be menter (one who ments), mentee (one who is mented). Why attendee rather than attender, I don't know, though apparently the correcter form is attendant (one who attends a meeting &c).

[Bryn]

OED say it's US originally, first reported in 1965. Another illogicality like attendee (originally and chiefly US, 1961). The noun would presumably be menter (one who ments), mentee (one who is mented). Why attendee rather than attender, I don't know, though apparently the correcter form is attendant (one who attends a meeting &c).

And my bugbear, "standee" for someone standing, rather than someone being stood on.

[ahinton]

OED say it's US originally, first reported in 1965. Another illogicality like attendee (originally and chiefly US, 1961). The noun would presumably be menter (one who ments), mentee (one who is mented). Why attendee rather than attender, I don't know, though apparently the correcter form is attendant (one who attends a meeting &c).

Remembering Henry Reed's character Hilda Tablet and his "composeress" invention (or rather remembering having read about it, since I don't go back quite that far!), I'm now wiating for "composeree" as someone for whose benefit a composer composes something - but what about Ronald Stevenson's Corroboree for Grainger?...

[Dave2002]

And my bugbear, "standee" for someone standing, rather than someone being stood on.

I think that's a very US term - seen sometimes in trips to that country.

[Leinster Lass]

And my bugbear, "standee" for someone standing, rather than someone being stood on.

'Standee' was used on buses for years - and may still be for all I know - to indicate the number of people who could stand. In this context, it therefore refers to people for whom no seat is available. The term may have been imported from, but was certainly not exclusive to, the USA.