Pedants' Paradise

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A set of CDs is often called a ‘box set’, but is sometimes called a ‘boxed set’. The former is more common, but perhaps the latter is more grammatically correct. A box set would seem to be collection of boxes. Whereas a boxed set suggest a group of objects within a box.
After all, we do refer to ‘licensed premises’ rather than ‘license/licence premises’.

[cat]

A set of CDs is often called a ‘box set’, but is sometimes called a ‘boxed set’. The former is more common, but perhaps the latter is more grammatically correct. A box set would seem to be collection of boxes. Whereas a boxed set suggest a group of objects within a box.
After all, we do refer to ‘licensed premises’ rather than ‘license/licence premises’.

"Box set" is also a series of a television program available for streaming on the BBC's iPlayer. If the box need not even be a box, I don't suppose it matters whether or not it has been adjectivised.

[gurnemanz]

A set of CDs is often called a ‘box set’, but is sometimes called a ‘boxed set’. The former is more common, but perhaps the latter is more grammatically correct. A box set would seem to be collection of boxes. Whereas a boxed set suggest a group of objects within a box.
After all, we do refer to ‘licensed premises’ rather than ‘license/licence premises’.

"Boxed set" has a cluster of consonants which leads to it being mostly pronounced almost the same as "box set". Perhaps that is the reason for the variant forms.

A similar issue: As an amateur pedant I politely enquired at our choir practice on Monday whether we should be enunciatiing the t in Christmas, which disappears in normal speech. I was told it was not necessary.

[french frank]

A similar issue: As an amateur pedant I politely enquired at our choir practice on Monday whether we should be enunciatiing the t in Christmas, which disappears in normal speech. I was told it was not necessary.

Another similar issue: in Scotland we had a discussion as to whether the 'd' in Wednesday was pronounced. Among a group of English and Scottish students, one Scot was definite that she certainly did pronounce the 'd'. (Not sure that it sounded any different though)

[Sir Velo]

A cookery writer once wrote that she had never succeeded in 'pre-heating' her oven, only ever heating it.

Would you heat (or even pre-heat) an oven? Surely you use an oven to heat food...nothing much to be gained in heating the oven though, unless you want to melt it.

[Sir Velo]

(1) is clearer than (2).

:

Are you saying that if I said "heat the oven to 175 degrees" you wouldn't understand?

[french frank]

Are you saying that if I said "heat the oven to 175 degrees" you wouldn't understand?

You would understand that you had to heat (up) the oven, but not necessarily that you don't put the food in yet. We don't however say 'preboil the water in the saucepan', even though root vegetables are put into cold water, whereas other vegetables are put in once the water is boiling.

I think food which is cooked at a lower temperature for a longer time can be put into a cold oven, whereas anything that is cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter time goes into a hot (preheated) oven.

[oddoneout]

You would understand that you had to heat (up) the oven, but not necessarily that you don't put the food in yet. We don't however say 'preboil the water in the saucepan', even though root vegetables are put into cold water, whereas other vegetables are put in once the water is boiling.

I think food which is cooked at a lower temperature for a longer time can be put into a cold oven, whereas anything that is cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter time goes into a hot (preheated) oven.

And modern fan ovens often heat up very quickly so some things can go in "cold" that previously would have suffered - such as pizza and pastry. Twenty years ago I had a good quality high powered multifunction oven and could take considerable liberties over starting and operating temperatures but I did notice when visiting family that not all ovens were as good... I think the situation has improved over the years since as fan/fan assisted ovens became the norm but for various reasons I've not had personal experience for a good few years.

[french frank]

And modern fan ovens often heat up very quickly so some things can go in "cold" that previously would have suffered - such as pizza and pastry.

Not convinced. I have a fan oven and a quick heat button for some settings. It still takes a few minutes to get up to, say 210º - which matters if the food is timed to cook in 8-10 minutes.

Which all reminds me. I intended to bake a loaf this morning but forgot. Still time now.

[oddoneout]

Not convinced. I have a fan oven and a quick heat button for some settings. It still takes a few minutes to get up to, say 210º - which matters if the food is timed to cook in 8-10 minutes.

Which all reminds me. I intended to bake a loaf this morning but forgot. Still time now.

Well, as it always says on microwave heating instructions "Appliances vary". Getting to know the oven (including whether the temperature is even correct in some cases!) helps and I've always tended to regard cooking times as indicative rather than absolute.

[french frank]

I've always tended to regard cooking times as indicative rather than absolute.

Yep - the "Close Enough" method. Serves in a lot of contexts, not just cooking

[ardcarp]

I hope she pre-ordered the food. What's the difference between ordering something (i.e requesting something in advance) and pre-ordering it?

[kernelbogey]

Another similar issue: in Scotland we had a discussion as to whether the 'd' in Wednesday was pronounced. Among a group of English and Scottish students, one Scot was definite that she certainly did pronounce the 'd'. (Not sure that it sounded any different though)

For some reason I'm remnded of Brian Perkins, erstwhile doyen of Radio Four, who I'm fairly sure would have pronounced Wednesday as three syllables (as I imagine you mean).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

For some reason I'm remnded of Brian Perkins, erstwhile doyen of Radio Four, who I'm fairly sure would have pronounced Wednesday as three syllables (as I imagine you mean).

I do.

[gurnemanz]

For some reason I'm remnded of Brian Perkins, erstwhile doyen of Radio Four, who I'm fairly sure would have pronounced Wednesday as three syllables (as I imagine you mean).

Chambers has: wenzˈ or wedˈnz-dā or -di

I'm sure Mr P would not utter wenzdi, which is probably frowned on by pedants but is in common use (even by some pedants in unguarded, informal moments, I suspect.)

The above wedˈnz-dā includes the d but would actually be two syllables: wedns - day