The mystery of the English language
Following from my last post, where I was both astounded and chuffed that I had been quoted on a book cover, on Saturday just past (the 5th for those without calendars) I went to the official book launch of that book. The quotation was “Ms Victoria has created a fascinating world and a strong cast of characters who at turns surprise, fascinate and appal.”
At that launch those in the know questioned my use of the word “appal”, saying they had expected that the correct spelling was “appall” - and were surprised to discover that “appal” was the preferred variant. I said I had used the Concise Oxford before settling on the spelling
I suspect that too many people are letting their spelling (and grammar) be dictated by dictionaries embedded in electronic documents - applications built and maintained by technologists. I’ve been on the receiving end of business documents prepared by those technologists and the language usage has been most unedifying, leaving this person wondering at the effective literacy level of the author.
I use paper dictionaries when I can because they’ve been compiled by linguists, and I expect them to know the language. But then I'm old fashioned in that regard.
At that launch those in the know questioned my use of the word “appal”, saying they had expected that the correct spelling was “appall” - and were surprised to discover that “appal” was the preferred variant. I said I had used the Concise Oxford before settling on the spelling
I suspect that too many people are letting their spelling (and grammar) be dictated by dictionaries embedded in electronic documents - applications built and maintained by technologists. I’ve been on the receiving end of business documents prepared by those technologists and the language usage has been most unedifying, leaving this person wondering at the effective literacy level of the author.
I use paper dictionaries when I can because they’ve been compiled by linguists, and I expect them to know the language. But then I'm old fashioned in that regard.