Hi Andy:
Thanks for the pet peeves (du jour). I have so many of my own I don't know where to start, so I'll comment on yours:
Those plurals are a problem, particularly the Latin and Greek ones. My biggest peeve is the use of data and media as singular nouns. Everytime I hear "this data" or "the media is biased", I cringe. I guess this happens because nobody studies Latin or Greek anymore, and also because the singular forms datum, medium are seldom used. Same for bacterium/a.
Criteria is a similar situation from the Greek, and we seldom see its correct singular form criterion.
These errors are so universal, especially among computer people, that I think we are waging a losing battle.
Also, many Latin and Greek plurals have been wholly anglicized, or as Fowler says "naturalized". I submit that stadium is one of these, even though you disagree. Saying stadia would be considered stuffy in my view.
As I keep repeating, the language is changing, whether we like it or not. Some of these Latin/Greek plurals have been naturalized; others have not. We still say phenomena to pluralize phenomenon, but we say albums, asylums, museums, premiums, etc. in their "naturalized" forms.
The athletes and hairdresser, I think, are not referring to the actual time, but to the more abstract "goal" when they want to improve the situation. Would a golfer fall into the same trap? (I didn't intend the pun but will let it stand.)
I think my next peeve post will involve lie,lay. That's always a fun one.
Jack |
