12.19.2009

Alright!

We're only in the "Highly Disruptive," not the "Paralyzing" path (thanks, Accuweather!) of the big Nor'easter that's blowing up the coast this afternoon. Personally, I'd rather just go to bed blissfully unaware and see what tomorrow brings (good morning, dude, you're screwed).

6 comments:

English major said...

Uh...you mean "All right!"

"Alright" is not a real word. But don't get me started.

-p said...

On the other hand (from Merriam-Webster):
"The one-word spelling alright appeared some 75 years after all right itself had reappeared from a 400-year-long absence. Since the early 20th century some critics have insisted alright is wrong, but it has its defenders and its users. It is less frequent than all right but remains in common use especially in journalistic and business publications. It is quite common in fictional dialogue, and is used occasionally in other writing ."

Ted Compton said...

Alright then!

English major said...

Using that logic, we could say that, because people routinely misspell such words as "judgment" and "commitment," all variants are OK. And because people commonly form the plural by adding 's, when a simple s is correct, we should change those rules, too.

It's wonderful that we have a living language that can adapt and change with the times. But wouldn't it speak more highly of our culture if those changes came from innovation and creativity instead of ignorance?

Happy Holidayz

Ted Compton said...

We could say that but we don't. And happy holidayz to you as well.

lynn said...

Me thinkest thou meant to confer the wish of merriment by exclaiming "I wish thee a Merry Christmas!" In God's name, let us not bastardize the King's English.