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ArishMell · 70-79, M
So much of what I read or hear now suggests not only poor teaching of grammar, but also very poor teaching of comprehension of words, including etymology.
Hence for example, all the tautology we encounter; common ones being "meet/consult [i]with[/i] someone", and "revert [i]back[/i] to".
Or missed and distorted meanings: so for example, does a "quad bike" have six or eight wheels, does your "mobile telephone" have a motor and wheels then?
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Spellings too, can have significant effects if used without care for etymology. A science teacher showed me the following example, of professionals who really should know better, not properly understanding even their own technical terms!
The geological time-span, the [i][b]Caino[/b]zoic[/i], was called that because it means "full of life", or "rich in life".
American geologists went their own sweet way, ignored the roots and called it the "[i][b]Ceno[/b]zoic[/i]"; but have now pushed the international geological community into copying them, disingenuously calling it the "international" spelling.
The teacher explained to me that this changing Caino to Ceno unfortunately reverses the meaning to "[i]devoid[/i] of life"!
Hence for example, all the tautology we encounter; common ones being "meet/consult [i]with[/i] someone", and "revert [i]back[/i] to".
Or missed and distorted meanings: so for example, does a "quad bike" have six or eight wheels, does your "mobile telephone" have a motor and wheels then?
'
Spellings too, can have significant effects if used without care for etymology. A science teacher showed me the following example, of professionals who really should know better, not properly understanding even their own technical terms!
The geological time-span, the [i][b]Caino[/b]zoic[/i], was called that because it means "full of life", or "rich in life".
American geologists went their own sweet way, ignored the roots and called it the "[i][b]Ceno[/b]zoic[/i]"; but have now pushed the international geological community into copying them, disingenuously calling it the "international" spelling.
The teacher explained to me that this changing Caino to Ceno unfortunately reverses the meaning to "[i]devoid[/i] of life"!
