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Me: “How was the pasty-looking chicken wrap-thing that was in the reduced section of the fridge at Boots?”
Other: “It was totally awesome!”
Me: “Pass me my baseball bat, would you?”
"Pass myself my baseball bat", surely?
The definition of unique is “one of a kind” it either is or isn’t.
If there are only two of a kind are they binique?
I think the problem is that people generally don't fully understand grammar and therefore don't understand when reflexive pronouns can be used so they use them instead of normal pronouns.
(full disclosure - I had to look up the rules as I don't fully understand them, but I do know when not to use them)
As this is a problem perpetuated by office workers, and as office workers love a notice, perhaps someone should print out a copy of the OED definition of reflexive pronouns and put it up in the office kitchen.
The definition of unique is “one of a kind” it either is or isn’t.
True, but definitions are changed by usage over time.
ransos, sure of course, but Unique has a meaning that hasn't changed, as surroundedbyhills qualifies, "rare" is correct. The problem isn't changing definitions, it's that lots of these sort of adjectives sound OK to the ear with an intensifier "more delicious" for example; combined with people not understanding the grammar rules. Ignorance (not in the pejorative sense) not the relentless modification of words is the problem here
Nah, it’s just bad grammar. The definition of unique is “one of a kind” it either is or isn’t.
It could be unique in some ways but not others.
I just assume it's something people have picked up from watching The Apprentice.
ransos, sure of course, but Unique has a meaning that hasn’t changed, as surroundedbyhills qualifies, “rare” is correct.
Decimate also has a specific meaning - to kill or punish 10%.
It could well be the case that over time, just as "decimate" came to mean "devastate", "unique" comes to mean "unusual" rather than "one of a kind". It does grate, though!
Something which annoys me, frequently noticed in teenagers and young adults. A sentence is prefaced by 'To be honest,... Do I assume that everything else you say to me is lies?
ooohhh, grammar pedantry...
sirromj, still "just" unique, Say you have a bright orange diamond, it's the only bright orange one, but it's one of many diamonds, its not uniquer than any other diamond, or the uniquest among a subset of coloured diamonds.
Decimate has always had 2 meanings: To take a tenth, from Decimatus; to tythe, appearing some time after the Romans and applied retrospectively to their habit of punishing one in ten soldiers. Or to destroy over a wide area. Even Websters (the Ford Fiesta of dictionaries) puts the two meanings as emerging at about the same time (1530-1600). The first recorded mention of the word just refers to Tything and nothing to do with killing people.. I take your point though, it did just refer for a bit to the Roman practice (mostly because of dusty old classics scholars) and over time, the other meaning as become as common if not more so, but it was always there, hovering in the background.
I take your point though, it did just refer for a bit to the Roman practice (mostly because of dusty old classics scholars) and over time, the other meaning as become as common if not more so, but it was always there, hovering in the background.
I suspect it was because it had a specific meaning in Latin, so as you say, classics scholars tried to apply it to English. See also: split infinitives.
"if you would like to purchase any duty free items for yourselves, we will be passing through the cabin shortly.." That really winds Mrs JBP up.
I think this happens when people feel that the shorter form sounds a bit blunt, particularly where they are trying sell you something. I first became conscious of this when a "flight attendant"/air hostess/trolley dolly said, "Would you like any Pringles at all?", then added "yourself" after the briefest of pauses. Obviously this is something they are encouraged to push and she wanted to sound casual rather than desperate.
Surely the word she was looking for there was "sir"?
you should have replied and said - "how much would yourself charge myself for yourselves's Pringles?"
Anyway(s) headed / heading 🤬
Have you been here before at all?
“almost unique” – passable but I would use the term “rare” instead.
Nah, it’s just bad grammar.
Umm, it's bad diction - surely...
ransos, sure of course, but Unique has a meaning that hasn’t changed, as surroundedbyhills qualifies, “rare” is correct.
it troubles me that the OED offers (and cites precedent), along with chunterable entries for "literally" and "refute", the following for "unique":
Use in the comparative and superlative and with modification by words such as absolutely, fairly, quite, thoroughly, very, etc., has been criticized on the grounds that an adjective meaning ‘that is the only one of its kind’ should not be not gradable, but in many contexts this meaning is not readily distinguishable from the extended use.
With modifying expression and in the comparative and superlative.</h3>
1740 G. Vertue Descr. Four Anc. Paintings 3 As this Conceit is in some Measure unique, so the whole Appearance of their Apparel, and Richness of their Jewels, Furs, and Habit, bespeaks their Royal Dignity.
Sounds painful
Not if you use proper anaesthetic.
I use myself and yourself sometimes, quite intentionally- I know it's not correct but sometimes it just sounds really nice.