MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I feel like I'm in a different world and it's reminding me of that time recently on here when I realised that plenty of otherwise reasonable people have decided that the word "accident" means something different from the generally accepted, dictionary definition.
so...
We do a thing at work. We do it once a year. We do it the same time every year. We've done it at that time every year since we started doing it. We've not missed a year, and we've not done it at a different time of year.
So, I have described this thing we do as being done regularly.
Someone has started a "frank debate" about this and accused me of misleading them with that statement. Their reason being that we don't do it "regularly enough". I queried this, pointing out, as above, that we always do it at the same time, every year, without fail, without variance. The answer comes back that we should do it "more regularly." I again queried this, on the basis that the way we do it is as regular as a regular thing.
After a bit of to-and-fro it turns out that they think it should be done more frequently. More annoyingly they are asserting that my previous statement that we did the thing "regularly" meant that we did it "frequently" and therefore my statement was misleading.
Despite pointing out that I never said we did it frequently (we don't) I only said we did it regularly (which we do) this is going round and round in circles with them insisting (and this is what reminded me of the "no such thing as an accident" debate) that I was (implied: deliberately) misleading as "everyone knows" that that's what you mean when you say something is done regularly.
AIBU to say that if they don't understand the difference in meaning between the words "frequent" and "regular" then that is their problem, and really, really, not mine?
No, they're a nobber.
Get them to Google "regular"
[quote=edlong ]AIBU to say that if they don't understand the difference in meaning between the words "frequent" and "regular" then that is their problem, and really, really, not mine?Yes, you are. Unless you are completely new to the English language or have been living as a hermit for the past 40 years then you must surely know that "regularly" is frequently used to mean "frequently". If your GP advises you to take regular exercise, do you think this means once per year on the same day? 🙄
Edit: I just googled "Regular exercise"
About 7,520,000 results
Regular a d frequent don't really mean anything without context. Frequent earthquakes could be one a year, regular inspections could be daily.
If it's done once a year then it's annual.
Language isn't set, it's a constantly evolving thing so as much as I detest it when people say "get" when they mean "have" or the way my family only seem to know a single verb and it's "do" as in "can you do me a cup or tea" I have to accept it's it's not wrong - even if it's idiotic.
Regular does not equal frequent.
[quote=scotroutes ]
About 7,520,000 results
11,600,000 results for "should of"
[quote=tjagain ]Regular does not equal frequent.
See my post
[quote=aracer ]
scotroutes »
About 7,520,000 results
11,600,000 results for "should of"
And is someone uses "should of", do you know what they mean?
There's an excellent analysis of what regular and frequent means in the judgement in the platt case on unauthorised absence from schools for holiday
https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2016-0155.html
You connote be serious!
There a story (urban myth, i suspect) about a chap who went to a conference, miles away, every year for the last 20 years, and every year he drove, and stopped at the same petrol station on the way there.
On the 21st year there is a fuel shortage and his regular petrol station has a sign outside 'regulars only'. Imagine the chaps disappointment when the petrol attendant says they won't serve him!
Edit: I just googled "Regular exercise"About 7,520,000 results
I just googled "frequent exercise"
About 114,000,000 results
I rest my case... 😉
To be clear, I don't have a massive problem with people making the mistake and I recognise that people frequently do (they probably do it regularly in some cases also).
My issue is that I'm being accused of being dishonest, and I don't think that is at all valid.
[quote=Stoner ]There's an excellent analysis of what regular and frequent means in the judgement in the platt case on unauthorised absence from schools for holiday
> https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2016-0155.html
br />
Doesn't help as that use of the word "regularly" was deemed to mean "in accordance with the rules"
My issue is that I'm being accused of being dishonest, and I don't think that is at all valid.
Id say you were ambiguous. In a work context you want to remove the chance of misunderstanding hence using neither term and using annual to explain exactly what it is.
"Regular sex" About 204,000,000 results (0.46 seconds)
"Frequent sex" About 95,900,000 results (0.54 seconds)
Regular has more but frequent lasts longer.
"Annual sex" - NSFW
[quote=scotroutes ]And is someone uses "should of", do you know what they mean?
Yes, but it's almost as bad as starting a sentence with a conjunction.
Am I the only one curious about what this annual, regular but possibly not frequent enough 'work event' is?
Nah it's probably a tidy up, clear out, calibration or service.
Nah it's probably a tidy up, clear out, calibration or service.
Not "Dress Down Frida"
or
"Bring someone else's kids to work day" then
I just googled it, it said 'frequently'
regularly
?r??j?l?li/
adverb
adverb: regularly
1.
with a constant or definite pattern, especially with the same space between individual items.
"regularly spaced buildings"
2.
at uniform intervals of time.
"the reunion has taken place regularly every two years"
frequently.
"make a point of regularly consulting the noticeboard"
3.
on a habitual basis; usually.
"the person who regularly cuts your hair"
4.
Grammar
in a way that follows the normal pattern of inflection.
"a regularly inflected plural noun"
[quote=scotroutes ]And is someone uses "should of", do you know what they mean?
Having thunk about this a bit more and in reference to the OP, there's a difference between incorrect usage of the English language - which is something lots of people do [s]regularly[/s] frequently - and telling somebody using English correctly that they are wrong.
If somebody corrects me when I say "should have" because they think it should [s]of[/s] have been "should of", then is that my problem?
[quote=shermer75 ]I just googled it, it said 'frequently'
yeah - and literally immediately before that it said
at uniform intervals of time.
"the reunion has taken place regularly every two years"
Could you illustrate through the medium of a Venn diagram. Or dance. Your choice...
Part of me believes the skill of language is trying to identify potential ambiguity, and to augment what is said to avoid any misunderstanding. Then another part thinks you should only go so far to pander to the hard of thinking!
Then another part thinks you should only go so far to pander to the hard of thinking!
If I tell you to do something regularly how often would you do it?
Why don't you just describe the thing you do at work as anually.
Then there's no chance of misinterpretation.
You are correct. The suggested version is not correct, just assumed to be correct due to frequent misuse. At least you are not being asked to provide something by size as in "regular fries". When I am asked if I want that (heaven forbid that I frequent any establishment that offers such a thing), I always say "no thanks, I haven't been here before or some equally antagonistic comment.
"regular fries".
A subscription service?
[quote=mikewsmith ]If I tell you to do something regularly how often would you do it?
Never, you're not my mum.
[quote=mattsccm ]I always say "no thanks, I haven't been here before or some equally antagonistic comment.
I refer you to IOWC vs Platt 😉
Perhaps I am being guilty of being a bit cynical here. The phrase would tend to convey the impression that he was doing something frequently, and he used a phrase knowing that he was technically accurate in what he said.
Ask the man if he has his car regularly serviced, Edlong.
mikewsmith - Member
Then another part thinks you should only go so far to pander to the hard of thinking!
If I tell you to do something regularly how often would you do it?
There is no frequency attached to "regularly". YOu could do something regularly but infrequently ie "I regularly go to Achiltibue every ten years" and you could do something frequently but irregularly " I have been to Durness frequently, twice this month, 4 times in may, twice in march but not in January"
*awaits grammar pedants find fault in my sentence structure*
If only there were words to describe what was actually going on...
Weekly, monthly, annually etc.
Frequently depends again on context as it varies depending on what you are describing. Neither are suitable for a work instruction without either specifying the time period or intent.
tjagain - Member*awaits grammar pedants [u]to[/u] find fault in my sentence structure*
POSTED 4 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
TJ. If someone asked you if you went to the opera & you replied. Yes I am a regular opera goer. I think you would have to admit that would be surprising if that meant 'yes I go every 14 years'. It is technically correct, but you'd only use that form of words if you were looking to conceal how rarely you went the opera.
Regular implies some (near) constant time between events as in "a regular heart beat".
Frequent implies something happening often within a given or assumed timescale. A train service might be frequent: there's six trains an hour. But they might not be regular: there wouldn't be ten minutes between each one
Sometime something can be both, you'd hope your heart beat was both regular and frequent. I certainly wouldn't want an "infrequent heart beat"!
To go with the OP's work related example: if you have a team meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays then "We have regular team meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays" would be correct whereas "We have frequent team meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays" isn't as it implies that there are multiple meetings on each of those days.
[img] 
?itok=1FDAM-2G[/img]
My bowel movements are regular = You are ok.
My bowel movements are frequent = Are you ok?
I'd be more concerned if I caught myself using the acronym AIBU on an Internet forum than about whether something was regular or frequent... are we on mumsnet now? 😆
Your event is regular I'd say not frequent. But I'd call it annual.
So regular bowel movements means you do a poo at the same time every day?
At least you are not being asked to provide something by size as in "regular fries".
happening repeatedly in a fixed pattern, with equal or similar amounts of space or time between one and the next:
a regular heartbeat
working regular hours
Trees were planted at regular intervals along the avenue.
File you're complicating Osage with Cambridge duct n
[quote=imnotverygood ]So regular bowel movements means you do a poo at the same time every day?
Well it might just be on the same day every year.
I think Lewis Carroll has this.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
Since when is 'regular' a synonym of 'frequent'?
On a Friday afternoon in the school holidays when no-one has any real work to do.
mikewsmith » If I tell you to do something regularly how often would you do it?
No idea, I'd only comply after you specified the timescale and periodicy of whatever you want me to do, 'cos otherwise I wouldn't have a clue; once, twice, three times an hour, day, week, month...
This isn't pedantry, your demand has no specifics to comply with.
This reminds me of the nervous flyer who asked the steward how often Boeings crashed.
"Just the once, Madam."
Do you often have these discussions, or is it periodical?
As somebody who cannot help but take things literally, I have had the OP's discussion several times and it irritates me greatly. edlong I fully agree with you. However, I am surprised you have not come across this before - ie regularly, frequently being used to mean frequently.
I was in my regular state of mind earlier - I frequently don't think straight.
We do a thing at work. We do it once a[b] year[/b]. We do it the same time every[b] year[/b]. We've done it at that time every [b]year[/b] since we started doing it. We've not missed a [b]year[/b], and we've not done it at a different time of [b]year[/b].
Long rant just to let us all know that you failed to use the word "annually". 💡
Do you often have these discussions, or is it periodical?
That should be 'periodically', a 'periodical' is a publication that appears at regular times.
pe·ri·od·i·cal (pîr??-?d??-k?l)
adj.
1. Periodic.
2.
a. Published at regular intervals of more than one day.
b. Of or relating to a publication issued at such intervals.
n.
A publication issued at regular intervals of more than one day.
CountZero - Member
mikewsmith » If I tell you to do something regularly how often would you do it?This isn't pedantry, your demand has no specifics to comply with.
Exactly the point, the op has made an ambiguous statement and expected people to get what he means. Neither word is appropriate unless you know the exact specifics of the subject, hence it's a bad use of the terms.
Change your wording to 'regular periodic'.
Or alternatively to 'annual'.
I suggest anyone who is confused stops googling misinformation and looks up the word in the OED. Yes, the book. 😀
OP is wrong as the word has more than one meaning, one of which is "recurring at short uniform intervals". (As is the pompous buffoon who doesn't like "regular fries" 🙂 - perfectly correct use of a word which has multiple meanings).
Thus the frequency of the regularity must be stated (or given context, as mentioned). This is why the word "annual" exists. It's not rocket surgery. 😆
We do it the same time every year. We've done it at that time every year since we started doing it.
This is why the word "annual" exists.
If its happening the same time year every year then its presumably anchored to something in the calendar. You could remove all doubt about frequency by just saying
'On St Swithins Day'
'On the first Thursday in October'
I wonder if the 'event' that the OP and his colleague are discussing the frequency and regularlty of is the Office Christmas Party 🙂 That should certainly happen more regularly.
The OP should get their colleagues to consider the relative effects of eating roughage and fruit with dysentery.
One keeps you 'regular', the other 'frequent'.
Scatological examples usually stick in people's minds.
Good god, I can't believe I just read this thread right to the end 😆
I thought these days regular means small.
Three cheers for BA!!
As is the pompous buffoon who doesn't like "regular fries" - perfectly correct use
If you're a septic.
Medium chips would be the British version.
dannyh - MemberThe OP should get their colleagues to consider the relative effects of eating roughage and fruit with dysentery.
One keeps you 'regular', the other 'frequent'.
Scatological examples usually stick in people's minds.
very good. I like it
Medium chips doesn't exist, no one has ever order medium chips. You get a bag of chips or a big bag of chips.Medium chips would be the British version.
wrong. Why do you think professional soldiers have been called "regulars" for hundreds of years? Do you really think it's because of their bowel movements? 🙂If you're a septic.
Medium chips would be the British version.
If you don't have access to an OED, why don't you get one and educate yourself. 😆
Medium chips doesn't exist, no one has ever order medium chips. You get a bag of chips or a big bag of chips.
Absolutely, hence my use of the word "would" rather than "is".
wrong. Why do you think professional soldiers have been called "regulars" for hundreds of years? Do you really think it's because of their bowel movements?
Do you think it's because they are medium in size?
(Strawmen do blow over easily old chap 😉 )
If you don't have access to an OED, why don't you get one and educate yourself.
I have access to many dictionaries, and the only ones that give examples of "your" usage do so using Americanisms, which was kinda my point. 😉
Bless. Hint: Wikipedia is not a dictionary 😆
Zilog6128
OP is wrong as the word has more than one meaning, one of which is "recurring at short uniform intervals
Sorry zilog you are incorrect, the op is correct. Your quoted meaning here agrees with the OP.
zilog6128 - MemberBless. Hint: Wikipedia is not a dictionary
Didn't say it was, so that makes it two strawmen in a row.
Care to make it three, as you obviously have nothing of substance to counter?
Throwing lol smilies about and failing to condescend with words like "bless" does little for your argument, FYI. 😉
I'm going to wager it being half-term...
[img] 
[/img]
[quote=mikewsmith ]Exactly the point, the op has made an ambiguous statement and expected people to get what he means. Neither word is appropriate unless you know the exact specifics of the subject, hence it's a bad use of the terms.
You appear to be making assumptions about the context in which the OP used the word, assumptions which aren't justified by anything he's written. Meanwhile his colleague is incorrectly insisting that he is wrong and that "regular" can't possibly mean anything other than "frequent" - are you defending his colleague?
The op has an annual event, he chose to call it regular and it's leading to confusion as people do the kind ow how often it occurs. Hardly assumption is it.
"everyone knows" that that's what you mean when you say something is done regularly.
The reader's illiteracy isn't the fault of the writer.
The reader's illiteracy isn't the fault of the writer.
Communication is a two way thing. Being aware that what you say might be misunderstood is quite an important life skill
Are you new here? (-:
More seriously,
I take your point, and you're right in that it's good practice to target your audience in the language you use. Using long words can add accuracy but can also make it more impenetrable to understand.
But some jackass saying "well, everyone knows that" as an excuse for misunderstand something after it's pointed out by the writer that it's been misunderstood, pff, that's their own lookout.
People misuse words all the time and "everyone knows" what they mean, it makes me literally incandescent with rage.
The op has an annual event, he chose to call it regular
cite
We do a thing at work. We do it once a year. We do it the same time every year. We've done it at that time every year since we started doing it. We've not missed a year, and we've not done it at a different time of year.So, I have described this thing we do as being done regularly.
that what you were after aracer.
No, I don't believe it is!