Pedants' Corner

[Duncan Grimmond]

And another thing, why do we now speak of levveraging instead of prying or levering? I have never used a tyre levver but I do lever things.
I heard someone in a radio programme telling a tale of being stuck in a 'phone box and being unable to get any purchase to levverage herself out.

[Malcolm Parker]

'Appen she were a bit plump?

[Reckless Rat]

You can't say plump any more. She or He would have been a person of a certain weight...

[Mike Costigan]

more than a certain weight 

[austin]

You can't say plump any more. She or He would have been a person of a certain weight...

Can't say he or she either!

[Steve kay]

Can’t say he or she? Time for an old Ray Davies track perhaps.

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A Sevenist who scans the forum but does not contribute emails me to ask, did Henry’s picture a few days ago actually indicate the night club in Old Soho mentioned in the song?

[Ian Wegg]

I cannot abide the use of the word 'Hey' as the opening in a business email from a stranger. Whatever happened to 'Hello'?

"Hello" was originally an exclamation, e.g. an expression of surprise or to attract attention, so it is actually synonymous with "Hey". Thomas Edison used "Hello" as an opening for telephone conversations, which led to the use of the word as a salutation. Edison suggested that a call bell was unnecessary as "Hello!" could be heard at 20 feet. Alexander Graham Bell apparently favoured "Ahoy!", which I think I might use myself in future.

I’d also love to know how to PREorder, PREbook, PREreserve, PREtin, and especially PREprepare
I just want to order, book, reserve, tin and prepare as all of these by their nature are done in advance so why the PREprefix?

I can understand pre-order for something not yet available, but pre-book irritates me as well. I used to ask if I pre-book would be notified when I can book? These days that just gets me blank looks.

[Tony Griffiths]

Upon phoning a friend, his teenage son answered with, "Ugh". So I replied, "Ughhhm, ughhhh." He replied, "Ughhh?" to which I responded, "Ughhh? Ughhh? Ughhh?" he put the phone down. I rang again, this time enquiring, "Is that the Ughhh household?" - and he finally got the message.

[Rogerfrench]

And another thing, why do we now speak of levveraging instead of prying or levering? I have never used a tyre levver but I do lever things.
I heard someone in a radio programme telling a tale of being stuck in a 'phone box and being unable to get any purchase to levverage herself out.

American pronunciation. Here we have levvers, we sodder electrical connections, use wrenches not spanners, etc., etc.

[Ian Dunford]

Soddering elelectrical connections sounds a bit dodgy