Month: March 2008

“Classic” vs. “Classical”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Versus

I frequently see one of these used when the other is required.

Problem:
The adjectives “classic” and “classical” are best not treated as synonyms.

Explanation:
The adjective “classic” means of the highest quality or class.

The most common definitions of the adjective “classical” are pertaining to Greek and Roman antiquity, consistent with classicism, and, in music, pertaining to the most enduring types of music.

So a classical song typically is classic, but not all classic songs are classical.

Solution:
Use “classical” when referring to antiquity or music. Use “classic” when referring to something of highest quality.

“Jealous” vs. “Envious”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Versus

I often hear one adjective used when the other adjective is the appropriate one.

Problem:
The adjectives “jealous” and “envious” are not exactly synonyms.

Explanation:
The adjective “jealous” means feeling uneasiness toward another person because of resentment of that person’s success or from suspicion or fear of rivalry.

The adjective “envious” means feeling covetous toward another person’s possessions.

I often hear American English speakers use “jealous” when they mean “envious” instead.

I believe that the use of “jealous” when “envious” is the right adjective is consistent with my “Devolution toward Simpler” hypothesis. It’s simpler to say the two-syllable “jealous” than to say the three-syllable “envious”.

Solution:
Use “jealous” when talking about one person’s attitude toward another person. Use “envious” when talking about one person’s attitude toward another person’s possessions.

“FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT”

Common English Blunders, Hyphens, Nouns

I saw this on a sign in an office-building stairwell.

Problem:
A hyphen is missing.

Explanation:
When a noun plus a noun modify a third noun, the first and second nouns must be joined with a hyphen to form the modifier of the third noun.

So the first noun “FIRE” plus the second noun “FIGHTING” must be joined with a hyphen to form the modifier of the third noun “EQUIPMENT”.

Unfortunately, many sign makers drop hyphens because they believe that hyphens are unnecessary or make signs less attractive.

Although this isn’t the best example, there are many examples where the absence of a required hyphen leads to confusion and double- or triple-pass reading of a sign to understand what the sign writer meant.

Solution:
“FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT”