Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
I know, I know, some folks simply aren't good spellers and no particular shame should attach to that condition. However. One particularly persistent misspelling is making me break out in hives from its overwhelming presence online. Please, please, please, I beg of you: if you must write in public, or even if you just do it for fun, take a look at the two following words.
They don't rhyme, see? You know what would rhyme with racism? Facism. Unfortunately, facism is not a real word, no matter how many times it is typed. Fascism contains more than one ess, and yes, I will be a fascist about that. Cripes. If you're going to wield such a loaded word, for god's sake, use the real word.
[long exhale, pop a Valium]
Sorry. I just had to get that out. On a barely related tangent, I learned a new word while making sure that facism wasn't another obscure word. Favism: "An acute hereditary condition in which the ingestion of certain species of beans, or the inhalation of the pollen of their flowers, causes fever, headache, abdominal pain, severe anemia, prostration, and coma."
TrackBackFascism contains more than one ess, ...
Heh heh. Couldn't help it. =)
As a long-time institutionalized member of AOL chat rooms, I have learned at least 15 alternate spellings for the word "hypocrisy."
Posted by: norbizness at February 1, 2005 02:24 PM:) Then I apologize for all past, present, and future grammatical mistakes I make in my posts. Especially my addiction to run-on sentences. I have a problem.
Posted by: Karyn at February 1, 2005 02:42 PMNo apologies necessary, dear. Just spell fascism correctly and we'll be fine.
Posted by: apostropher at February 1, 2005 02:53 PMKQED used to have a show called Comedy Tonight that featured comics performing in San Francisco clubs. One program showcased a comic who did an acerbic rant on racists and bigots: "Hey! If you think you're a member of the Master Race, shouldn't you be able to spell supremacist?"
I don't recall if he raked over fascists as well.
I judge people by the fronts of their heads. Does that make me a facist?
Posted by: Rob at February 1, 2005 11:21 PMI apologize for my numerous errors! Although I am the born American citizen in my family, English is my second language. I fairly recently lost my accent (intentionally).
While you are on the topic of irritating word usage, what is with pronouncing the word comfortable as comf-ter-ble? I am not even put out by comfy. Almost no one says the "fort" part.
Posted by: Ru at February 2, 2005 12:50 AMI'm facist. There are some faces that are really ugly. Hence no mirrors in my abode.
Posted by: mike at February 2, 2005 03:55 AMRu,
Well, dictionary.com does list two pronunciations that do not include "fort:" kmft-bl, kmftr-bl)
I think it is acceptable to leave out the "fort."
But, can anyone explain the sherbert pronunciation of sherbet?
Posted by: Tripp at February 2, 2005 02:51 PMActually, I pronounce it "Schubert" in honor of the famous composer/confectioner...
Posted by: Rob at February 2, 2005 03:14 PMSo long as our Fearless Leader says "nucular," I'm afraid we're all gonna hafta put up with a li'l "facism."
Me? I'm no "facist." I'm a "Seventh Day Obstructionist." At least once a week, I get in somebody's way.
Posted by: Charlie at February 2, 2005 06:51 PM