Since this blog is about my ramblings, I'll begin with a theory to explain one of my most annoying peeves: use of the non-word "supposably." How prevalent is the use of this non-word? I don't know, except that I hear it frequently. Maybe it's a testament to the crowd with whom I mingle (scary), or it's a Southern Maryland thing, but it drives me SO nuts. I've corrected one person numerous times and told her the word is "supposedly," but still she gets it wrong. "WHY?" I puzzled, driving down the road one day after the same person -- again -- used the despised non-word with me while on the phone. I couldn't be so bitchy as to correct her for the thousandth time. So I bit my tongue and spent my frustration pondering why anyone would so backwardly confuse their suffixes.
And then it hit me: Perhaps people confuse "presumably" with "supposedly" and blend the two, getting "supposably." Yes! That must be the explanation!
But wait...It that's right, then how come I never hear the reverse of the equation, which would be "presumedly"?
The latter issue notwithstanding, I was so impressed with myself for having discovered a fairly reasonable explanation for the issue that I quickly called Lori to report my findings via voice mail. I then proceeded to tell several people over the next few days. (Mysteriously, most people are not nearly as fascinated with this topic as I.)
Then, remembering that I had also emailed somebody about it (Kevin), I searched the term "supposably" in my email and found the following note to Lori:
I've lamented my hatred over the non-word 'supposably' too many times while using the contrasting example of 'presumedly' as a possible explanation for the flub. I've now TWICE -- yes, TWICE in the past 3 days -- used the word 'presumedly' in conversation. I quickly recovered, but clearly my brain is misfiring. Dammit!!!
[FYI Lori's response was to "get out and play with adults."]
I've now learned that
1. Lots of people probably don't care about this issue;
2. My own use of the word "presumedly" results from my repeated telling of this story and presumedly...ahem...presumably NOT a result of mixing the two words; and
3. The explanation for use of the non-word is not necessarily solved.
This first blog post may set the tone for what is to come and may possibly ensure that nobody will ever read it! Ha! [That's ok!]
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1 comment:
hah, 2 nonwords..(not one:)
supposably
presumedly
while you are rambling.. I really wish people would remember the word "me". It's as if it were a dirty word. All I hear is people using the word "myself" all the time,where they should use me. I think people are afraid to use the word "me". Not me. I like it. 'How about you? Do you like the word "me"?
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