Today, we'll tackle the English language...but not too hard since I don't want it to get a concussion. I'd like to highlight the nit-picky distinctions between these pairs: Farther/Further, Eager/Anxious, Use/Utilize.
Farther refers to a greater physical distance, while further means to a great extent, or more.
Eager means to look forward to something, or a happy anticipation of something, while anxious means the nervous anticipation of something, not exactly looking forward to, but more of a dread. An easy way to remember the difference is that "anxious" come from the same root as "anxiety."
Use...well, you all know what that means, whereas utilize means to use something for a purpose for which it was not intended. See this page for a more detailed explanation and an example.
And to round off this intense lesson *snort*, I leave you with a funny (which I had first seen at Diane's Much of a Muchness blog) -
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." ~ Johann von Goethe
26 comments:
My father went farther
The further went father
To gather up Heather, in leather,
Why bother?
*giggle* thank you for the poetic comments! ;)
I gotta say I really appreciate your english language facts. Keeps my language in line. There's nothing more embarrassing than using the wrong word (and I'm so sure I've done it a few times). And Giada...well...she's just probably the happiest person I've ever seen.
Thanks for the reminders - I don't know if I knew the difference between use / utilize! One that people use incorrectly that my attention was brought to is bring / take. You bring something here, you take something there. "I'll take my apple to work tomorrow." "Could you bring me that book?"
Michelle, I make plenty of grammar/language mistakes myself! I like to blame it on the fact that I'm ESL. ;) As for Giada, I really adore her; I think she's gorgeous and is a great cook...and boy can she smile!
Sherrie, ooh, thanks for reminding me about bring/take! I've been guilty of mangling that before. :)
My brain hurts.
I'm still a dope and would completely forget how to use them properly in a sentence. LOL!
Love the funny, it fits Girl lately
What a good post. I am in my last week of work (Communications Director) before I sal buh-bye to take care of my kids full-time and these little rules made me smile. After 8 years of editing our company's publications, these really made me smile. The Giada bit is a hoot, to boot.
Okay, the farther and further definition was good, but why does this one still confuse me after so many years and after I've read the definition one too many times? That's a tough one. :)
The one that always challenges me is effect and affect... That picture is too darn funny!
What was the middle bit again? :-)
My brain hurts - I'm so busy I don't know if I'm coming or going, which is not like me at all. I'm usually a very leisurely person :)
Thank you for the linky love - that still makes me laugh when I see it. I had no idea it was a famous person when I posted it!
post more like this! i learned this type of word knowledge in school... and i need to be reminded... it's there somewhere in my brain... we just need to do some excavating : )
Man, Giada really uses all her teeth when she smiles.
And when she says spa-geeeeee-tee.
Ah! I can't handle all the words. I had a total melt down yesterday when my spell checker was highlighting misspelled words, but wouldn't give me suggestions.
Now I know who was the poster child for those "after" pics in my ortho's office.
So reading a cover letter, she says she "would utilize my previous experience....to help the department run smoothly." That's the wrong use of the term, right?
great post!
I found your blog from the Gracefruit´s blog.. Thank a lot for your kind words.. I noticed that you do have very interesting blog.. I will come back.. :)
Great post Teresa! I'm with Maureen it's effect versus affect that stumps me at times....
Hugs
I am a total grammar geek. And I think I like Exuberance...all the time. Beats the heck out of depression. :-)
LOL, you guys! And I'm sorry if I hurt some of your brains. ;D
Affect/effect is a good one. I have it memorized, but you'll catch me reciting the definitions when I hear it to remember which it is. :}
Teri, true, I'd rather be grinning than crying.
I'm just FINALLY getting to sit and get to all my comments and I'm THRILLED that you're my first one of the day. This was awesome!
My biggist ish is when people say they want to loose weight. I scream inside.
ROFLOL at the Giada pic. I happen to LOVE her at a ten!! Could be because I'm an 8.5 myself. :) :) :) See?
Great post!
I'll be careful about those words now - I was surprised about farther/further, I must admit, but not so much bout the others. Besides, it makes me feel better to find out that native speakers make these mistakes as well.
About farther and further. According to some sources, you can use one or the other fr distance, but only further for other meanings. Strict distinction might be more American than British (my personal guessing).
(Merriam Webster:
Farther and further have been used more or less interchangeably throughout most of their history, but currently they are showing signs of diverging. As adverbs they continue to be used interchangeably whenever spatial, temporal, or metaphorical distance is involved. But where there is no notion of distance, further is used ...)
Bassackwards, thanks for visiting!
Crunchy, I adore Giada; I find nothing wrong with her "10" either. LOL!
Minka, thanks for the update on farther/further! I am fascinating by both etymology and the continued evolution of words! :)
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