Dallas Jayson Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 "There's a lot to unpack" ugh! + azdr0710 and Luv2play 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 (edited) I really tense up when I see the words "firstly, secondly, thirdly" used. It is good enough to use "first", "second", and "third" in your writing. The "ly" is superfluous. You tense up easily. Some other opinions from some cunning linguists: https://www.quora.com/Which-is-better-first-second-or-firstly-secondly-I-drew-up-a-few-principles-such-as-“Firstly-be-polite-"Secondly-be-attentive-when-others-are-talking%E2%80%9D Ameer Ali, C1- Advanced Level English Certification by British Council Author has 1.1K answers and 2.2M answer views ‘First/second’ and ‘Firstly/secondly’ can both be used as adverbs with the following difference : Just to indicate the positions in a sequence, the “First/second ” combination is used. e.g. She came first ( not firstly) and he came second (not secondly ) in the music competition. To describe things, ideas, reasons, etc. in a series, “Firstly/secondly” combination is used : e.g The purpose of the study tour is, firstly ( not first ) to collect plant specimens, and secondly ( not second ) to have fun. Even though some people argue that the “First/second ” combination can also be used to describe the series effect, in my personal opinion, the use of “Firstly/secondly” combination has a more powerful and stress effect in the above context. The various combinations that are in current use are : i) First … secondly … thirdly … ii) Firstly … secondly … thirdly … iii) First … second … third … However, the one option that is not acceptable is : Firstly … second … third … Between ‘First’ and ‘Firstly’, of course, ‘First’ sounds more natural and less verbose. So, in the instant case, the sentence modified as, “First, be polite. Secondly, be attentive when others are talking”, would be more appropriate." Edited March 15, 2021 by Unicorn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 "Paul Larkin, Author at Self-published Author (2012-present) Author has 6.9K answers and 3.6M answer views Hi Lynch, Good question. Both first and firstly are correct. firstly, secondly etc are the more formal versions. First can be an adjective or an adverb and refers to the person or thing that comes before all others in order, time, amount, quality or importance: What’s the name of the first person who walked on the moon? (adjective) Beth always arrives first at meetings. (adverb) We often use first, especially in writing, to show the order of the points we want to make. When we are making lists, we can use first or firstly. Firstly is more formal than first: Dear Mr Yates First(ly) I would like to thank you for your kind offer of a job …" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonman Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 "Look," used to start a sentence. I'm hearing more and more of this on TV when commentators are interviewed, the answer to every question starts with "Look." (Biden does it too.) MiamiLooker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayCeeKy Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 (edited) "Look," used to start a sentence. I'm hearing more and more of this on TV when commentators are interviewed, the answer to every question starts with "Look." (Biden does it too.) I also have noticed that Biden does indeed use "Look" at the beginning of many answers, esp when he doesn't like the question. I have tried to analyze why so many politicians use this useless word ("Omit needless words." says Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, page 12). It seems to be a rhetorical device, similar to "Listen" for gaining and holding attention and for asserting authority in advance of emphasizing a point. It's like saying "Listen, I am going to say something very important, so pay attention!" As you noted, it is a viral crutch that seems to be spreading throughout media. Edited March 29, 2021 by JayCeeKy + Charlie and MiamiLooker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcman Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Republican Democrat + azdr0710, + Vegas_Millennial, + Tygerscent and 1 other 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becket Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 I am literally sick of people using literally incorrectly. It literally made me puke. And what literally made me even sicker was some dictionary literally "OKed" the use of the word literally to mean NOT literally. I kid you not. Literally. + Vegas_Millennial, jeezifonly, + azdr0710 and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonman Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 I am literally sick of people using literally incorrectly. It literally made me puke. And what literally made me even sicker was some dictionary literally "OKed" the use of the word literally to mean NOT literally. I kid you not. Literally. There have been so many marvelous posts on this forum over time, but this one may possibly be the best. Literally.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayCeeKy Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 And what literally made me even sicker was some dictionary literally "OKed" the use of the word literally to mean NOT literally. Figuratively speaking, you hit the nail on its head. + Charlie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonman Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Figuratively speaking, you hit the nail on the head. He literally hit the nail on its literal head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonman Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 "Paradigm shift" Why do "digms" come in pairs, and why are they always shifting? + azdr0710 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCClient Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Figuratively speaking, you hit the nail on its head. But there is still a lot to unpack. + azdr0710 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islesguy Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 I also have noticed that Biden does indeed use "Look" at the beginning of many answers, esp when he doesn't like the question. I have tried to analyze why so many politicians use this useless word ("Omit needless words." says Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, page 12). It seems to be a rhetorical device, similar to "Listen" for gaining and holding attention and for asserting authority in advance of emphasizing a point. It's like saying "Listen, I am going to say something very important, so pay attention!" As you noted, it is a viral crutch that seems to be spreading throughout media. If I begin a sentence with "listen", I am very uncomfortable with what I am about to say. MiamiLooker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 ‘Living his/her best life”. + azdr0710 and marylander1940 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luv2play Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 On 4/20/2021 at 12:58 AM, Islesguy said: If I begin a sentence with "listen", I am very uncomfortable with what I am about to say. When my mother would start a sentence with, "Look buster", I knew I was in for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ azdr0710 Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Lazarus said: ‘Living his/her best life”. I'd like to know how many times Oprah has used "live your best life" on magazine covers, TV promos, website ads, etc. Edited June 14, 2021 by azdr0710 marylander1940 and lonely_john 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kippy Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 Santa Oprahana has spoken... + Tygerscent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ Axiom2001 Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 I abhor the overuse of "I love it"-- "you guys"-- "Oh, my god!" ..."like" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ azdr0710 Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) our news team unpacks the story Edited August 20, 2021 by azdr0710 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeezifonly Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Look and so at the beginning of a statement are not dictionary uses of the words. “Look,” would require reference to a visual aid such as a chart or graph to support the point. ”So,” would indicate a summation in reference to a previously mentioned assertion. They are used in place of “Um…” and “uh” which are used as a stall for gathering thought. “Look” when spoken by a politician could also be standing in for the less polite, “sh-eeee-it” + azdr0710 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ FreshFluff Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) The use of “Having said that,” to mean “Furthermore” instead of the opposite Edited August 21, 2021 by FreshFluff + azdr0710 and jeezifonly 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ FreshFluff Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 5 hours ago, jeezifonly said: Look and so at the beginning of a statement are not dictionary uses of the words. “Look,” would require reference to a visual aid such as a chart or graph to support the point. ”So,” would indicate a summation in reference to a previously mentioned assertion. They are used in place of “Um…” and “uh” which are used as a stall for gathering thought. “Look” when spoken by a politician could also be standing in for the less polite, “sh-eeee-it” Intellectual types like using “So..” this way. + azdr0710 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ FreshFluff Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 6 hours ago, azdr0710 said: our news team unpacks the story Oh my god + azdr0710 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ E.T.Bass Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 8 hours ago, jeezifonly said: Look and so at the beginning of a statement are not dictionary uses of the words. “Look,” would require reference to a visual aid such as a chart or graph to support the point. ”So,” would indicate a summation in reference to a previously mentioned assertion. They are used in place of “Um…” and “uh” which are used as a stall for gathering thought. “Look” when spoken by a politician could also be standing in for the less polite, “sh-eeee-it” One can use "so" to help indicate a consequence, and is especially helpful when the audience isn't as clever as we here in the forum. jeezifonly and marylander1940 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ FreshFluff Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) There’s a manner of speaking that I would ban if I were the language Taliban. It involves assigning responsibility or intent evenly to all parties involved even when it’s clearly inappropriate to do so. “They tried to save the marriage”=One of them cheated while the other begged him/her to stay “The group drifted apart”=Three of them decided to stop speaking to the fourth People often use this tactic to save face. I find that it’s common among straight women who are more invested in their relationships than their partners. Edited August 21, 2021 by FreshFluff + Charlie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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