Thursday, January 18, 2007
New King Canute Versus the Linguistic Tide (Pt. 1)
It's probably much too late to make a stand against this, but the word 'hopefully' is being misused all the time. It's an adverb which should mean that the actor in the sentence was full of hope when the action was taken. The modern mis-usage has it replacing 'One would hope' or 'I would hope,' as in "Hopefully, the sun will come out today." The sun isn't hoping for anything. The speaker is hoping the sun comes out--own up to it.
Here is a proper usage: "Hopefully, I ask my girlfriend to marry me, because I hope that she will say yes."
Try to write better, you all.
Here is a proper usage: "Hopefully, I ask my girlfriend to marry me, because I hope that she will say yes."
Try to write better, you all.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 2:38 PM 
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Only 44% of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel (which reads like a Who's Who of writers) accept the use of "hopefully" as "It is to be hoped."
# posted by 
: 4:34 PM
: 4:34 PM
But we're losing big time. (wide use of the word 'we'--I'm certainly not in the Who's Who of writers).
The usage you lament is an entirely standard use of a sentence adverb. It has a long history of use in literate English. Decry it all you like, but it's in the same category as split infinitives and ending sentences with prepositions*.
The only reason to avoid any of these is if you are writing for an audience taught by poorly educated prescriptivists. Regrettably**, such audiences are common.
* All of which are perfectly proper English.
** Yep; that was intentional.
The only reason to avoid any of these is if you are writing for an audience taught by poorly educated prescriptivists. Regrettably**, such audiences are common.
* All of which are perfectly proper English.
** Yep; that was intentional.
Doug,
I just finished watching DU lose to U of M on Saturday evening. George Gwozdecky, the DU coach, was wearing a cahlk striped suit and a checked shirt. Your argument regarding usage reminds me of his attire. Although some people might find it acceptable, people who know how to dress would not.
T
I just finished watching DU lose to U of M on Saturday evening. George Gwozdecky, the DU coach, was wearing a cahlk striped suit and a checked shirt. Your argument regarding usage reminds me of his attire. Although some people might find it acceptable, people who know how to dress would not.
T
# posted by : 7:34 PM
: 7:34 PM
Tony, the Dolce and Gabana of Parker, Colorado, gets it right in an extended metaphor of fashion and speech. I couldn't have written that comment, Tony, well done.
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