(3) Facebook rants to make you think about bad English vs good English (9-10)

Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 9: When are we going to realise that "ofcourse, atleast, inspite, infact, incase" are TWO words? Today's ToI has "infact" in the lead story in the business section.

November 18 at 10:41am

• Varun Chhabria, Sijo John and Bala Murali Krishna like this.

• Shiv Sujir Of course it will take people at least some time to get it because a large per cent don't even realise their mistake. In fact, many of them make these mistakes in spite of knowing them. November 18 at 10:57am 

Saurav Sen As many would say, the situation on the ground is "much more worse"! :-)

November 18 at 12:30pm 

Patrick Michael And when are we going to make out the difference between its and it's. A very common error among many journalists in spite of repeated reminders. Of course, they always know better, or at least they think they do. In fact, I've given up asking them to correct it. I just do it myself.

November 18 at 4:53pm 

Ramesh Prabhu How right you are, Pat. That was going to be one of my rants.

November 18 at 4:54pm 

Saurav Sen ‎@Patrick: Bingo. Asking a candidate to frame a sentence each with its and it's...is the very first question i have always asked a candidate. And I do feel like keeping a chunk of wall on the table to hit my head against!

November 18 at 4:54pm 

Patrick Michael

While we are at it, more words that bug most. Amid, Amidst. What's the difference? The other words is estranged. Ever heard of a couple who are living apart say they are estranged?? Strange are the words we use.
Again, Hospitalized - Bathrooms get sanitized. Shirts get Martinized. People do not get hospitalized. They’re in the hospital!!!!

November 18 at 5:26pm 

Suthan Kokila not withstanding, paradigm shift .....

November 18 at 6:46pm  

Ramesh Prabhu

Pat: Both 'amid' and 'amidst' have the same meaning, but, to my ears, 'amid' sounds modern, 'amidst' sounds archaic. That is why the style sheet of our college newspaper, Your Opinion, recommends 'amid'. Similarly I prefer 'among', not 'amongst'; 'while', not 'whilst'; 'between', not 'betwixt'.

I didn't get the example you have given for 'estranged'. A couple living apart because they can't stand each other or because they have quarrelled may be said to have become 'estranged'.

Here's a definition and example from Dictionary.com:

to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of: Their quarrel estranged the two friends.

As for 'hospitalize', I know where you're coming from, but this word is in all standard dictionaries and has now become acceptable in formal writing, whether we like it or not.

Here's a definition and example from Dictionary.com. Also check out the 'origin' bit:

–verb (used with object), -ized, -iz·ing.
to place in a hospital for medical care or observation: The doctor hospitalized grandfather as soon as she checked his heart.

Also, especially British, hos·pi·tal·ise.

Origin:
1900–05; hospital + -ize

—Related forms
re·hos·pi·tal·ize, verb (used with object), -ized, -iz·ing.
un·hos·pi·tal·ized, adjective

November 19 at 10:36am 

Ramesh Prabhu

Kokila: 'Notwithstanding' can usually be replaced by 'despite' or 'in spite of'. Here's a usage note from Dictionary.com:

'Notwithstanding', 'despite', 'in spite of' imply that something is true even though there are obstacles or opposing conditions. The three expressions may be used practically interchangeably. 'Notwithstanding' suggests, however, a hindrance of some kind: Notwithstanding the long delay, I shall still go. 'Despite' indicates that there is an active opposition: Despite procrastination and disorganization, they finished the project. 'In spite of' implies meeting strong opposing forces or circumstances that must be taken into account: She succeeded in spite of many discouragements.

As for 'paradigm shift', this cockamamie expression is a gift to us from the jargon-loving IT industry. I don't allow it in the college newspaper.See More

November 19 at 10:44am 

Suthan Kokila Yup. Good stuff. Your rants have made me sit up and watch the words I use. It's also the only time I have made an effort to look at my FB page ... and comment! :-)

November 25 at 5:20pm

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Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 10: What's with "wee hours"? In two related stories on Page 1 of DNA today, H.M. Chaithanya Swamy writes about an accident that happened "in the wee hours of Wednesday". Mr Swamy, please read "Indlish", by Jyoti Sanyal — scroll down this post to learn why you should not use words and expressions from pre-Victorian literature in a news report. November 19 at 10:52am

Dipankar Paul Mr Swamy's English maybe alright if people read this and find no errors! :P

November 19 at 12:01pm

Ramesh Prabhu ‎"Alright" and "may be/maybe" are going to be upcoming rants, Deep. Thanks!

November 19 at 3:14pm