(4) Facebook rants to make you think about bad English vs good English (11-15)

•  A question on usage from my good friend and former Khaleej Times colleague:
  
  Ajith Varma I am enjoying your rants, sometimes a bit late, but, nevertheless do not miss it, and try to correct myself. I am a little confused about the usage, 'having said that', which I have often heard, specially during a speech, but could not effectively use in my own conversations during a meeting. I like that usage, but do not know if only Indians say so, and if its proper to use. Could you please throw some light on that and give us a few examples, through one of your forthcoming rants? Regards
  November 19 at 4:34pm
  
   
  Ramesh Prabhu
  

  You can use "having said that" at the beginning of a sentence to perhaps soften the impact of what you have said in your previous sentence.
  
  For example, a media critic might say, "I hate what The Times of India management has done to journalism in this country with its marketing tactics. Having said that, I must admit I have nothing but respect for ToI's journalists."
  
  Here's a usage note from UsingEnglish.com:
  
  By Davy B.C.N.
  "Having said that" is a linking phrase or conjunction which people use in different ways to join two clauses. It is quite general and can be used to replace other conjunctions, but I tend to use it when I want to put the opposite view or qualify what I said in the first clause. It is better used at the beginning when the second clause is a new sentence.
  
  I love teaching English. However/Having said that/On the other hand, students can be annoying!
  
  London is a very expensive city. Having said that/Nevertheless I love living there.

  
  

  November 19 at 6:32pm ·

   
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    Ajith Varma Thank you Ramesh. Great, i got it. Its a powerful conjunction if used appropriately. There are a few more like this, which I need to know. When it bothers i will come to you. Having said that, I wouldnt even mind to barge into your classroom, on the sly, conveniently forgetting my age and qualification, as it would be a fantastic experience!!!
    

    
    

    November 19 at 6:36pm

    
    

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    Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 11: Strapline in Bangalore Mirror: "After clinching India's second gold, Bajarang Lal hopes that government will now come to the aide of rowers". Do BM subs not know the difference between "aide" and "aid"? And do they not know the difference between "prostrate" and "prostate"? A story about prostate enlargement problems referred to the gland as the "prostrate" in the headline, photo caption, text.

    November 22 at 11:05am

    
    

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      Asif Ullah Khan likes this.
      
      

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      Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 12: Why do we say "bored of (something)" when we should say "bored with (something)"?

      
      

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      Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 13: Why do we write "(sound) byte" when it should be "(sound) bite"?
      
      UNACCEPTABLE: "Basu makes literary reporting easy — when you meet him, he converses in convenient bytes." Interview/review, Page 58, Tehelka, Nov. 20
      
      ACCEPTABLE: "It might take decades before mankind's overactive output of text has been converted into bytes." Article on e-book readers, Page 50, Tehelka, Nov. 20

      November 24 at 10:31am

      
      

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        Sneha Abraham likes this.
        
        

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        Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 14: Why do we write "upliftment (of society)" when it should be "uplift (of society)"?

        November 25 at 10:30am 

        
        
        

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          Sheela Bhat and Sneha Abraham like this.
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            Suthan Kokila Hey Ramesh,
            

            I enjoy your rants.... please publish the whole collection in a book form. I will be the first to buy it.
            

            November 25 at 5:11pm ·
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            Suthan Kokila correction.. publish a book (not book form... LOL)
            

            
            

            November 25 at 5:12pm ·
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            Patrick Michael
            

            Why do we say Held Talks" - “The President and the British Prime Minister held talks at the White House.” Here's one good argument I read and I agree with it:
            
            "When you and your co-workers gather in the conference room, are you “holding talks”? When you call someone into your office, is it to “hold talks”? And when you can’t get in to see the boss, does his secretary say he’s “holding talks?” A meeting is a meeting is a meeting. People meet. Even in the White House."
            Amen to that.

            
            

            November 25 at 6:06pm

    
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    Ramesh Prabhu Rant No. 15: Why don't we know the difference between alternate/alternately and alternative/alternatively? Here is a DNA announcement from the After Hrs. section: "Foodscape and Barcode will now appear alternatively every Thursday". Shouldn't that be "alternately"? 
    November 26 at 12:36pm