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Saturday, June 18, 2011

What's Wrong With "amidst" and "amongst"?

They're archaic, old, ancient, outdated, old-fashioned, obsolete. Need I say more?

11 comments:

romancer@comcast.com said...

The dictionary says it's alright to use the s-t words. They're cute!

The Grammar Anarchist said...

Hey, this is what I'm anarching about! Whenever I hear, "the dictionary says..." I have to ask, "And who wrote the dictionary?" and "which dictionary?" Like other "authoritative" books, dictionaries offer opposing ideas. Look it up! (Not "alright", but "all right"! The dictionary says so.)

romander@comcast.com said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
romancer@comcast.com said...

Ouch! But dost thou nay considerest “whilst” and “couldst” and “wouldst” as appropriate when writing about the knights of old?

The Grammar Anarchist said...

Only if you use ALL the Middle English, which nobody would understand today. Pick and choose your words carefully.

Jodi S. said...

While they may be old and outdated, there are certainly times when they still fulfill a need, a time when they fit better than their shorter versions. I also like whilst. The English we speak is American English, but still, I hate to see good words set aside or replaced with improper ones! "Free to set our own rules." I think not! : )

The Grammar Anarchist said...

Tell me, what are "proper" and "improper" words? and who decides? If they're proper for you, then use them. I'm setting my own rules -- for me!

Bonnie C. said...

They're romantic and beautiful for scene setting, as well as setting an omniscient narrative voice apart from dialog. Hemingway-style writing isn't for everyone.

The Grammar Anarchist said...

You are so right! Hemingway had his style; I have my style; and I'll bet you have yours. And that's the way the literary world outta work!

Lola P. said...

For me they carry an implication of vitality and motion while "among" and "amid" feel more static.

The Grammar Anarchist said...

That's what my anarchy is about: create your own limits, guidelines, words, based on how you feel about them, and NOT on how somebody else's style book tells you to.