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Ciel
When it comes to 'alright', I have to agree with CCT! In the final analysis, much of language is conventional, and is subject to a miriad of influences. We no longer spell the way the early Victorians did, and we have created words in staggering numbers since. I suspect 'alright' was inevitable...
posted by
Nautikos
on November 28, 2014 at 5:46 AM
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Re: CCT,
It is sad to know that dictionaries back up 'alright.' It may be that the preponderance of mis-usage has tipped the balance from simply wrong and ignorant, to acceptible. That is how language changes. All the same, I would never use it, and when I see it, it doesn't seem to me gentle, it seems wrong.
I'm glad you like this blog! Thanks!
posted by
Ciel
on November 22, 2014 at 10:03 AM
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Well there are two words Ciel, but when one word is used
it is usually spelled as alright according to The Oxford English dictionary.
Five dictionaries list it as alright but graciously admit that to some it is perceived as the wrong spelling. I think in certain circumstances it makes more sense. It is not so aggressive if I say to you Alright! Ciel, it is kind of gentle. If I say All right! it is like a slap in the kisser were I come from. Nethertheless it is great how you explain these errors.I really like this blog.
I
posted by
C_C_T
on November 22, 2014 at 7:41 AM
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Re: Re: Re: CCT,
It still isn't a word.
posted by
Ciel
on November 22, 2014 at 6:34 AM
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Re: Re: CCT,
It may not be grammatical Ciel but do you feel alright? If you were all right you would not have a left side.
posted by
C_C_T
on November 22, 2014 at 12:21 AM
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Re: JimmyA,
"Ain't" was proper usage some years back, and "aren't" is a lame alternative. Why would anyone, knowing better, ever use 'alright' ?
posted by
Ciel
on November 20, 2014 at 7:11 PM
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Re: CCT,
No need to use it in any sentences, formal or informal! That 'u' is a matter of your English vs American English, not a mistake but I can certainly see why it bothers the eye.
posted by
Ciel
on November 20, 2014 at 7:09 PM
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I must admit, I usually use alright instead of all right, but then again, I sometimes use ain't too! It could be worse. Whatever . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on November 20, 2014 at 1:19 PM
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Probably should not be used in formal sentences Ciel. What about all the words where you ommit the u. color, valor etc. it always sounds bad to me. Not that I can spell a monkeys.
posted by
C_C_T
on November 20, 2014 at 12:10 PM
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Re: FormerStudentIntern,
Things like that come about because of general ignorance: a word or term or concept is misused and those who don't know any better continue to use it that way. For instance, a 'split personality' is not the same as 'multiple personalities,' it is something quite different: the split of a person's awareness from reality. It is a term describing schizophrenia. It's easy to see how that mistake fell into general use, but it is still wrong no matter how many people use it.
Such distinctions should be taught in grade school, and maybe they are... but many Americans have not learned what they should have in grade school, and are to one degree or another, illiterate.
Text-speak doesn't help.
posted by
Ciel
on November 19, 2014 at 1:07 PM
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I wonder how it came to be where "alright" was so widely accepted.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on November 18, 2014 at 5:09 PM
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This really does remind me of the vampire grammarian book we had
in the early '80s for an English class. I love those things. Also had a journalism teacher named Nora Baker, former news writer for the other St. Louis paper - went out of business leaving only the Post-Dispatch - but she was death on anyone who used the wrong forms of the words you just shared. Also the sound-alikes like sight/site/cite...
posted by
Pat_B
on November 18, 2014 at 4:57 PM
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