New eggcorn?

[Jonathan Lighter]

The presumed eggcorn seems to be "formally" for 'formerly."

JL

On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 11:20 AM, Baker, John <JMB at stradley.com> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John" <JMB at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      Re: New eggcorn?
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>
>        I don't think it's an error.  I believe the sense is that,
> although the U.S. government is an ally of the Pakistani government, the
> Pakistani people think of the U.S. not as the ally it officially is, but
> as an enemy.
>
>
> John Baker
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> Of Bill Palmer
> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 10:43 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: New eggcorn?
>
> McClatchy Newspapers reports today that "Pakistanis regard the U.S.,
> *formally* a close ally,...as a hostile power."
>
> I do not find this in the DB, which seems remarkable, as it seems like a
> very common error. Did I not look far enough?
>
> Given the state of the profession today, I am not surprised to see this
> transgression committed by the "journalisterati".  Thanks and credit to
> Wilson G for the idea for this coinage.
>
> Bill Palmer
>
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