[Lexicog] Law of Synonyms

[David Frank]

If you are going to complain about the singular use of "phenomena," then you ought to include "data" and "media" while you're at it.

-- David Frank

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Benjamin Barrett 
  To: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:55 AM
  Subject: Re: [Lexicog] Law of Synonyms


  I think someone on the American Dialect Society once noted that agenda used to be a plural noun. Surely, that jarred many people's ears when it made the transition. Younger people don't seem to be bothered by the plural forms homeworks and slangs. You simply cannot stop this sort of linguistic change! BB


  On Oct 15, 2008, at 8:45 AM, bolstar1 wrote:


    SIDE BAR: I've given up counting how often people misuse the 
    term "phenomenon" vs. "phenomena." I cringe when I hear someone (esp. 
    a scholar) say something like, "Now this is an infrequent phenomena." 
    How can we cure this ear-pain? 

    Scott Nelson

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