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> I'm really weary about this change, it should be tested before anything. It's "wary" not "weary" [1]. Normally, I'm not a grammar Nazi, but I've been seeing

by jnbiche 10y ago

> I'm really weary about this change, it should be tested before anything. It's "wary" not "weary" [1]. Normally, I'm not a grammar Nazi, but I've been seeing this mistake more and more on HN. The word "weary" means tired, whereas "wary" means cautious or on guard. By the way, I'm also wary about these changes. I think multidisciplinary classes are great, but that you need a strong base before you can implement 100% cross-/multi-disciplinary classrooms. 1. http://grammarist.com/usage/wary-weary/ http://grammarist.com/usage/wary-weary/

harperlee 10y ago
Thanks for pointing this out, because ESL readers as me, when shown an error repeatedly, start confounding the good version and the bad one. The worst part is that it is subtle: you understand what it's meant, noone mentions it, and something in your brain accepts it as a fact. My fiancee is French and whenever she speaks (an almost perfect) Spanish, I always make the effort to repeat back errors she makes, in the correct form, without interrupting the dialog. On the medium term, that single act works wonders. I suggest that as a subtle alternative to pointing out errors, that can also be handy!
- jnbiche 10y ago
  > I always make the effort to repeat back errors she makes, in the correct form, without interrupting the dialog. This is a good approach. I even use the same technique with my very young child, who still makes mistakes with English irregular verbs.
dibstern 10y ago
because ESL readers like myself... you understand what is meant by the mistake in speech, and it goes unmentioned, so something... *In the medium term... :) By the way, your English is far better than my Spanish... ;)
naasking 10y ago
> I think multidisciplinary classes are great, but that you need a strong base before you can implement 100% cross-/multi-disciplinary classrooms. I think the perceived separation between subjects is largely artificial. English and math seem pretty separate, until you get into discrete math and algebra and you realise formal systems are just languages with grammars, syntax, etc. Nearly everything we learn is multidisciplinary. Sometimes it might be an advantage to focus on specific topics in isolation, but it should always be placed in a wider context to properly understand it.
groovy2shoes 10y ago
A little bit of etymology helps me remember the difference. "Wary" stems from the same root as "beware" and "aware". Going back further in time, it can also be connected to "ward", "warden", and "guard". On the other hand, "weary" stems from "wear", as in "wear and tear", "to wear down", and "this weather has been wearing on me".

by jnbiche 10y ago

harperlee 10y ago

Thanks for pointing this out, because ESL readers as me, when shown an error repeatedly, start confounding the good version and the bad one. The worst part is that it is subtle: you understand what it's meant, noone mentions it, and something in your brain accepts it as a fact. My fiancee is French and whenever she speaks (an almost perfect) Spanish, I always make the effort to repeat back errors she makes, in the correct form, without interrupting the dialog. On the medium term, that single act works wonders. I suggest that as a subtle alternative to pointing out errors, that can also be handy!

jnbiche 10y ago
> I always make the effort to repeat back errors she makes, in the correct form, without interrupting the dialog. This is a good approach. I even use the same technique with my very young child, who still makes mistakes with English irregular verbs.

dibstern 10y ago

because ESL readers like myself... you understand what is meant by the mistake in speech, and it goes unmentioned, so something... *In the medium term... :) By the way, your English is far better than my Spanish... ;)

naasking 10y ago

> I think multidisciplinary classes are great, but that you need a strong base before you can implement 100% cross-/multi-disciplinary classrooms. I think the perceived separation between subjects is largely artificial. English and math seem pretty separate, until you get into discrete math and algebra and you realise formal systems are just languages with grammars, syntax, etc. Nearly everything we learn is multidisciplinary. Sometimes it might be an advantage to focus on specific topics in isolation, but it should always be placed in a wider context to properly understand it.

groovy2shoes 10y ago

A little bit of etymology helps me remember the difference. "Wary" stems from the same root as "beware" and "aware". Going back further in time, it can also be connected to "ward", "warden", and "guard". On the other hand, "weary" stems from "wear", as in "wear and tear", "to wear down", and "this weather has been wearing on me".