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I don't know about the person who started this thread, but I find that confused, throat-clearing, "We messed up, but with the best of intentions" mess absolutel

I don't know about the person who started this thread, but I find that confused, throat-clearing, "We messed up, but with the best of intentions" mess absolutely delightful. As a child, I got very into etymology, and my father loved bursting my bubble by doubting that anyone knew any of it for sure. I think we were both enjoying different sides of that fanciful, egotistical guesswork.

eesmith 5y ago
You might also like Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage. Ad copy: "A handy guide to problems of confused or disputed usage based on the critically acclaimed Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Over 2,000 entries explain the background and basis of usage controversies and offer expert advice and recommendations." A copy is available from archive.org: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877796336 https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877796336 (The full one might be too - I have a copy of the concise one so that's what I know about.)