5 ms·

Since when is "for cheap" the right way to say things. Ugh.

Stampo00 5y ago
According to Google Books Ngram Viewer, the first recorded usage of the phrase "for cheap" was noted in 1672, although that could be part of a longer phrase like "for cheap food". Usage peaked in 1876. I'm willing to bet that at least some of that usage mirrors how the author is using it. In conclusion, "for cheap" has been the "right way to say things" since before either of us were born. https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=for+cheap&year_start=1500&year_end=2019&corpus=26&smoothing=3&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cfor%20cheap%3B%2Cc0 https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=for+cheap&year...
- pbhjpbhj 5y ago
  >In conclusion, "for cheap" has been the "right way to say things" since [...] // The more people that get it wrong the righter (sic) it is! :eyeroll:
  - Stampo00 5y ago
    Why aren't you speaking Old English?
    - pbhjpbhj 5y ago
      I'm guessing you're accusing me of prescriptivism -- OE of a bad choice, spelling and grammar were basically anarchy (Latin might have been a better choice?). I'm not a proscriptivist, language use changes but I don't believe majority usage is automatically correct.
      - Stampo00 5y ago
        If those using the language don't decide what's "correct" (whatever that means), who does? If the person listening can understand the meaning the speaker was trying to convey, that's as correct as it can be. You don't have to like it. But who are you to declare something objectively right or wrong?
onecommentman 5y ago
The construction “oh, for X” (like “oh, for cute”, “oh, for fun”) is in current use in Minnesota. https://www.hercampus.com/school/minnesota/9-phrases-only-minnesotans-use/ https://www.hercampus.com/school/minnesota/9-phrases-only-mi... The construction “on the cheap” is also in current usage. Even the phrase “Taking digital X-rays cheap” would work in modern American English. Oh, for picky.
wiml 5y ago
It seems like a straightforward generalization from "for free" (which itself might be a generalization from "for ten dollars"?). Does "for free" also sound wrong to you? If not, can you put your finger on what the difference is?
- geocrasher 5y ago
  I think you are correct, but for some reason it sounds discordant to my sensibilities. Maybe my sensibilities just aren't that sensible? It'll take a while to get used to 'for cheap' being considered proper. However, this use is in fact supported: adverb: cheap at or for a low price. "a house that was going cheap" "going cheap" sounds okay to me but "for cheap" doesn't, but I suppose that's just all in my head :)

According to Google Books Ngram Viewer, the first recorded usage of the phrase "for cheap" was noted in 1672, although that could be part of a longer phrase like "for cheap food". Usage peaked in 1876. I'm willing to bet that at least some of that usage mirrors how the author is using it. In conclusion, "for cheap" has been the "right way to say things" since before either of us were born. https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=for+cheap&year_start=1500&year_end=2019&corpus=26&smoothing=3&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cfor%20cheap%3B%2Cc0 https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=for+cheap&year...

pbhjpbhj 5y ago
>In conclusion, "for cheap" has been the "right way to say things" since [...] // The more people that get it wrong the righter (sic) it is! :eyeroll:
- Stampo00 5y ago
  Why aren't you speaking Old English?
  - pbhjpbhj 5y ago
    I'm guessing you're accusing me of prescriptivism -- OE of a bad choice, spelling and grammar were basically anarchy (Latin might have been a better choice?). I'm not a proscriptivist, language use changes but I don't believe majority usage is automatically correct.
    - Stampo00 5y ago
      If those using the language don't decide what's "correct" (whatever that means), who does? If the person listening can understand the meaning the speaker was trying to convey, that's as correct as it can be. You don't have to like it. But who are you to declare something objectively right or wrong?

onecommentman 5y ago

The construction “oh, for X” (like “oh, for cute”, “oh, for fun”) is in current use in Minnesota. https://www.hercampus.com/school/minnesota/9-phrases-only-minnesotans-use/ https://www.hercampus.com/school/minnesota/9-phrases-only-mi... The construction “on the cheap” is also in current usage. Even the phrase “Taking digital X-rays cheap” would work in modern American English. Oh, for picky.

wiml 5y ago

It seems like a straightforward generalization from "for free" (which itself might be a generalization from "for ten dollars"?). Does "for free" also sound wrong to you? If not, can you put your finger on what the difference is?

geocrasher 5y ago
I think you are correct, but for some reason it sounds discordant to my sensibilities. Maybe my sensibilities just aren't that sensible? It'll take a while to get used to 'for cheap' being considered proper. However, this use is in fact supported: adverb: cheap at or for a low price. "a house that was going cheap" "going cheap" sounds okay to me but "for cheap" doesn't, but I suppose that's just all in my head :)