You're absolutely right, though, that people do not have gender.
Tom Send a noteboard - 02/06/2010 01:42:10 PM
I accept that language evolves. On the other hand, that doesn't excuse people to just ignore every language rule ever created, ESPECIALLY when it's a rule that most people follow. It's standard for people to say "minutiae" (which is, incidentally, correct). It's also common to see "octopi" (Tim, shudder a bit) so I might not correct that.
In order for you to invoke the "language evolves" argument, you have to show that people are commonly making the mistake, as opposed to show that ONE PERSON commonly makes the mistake.
In order for you to invoke the "language evolves" argument, you have to show that people are commonly making the mistake, as opposed to show that ONE PERSON commonly makes the mistake.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Excruciatingly painful minutia of my life
- 02/06/2010 12:00:19 AM
685 Views
It's "minutiae" - otherwise it's in the singular. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 12:36:54 AM
188 Views
Not really. The English usage/spelling of the word is minutia.
- 02/06/2010 12:44:06 AM
394 Views
~pulls up a lawn chair with cold drinks and popcorn and settles in~ *NM*
- 02/06/2010 12:47:15 AM
189 Views
LOL
- 02/06/2010 12:52:44 AM
388 Views
I'd say "stadia" and "podia" if for some reason I were inclined to make those words plural.
- 02/06/2010 05:00:53 AM
425 Views
I didn't say that they were the same usage rules.
- 02/06/2010 06:18:53 AM
419 Views
You're absolutely right, though, that people do not have gender.
- 02/06/2010 01:42:10 PM
419 Views
Don't people have both gender (social construct) and sex (biological fact)? *NM*
- 02/06/2010 11:25:36 PM
195 Views
No, people do not have a gender.
- 03/06/2010 12:16:18 AM
391 Views
The OED doesn't give any example of "minutia" being used as plural. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 12:53:23 AM
173 Views
I didn't consult the OED. I feel sad for you that you felt the need to do so.
- 02/06/2010 12:58:12 AM
602 Views
I think the point is that most people use "minutiae" and never use the singular.
- 02/06/2010 01:02:22 AM
374 Views
Of course it has more entries.
- 02/06/2010 01:12:31 AM
394 Views
let me see if I've got this....
- 02/06/2010 01:23:55 AM
582 Views
You won't be laughing when I release that licking sex picture to the mediums!
- 02/06/2010 01:27:39 AM
404 Views
What will the mediums do? Commune with the ghost of Buddy Holly to get his opinion? *NM*
- 02/06/2010 01:43:35 AM
182 Views
No, the Big Bopper. You know it's him when he says "Hello, baby!" *NM*
- 02/06/2010 05:16:57 AM
166 Views
Pronunciation in Latin
- 02/06/2010 03:15:10 AM
407 Views
I'm a classics student. Consulting dictionaries is beyond habit and approaching compulsion.
- 02/06/2010 02:08:45 AM
408 Views
A sex addiction would be much more pleasurable compulsion, y'know.
- 02/06/2010 02:32:51 AM
532 Views
The two aren't mutually exclusive, just kinky. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 04:09:50 AM
180 Views
I think you should use the OED to find out the definition of kinky.
- 02/06/2010 04:25:32 AM
409 Views
You don't think a dictionary fetish is kinky? Buddy, I don't think I'm the one needing the OED. 
*NM*
- 02/06/2010 05:20:55 AM
190 Views
*NM*
- 02/06/2010 05:20:55 AM
190 Views
Bitch, that ain't kinky. It's just....odd. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 06:28:25 AM
161 Views
Re: I'm a classics student. Consulting dictionaries is beyond habit and approaching compulsion.
- 02/06/2010 04:58:28 AM
405 Views
It may surprise you to learn that not all of my friends are classics students.
- 02/06/2010 05:21:24 AM
384 Views
- 02/06/2010 05:21:24 AM
384 Views
The other thing is that people don't know how to pronounce the difference between the two.
- 02/06/2010 03:12:10 AM
367 Views