Small Rant: REVEAL is not a NOUN!

[Eclectic Dreck]

While we're on the topic of words, here's a fun one: "trivial".

I don't often encounter a misuse of this word. Of late, I've heard it most often in the exploration of systems of linear equations, where a homogeneous system will always have a trivial solution. Given that said solution is simply zero (and doesn't really tell you anything useful) and its universal nature, to call it trivial is perfectly valid.

 

[Eponet]

The noun form of "reveal" is "REVELATION". Perhaps it has a negative connotation because it's the English name for the book of the Bible that prophesies the end of the world. I don't really care what perceived religious undertones the word has.

And the adjective form of fantasy is fantastic, but I wouldn't call Two Worlds a fantastic game.

XD

That was absolutely perfect, I've actually been hitting that stumbling block occasionally when describing things.

 

[[guys_its_ok]]

Isn't it transitive? Like, I think Big does that to verbs, or maybe it's the took? I think it might actually be the possessive word or something, I don't know... I just mean like, I took a big jump, took a big step, vs I can step, or you can't jump. Transitive, right? I don't know....

The English Language, ladies and gentlemen!

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

Since this is predominately an American forum

"Predominantly", as long as we're being grammar Nazis.

Someone else has already covered "effect" being both a noun and a verb, but I wanted to mention that "affect" can also be a noun: "Psychiatry. an expressed or observed emotional response: Restricted, flat, or blunted affect may be a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia."

Finally:

]Isn't it transitive? Like, I think Big does that to verbs, or maybe it's the took?

A transitive verb is one that takes a direct object. Adjectives like "big" don't really affect them, since they're modifying nouns.

 

[Deleted]

I even hear the sainted MovieBob say this...it isn't proper English to say "big reveal". "Reveal" was intended to be a verb, not a noun. I didn't actually hear people start saying this until Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but it might have started earlier. I don't care. It's just a constant pet peeve gnawing at my grammar-Nazi gut every time someone refers to a "reveal".

The noun form of "reveal" is "REVELATION". Perhaps it has a negative connotation because it's the English name for the book of the Bible that prophesies the end of the world. I don't really care what perceived religious undertones the word has. I just want people to start using it again! It's imbecilic, improper blather, and it needs to stop!

DONE. *Rage*

Lots of verbs can be used as nouns and it would make sense. It doesn't have to the in the Merriam-Webster dictionary to be an official word.

 

[WittyInfidel]

I admit this is stupid...but so are most pet peeves. It just nibbles at me. I've always been a grammar Nazi, and it really shows here.

*clicks boot heels together, raises hand* HEIL WEBSTER!

Oh, don't get me started on Webster. They have made slang terms an official part of the English language now. Words that will be added, if they were not added in 2010, are: lol, wtf, meh, sexting, and the ever popular rofl.

Yes, leet-speak is officially being adopted. The language hasn't just evolved, it has derped.

/dies inside

 

[gl1koz3]

Language adapting itself. Get over it.

I can't believe governments even have special branches that deal with language preservation. Most useless purpose ever.

If a language serves well, it's self-preserving.

 

[Guest_Star]

My amusement turned into horror when I realized you weren't joking. Reminds me of an old thread where some guys were posting about how 'decimate' actually meant 'to reduce by one-tenth', completely ignoring a couple odd thousand years of language evolution.

Depends.
If they were ranting cuz people also use "decimate" for situations where the reduction is some other faction than 1/10 they were anal gits.
On the other hand, if they were complaining about the misuse of "decimate" in lieu of "utterly destroy" or "annhililate", they were in their right and should be lauded as stalwart defenders of all that's right and proper.

 

[AngryMongoose]

I admit this is stupid...but so are most pet peeves. It just nibbles at me. I've always been a grammar Nazi, and it really shows here.

Not just stupid, but also wrong. Hey, that's another thing you share with Nazis.

Also, it can refer to a part of a car or something, which is definitely a noun.

 

[Elle-Jai]

Since this is predominately an American forum

"Predominantly", as long as we're being grammar Nazis.

I knew that didn't look right!!! I swear I was a better speller when I was in grade three (prior to spell check, when my family kept a dictionary next to the table for purposes of spelling and definition :S)

I'll remember it now

 

[dthvirus]

My amusement turned into horror when I realized you weren't joking. Reminds me of an old thread where some guys were posting about how 'decimate' actually meant 'to reduce by one-tenth', completely ignoring a couple odd thousand years of language evolution.

Depends.
If they were ranting cuz people also use "decimate" for situations where the reduction is some other faction than 1/10 they were anal gits.
On the other hand, if they were complaining about the misuse of "decimate" in lieu of "utterly destroy" or "annhililate", they were in their right and should be lauded as stalwart defenders of all that's right and proper.

'decimate' is undergoing evolution. Go and read a news article or a book and see how they use the word. The old definition is dying slowly. It'd be amazing if someone was taught the proper definition of the word in modern society. I doubt the first time a child heard the word he or she would get the 'reduce by one-tenth' definition instead of the unofficial 'destroy/annihilate' one.

 

[Something Amyss]

"Reveal" has been a noun for decades. Cope.

 

[strum4h]

rightio then, lets just eliminate that word and every other new word that arrises... THEN lets go back and eliminate all the words shakespeare invented that are now part of common parlance... death to change!

Then we would be one step closer to be using newspeak. and that would be doubleplusgood.

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

People understand what you mean when you say it. So then its acceptable in my book. It may not be proper, but who cares.

 

[oktalist]

That is a correct use of the verb to effect. To effect a change; to bring about a change; to cause a change to occur.

...affect.

you can affect change through actions, but change is the effect of your actions. get it?

"affect" is a verb.
"effect" is a noun.

People usually use "effect" for both because they don't know (or care) that there're actually two words with near-identical pronunciation conveying a similar meaning.

You should for seriously learn some grammarz if you're going to be a grammar nazi.

I direct your attention to your nearest dictionary [http://www.wordnik.com/].

Affect is a verb meaning to influence or act upon. Affect is a noun meaning a show of affection. The verb affect and the noun affect are homonyms.

Effect is a verb meaning to achieve or cause to happen. Effect is a noun meaning a manifestation or a result. The verb effect and the noun effect are homonyms.

Spoiler: Also this