April 29th, 2004

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Words
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Waiting With Bated Breath

I often see ‘bated breath’ written as ‘baited breath’. I can see how that happens: you hear the term, and the only word you know that sounds like ‘bated’ is ‘baited’. It makes a certain amount of sense, too, imagining a person waiting with bait in his or her mouth for some form of prey to come by and wander in.

Of course, it’s not ‘baited’ breath, but ‘bated’ breath, as in ‘abated’. Merriam-Webster assures me that the word comes from Middle English. The term ‘bated breath’ means ‘with restrained breath’, a perfect description of the state in which you sit holding your breath listening intently for any sound.

It’s also a good description of the state I’m in as I wait to see if another of the Guest Bloggers (we are a motley crue) breaks the ice and posts something. Anything… come on… Darren’s only here for another day…

I guess I’ll have to jump in. By way of introduction, my name is Dean Cochrane. I am currently a software developer, but am an aspiring (and as yet unpublished) writer. I, like probably ten percent of the people you meet, have a novel in the works. I am a semi-veteran blogger, and a genuine net veteran. I can remember using a beta version of Mosaic and thinking “Hey, this could really catch on!”.

I don’t remember where I came across a reference to Darren’s blog, but I linked it and continue to read it because it’s literate, wide-ranging, and generally interesting. Hopefully I can give a little back.

Oh, one other thing: my pet peeves, English-language-wise, are possessive its and the i before e rule.

Comments: 17 Responses so far

Ellewiz
April 29th, 2004
9:00 am

THANK you. I’m a huge “its/it’s” peever!!! It seems like no one gives a damn about this rule at all anymore! There is a guy in my company who sends out messages WORLDWIDE with incorrect “its” and “it’s” all the time. I’ve tried to correct him before, but clearly I’m falling on deaf ears. Sheesh.

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Sue
April 29th, 2004
9:22 am

I often read newspaper articles with bated breath to see if politicians or executives will be handing over the “reigns” of power to anyone. I wonder, when did they get divine right? Shouldn’t they in fact be passing the “reins” of power?

I don’t know who’s responsible for copy editing at newspapers and magazines anymore, but the entire profession needs a collective slap upside the head.

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Karen Reply:
September 11th, 2009 at 1:38 pm

Well, when you add into the mix the amazingly high number of vetted journalists and writers who actually make up their “true” works, it gets even scarier. I’ve been noticing a higher incidence of proofing errors in the books I’ve been purchasing. Did the publishing houses cut down on their proofreaders because of the bad economy?

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Meghan
April 29th, 2004
10:27 am

Welcome, Dean. You sparked a comment over on my blog (old man), though you must be prepared for bad punctuation (and perhaps spelling) if you venture over.

Have fun while the cat is away.

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alan
April 29th, 2004
11:58 am

I also see a lot of people spelling Weird as “Wierd” which would be an exception to the i before e rule. Another peeve - people who use “blackmail” and “bribe” interchangeably. As if!

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col
April 29th, 2004
12:12 pm

ahhh language pet peeves…you’re/your drives me nuts!

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alison
April 29th, 2004
12:34 pm

your you’re
there their they’re
too to (i see this one far too often, thankfully we rarely see a missed used two)
a lot (two words people, two words)

but i have to admit i am fall pray to the i/e rule. there are so many exceptions, i almost never get it right. especially when spelling weird.

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Rog
April 30th, 2004
12:44 am

and of course my pet peeve is people who start sentences with and, incorrect CAPS usage, poor grammar, punctuation and spelling, not to forget run-on sentences.

No, actually I’m lying. I don’t have any pet peeves about spelling, grammar, caps usage.

I do bristle a bit however when writers get all superior and post it/it’s your/you’re pet peeves while making plenty of ‘errors’ themselves for the sake of trendiness (~ahem~ I count two posters in all lowercase).

Writers aren’t supposed to have those pet peeves. We’re supposed to be aware of the English language as a fluid device, a tool for our own use, amusement and communication. That’s all it is folks, a tool. Follow the set of rules that you feel are best, but please stop acting all high and mighty towards others.

The only ones who should be so anal about the rules are the editors and grade 2 english teachers.

In other words: lighten up.

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Darren James Harkness
April 30th, 2004
11:28 am

On the second page of Neal Stephenson’s _Snow Crash_, I actually read the words “roll model”.

Bad proofreader!

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Jeff
March 22nd, 2007
3:43 pm

“Supposebly” vs. “supposedly” grates my ears. I’ve yet to read it in print, but I hear it quite often.

“Supposebly” is in fact a word, and its meaning is more than tangentially similar to “supposedly.” But, unless I read the dictionary wrong, “supposebly” means that something is ‘able to be supposed,’ while “supposedly” means that something is alleged to have transpired.

Both ‘meanings’ are my paraphrases. Am I close to plucking out the heart of the distinction? Any thoughts?

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Karen Reply:
September 11th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

I thank you for the correction and origination. As a teacher, and human being, I’ve been concerned w/my students “conversating” instead of “conversing” with each other. After railing against this for more than a decade, I’m now rooting for it to be included in the annual dictionary update. English is fantastic because it IS such a plastic, living language.

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Janey
May 31st, 2008
9:14 am

Nice. I’ve been playing Frozen Throne and I thiink it’s so hot when the Naga siren’s say “I’m waiting with baited breath” or “Hey, sailor”

Hehehe. It’s a cute take on the phrase, indeed.

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David
September 24th, 2008
9:49 am

Oh finally, someone to clear up and explain the “bated breath” line. Thank you!

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Sean Reply:
December 10th, 2008 at 1:05 pm

did you know it’s “toe the line”, not “tow the line”?

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Brian
February 13th, 2009
7:25 am

I googled everywhere for baited breath…I was quickly revised to the spelling of bated breath…but the only person who seemed to clarify it immediatley was your blog…so I wanted to ease your breathing…with that long awaited blog entry (my first ever).

Your cite, its simply amazing i cant beleive it…their is humor in that some wear rite? keep it up…and I will improve…believe it or not ;-)

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Jon Beaupre
August 4th, 2009
6:49 pm

Darren, great discussion on linguistics and syntax, but I have to tweak you just a little: in your posting you write “I, like probably ten percent of the people you meet,…” - if you miss the commas - easy to do here - your sentence means you probably admire only a tenth of my friends. Of course, I like ALL of my friends, and you should too!

There are so many of this missed idioms. As a college professor, I get a million of them. How about the script that described a character as having ‘a blank stair on her face…’, or the lovely description of wearing ‘Pat-and-leather shoes…’

Jon Proud-to-be-a-good-ROLL-model Beaupre

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Rory's Solar Power Hosting
October 6th, 2009
1:03 am

Lol @ Jon … that’s correct and a very funny observation. There’s so much bad spelling, grammar, punctuation etc these days. The kids grow up not knowing the basics. They know the txt speak though!

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