Friday Wisdom – English

Posted on 02/25/2022 by Andrew Reynolds

English language is weird. You’ve likely see the coffee mug saying:

“i before e — Except when your foreign neighbor Keith received eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters. Weird.”

You can buy the mug and teeshirt – it’s only a google away. Other interesting things:

You fill in a form by filling it out.

The startled dove dove into a bush.

I was given a gift – I did not object to the object.

The farmer worked the land to produce produce.

Boxing rings are square.

Noses run. Feet smell.

You recite at a play, but play at a recital.

Ships transport cargo but trucks deliver shipments.

Pineapples have neither pine nor apples.

Wise man and wise guy mean different things.

Interestingly, fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing.

The plural of tooth is teeth. Shouldn’t the plural of booth be beeth?

About Andrew Reynolds

Born in California Did the school thing studying electronics, computers, release engineering and literary criticism. I worked in the high tech world doing software release engineering and am now retired. Then I got prostate cancer. Now I am a blogger and work in my wood shop doing scroll saw work and marquetry.
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24 Responses to Friday Wisdom – English

  1. TalkingToucan says:
    03/14/2022 at 8:02 am

    This is such a fun look at the inconsistencies of the English language (and an easy way to learn some exceptions to a widely-taught spelling rule). Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. ParentingIsFunny says:
    03/03/2022 at 9:07 pm

    The English language is totally weird. These were fun, Andrew. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Dave says:
    02/27/2022 at 8:52 am

    I agree with the earlier comment. After reading this list I’m relieved English is my native language. In other words, I second it’s not my second.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Bridgette says:
    02/27/2022 at 7:34 am

    I read this fun piece out loud to my kids and we all laughed. Brilliant!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Baydreamer says:
    02/26/2022 at 4:23 pm

    That last one was hilarious! It’s a wonder anyone learns the English language at all!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Mama's Empty Nest says:
    02/26/2022 at 9:23 am

    Yep, and that’s why so many folks from other countries say English is hard to learn.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. jfwknifton says:
    02/26/2022 at 12:06 am

    And the plural of “moose” would be “mice” which would be wonderfully confusing, but not too often here in Merrye Englande.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Diane Henders says:
    02/25/2022 at 2:46 pm

    English is a constant source of amusement (and incredulous head-shaking). Thanks for the chuckles!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Jacqui Murray says:
    02/25/2022 at 12:40 pm

    When you don’t go outside the house to work, days of the week can get confusing. I thank you for always posting this article on Fridays. It reminds me that Friday has arrived. Tomorrow, I write blogs, and Sunday I rest.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. pIEdTyPe says:
    02/25/2022 at 11:02 am

    Love this! I’ve always been grateful that I was born in an English-speaking country instead of having to learn English as a second language. Ugh!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Bette A. Stevens says:
    02/25/2022 at 9:53 am

    Words of wisdom! 😎

    Liked by 1 person

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