Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Perd Hapley on February 19, 2007, 10:32:10 AM

Title: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 19, 2007, 10:32:10 AM

When did the approved spelling of rediculous change?  I've been spelling it with two i's for years, but apparently I'm out of date.  What caused this?  Is it because people pronounce it ree-dik-you-lis?  Or is it because people pronounce it redd-dik-you-lis? 

Around here, people seem to pronounce it with two i's, just as I used to spell it.

Good thing I've got the internet to keep me straight.   

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: cosine on February 19, 2007, 10:35:43 AM

I've always spelled it "ridiculous." (Well, except for maybe a few times when I wasn't paying attention.)

I've also always pronounced it "ri (short "i") dik-you-lis."

Those are the ways I was taught to spell and pronounce it.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Jamisjockey on February 19, 2007, 12:53:25 PM

I typed "rediculous" into yahoo search, and the first thing that came up was "did you mean ridiculous"?
 
For Ridiculous, the first entry that came up was dictionary.com's definition of said word.  I then typed rediculous into dictionary.com
No results found for rediculous.
Did you mean ridiculous (in dictionary) or Redickulous (in encyclopedia)?
 

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: tyme on February 19, 2007, 01:25:49 PM

I think he's sarcastically complaining about the popular misspelling of the word, rather than the official spelling.  It's hardly the only word that's been mangled by some combination of sloth, stupidity, and the horrid public education system.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Iain on February 19, 2007, 01:50:46 PM

I am fairly sure I have mentioned this one on the previous grammar nazi threads we have had. Hate it.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: doczinn on February 19, 2007, 03:49:20 PM

Well, if enough people glom onto the "e" spelling, eventually it will be a legitimate, correct spelling of the word. If enough people then forget the "i" spelling, the new word will be the only correct one.

That's how it works.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Lee on February 19, 2007, 03:57:51 PM

Hey, that's how it should work...why should dead people get to create all the rules?  Rooles is rooles.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Gewehr98 on February 19, 2007, 03:58:23 PM

Quote

When did the approved spelling of rediculous change?

When?  Right about the same time that "probably" was changed to "prolly".   

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 19, 2007, 05:51:37 PM

I only bring it up because it seems to be universal on THR, and I can't figure out why so many people should spell it that way.   What would suggest that spelling to so many people?  I've never seen "redicule" on THR, unless perhaps scopes were being discussed.  But I guess such people don't realize that ridicule and ridiculous are connected. 

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: wingnutx on February 19, 2007, 06:35:09 PM

Should be easy enough to get correct. Just think of the root word, "ridicule".

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: HankB on February 20, 2007, 03:49:27 AM

Wun wonzerz abbout thu levul uv speling abiliti uv thu posturz hier att APS. Ay cee uh LOTT uv badd speling.

Sumtimez itt iz juct badd tieping, bot uh LOTT uv peepul juct kant spel.

Ay kan spel gud, bot Ay amm uh badd tiepist.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 20, 2007, 03:53:35 AM

Clean up in Reply #10.  Clean up in Reply #10.   

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: MechAg94 on February 20, 2007, 04:19:59 AM

I notice message boards are starting to include spell check so that will help those of us who have trouble.

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: Cromlech on February 20, 2007, 04:57:03 AM

For those that have a hard time remembering how to spell the word, just remember that it is based on the word 'ridicule'.

Ri (as in 'Rip', minus the 'p') + dic (as in 'Dick') + u (yoo) + lous (should sounds like a cross between the 'lus' in the word 'Lust' and 'loose').

Ridiculous. 
 

Title: Re: Rediculous but true.
Post by: RocketMan on February 20, 2007, 05:01:34 AM

Noone cares about them speling rooles, obveously.
(Noone for "No one" being a pet peeve of mine.)