TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Reply to: RE>>homophones
Bonni writes:
How about "for all intensive purposes" rather than "intents and purposes".
GRRR
Ahh. Now there's one I've probably been guilty of, at least in speaking. I'm
not sure if it's the use of computers, or just the rate of change in the
language (which computers might well contribute to). Many of the items
mentioned or that have appeared on the list ('chopping at the bit') are
phrases that have been 'popularized' and used outside of their original
context. If you don't know where a phrase originated, it makes just as much
sense to you mangled-you understand the popular meaning, as do most of the
people you're speaking/writing to. Communication still happens. It's a
different case than simple homophone confusion (there, their, they're), it's
probably more related to the game we played as kids where you start whispering
an unfamiliar phrase around a circle & an entirely different phrase comes back
to you.
