Fewer 'carbs'

[ESquared]

The word carbohydrate functions in English as a substance like fat or water or sugar. Thus one must use units with numeric values to describe an amount of that substance: five grams of carbohydrate, not five carbohydrates. This latter construction seems to imply five carbohydrates of different molecular structure and does not state the amount or quantity of any.

Thus I take exception to the popular notation I've lately seen such as "only 5 carbs per serving!" I dare say that the food so advertised may consist of exactly five different molecules deserving the name carbohydrate, but I find it unlikely and object that it certainly does not clearly state the intended meaning.

I hereby propose that all persons everywhere immediately apply this correction to their writing and speech, and henceforth render their advertising and other blips in the form "only 5 carb grams per serving!" or "only 5g carb per serving!"

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

P.S. This situation reminds me of the imaginary doughnut shop which advertises "fat free" doughnuts not because their product contains no fat but because they simply do not charge for the fat contained therein.

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• Every joy is beyond all others. The fruit we are eating is always the best fruit of all.
• It is waking that understands sleep and not sleep that understands waking. There is an ignorance of evil that comes from being young: there is a darker ignorance that comes from doing it, as men by sleeping lose the k

 

[ESquared]

That reminds me of the term "semantic infiltration." It means to deliberately use words or phrases with the spin you want, in the hopes of getting your opponents to use those words. By adopting your own language, they begin to lose the argument without even knowing it.

For example:

Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life

why not

Pro-Death, Anti-Life
Anti-Choice, Pro-Fiat (have a better word?)

The very words used attempt to frame the issue. If you use the other side's words, your semantics have been infiltrated.

 

[CajunCenturion]

tgreer - Yes, you are correct. The "N" begins with the 'e' vowel sound.

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[tgreer]

So it's "an NPR story", but it's "a NASA press release".

While we're on the topic of pet peeves, how many today watched the inauguration of the President of the "YOOnited States of Mairka" today?

Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[TTF]

E2,
I know that and I said I speak odd - I should of add I write oddly too sometimes.
But you know what is funny, at my every job I am always chosen to write documentation, isn't it crazy? I am keep wondering if this is an honor or punishement? :-D

But I think for 10 years being in this country I am doing ok, and I am always open to suggestions and critics, even from kids (if they were born here), so you guys can correct me every time if you wish and it's free
My native is Ukrainian for those who wondering.
Happy Friday!

 

[tsdragon]

The reason it's "an NPR story" and "a NASA story" is that in the former you say "an En Pee Are story" and in the latter you say "a Nasa story". If you changed the way you pronouce the acronyms it would be a different story: "a Nipper story" or "an En Ay Ess Ay story".

Speaking of unintelligible Texans: I lived in Texas for about two years when I was in grammar school. I don't recall most Texans I was around speaking that badly. He's bad even for a Texan!

Somewhere in Texas there's a village missing an idiot.

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[ESquared]

The original thought in this thread is kind of lost.

May we start a new thread to discuss other issues, please?

 

[Stella740pl]

TTF,

So Ukrainian, not Russian is your first language. It used to be second for me - not any more. Started to forget it a while ago; I'm also here for 10 years, and speak mostly Russian at home and mostly English at work. Ukrainian got squeezed out.

And I am also open to suggestions even from kids, even those not born here. Say, my older daughter, who was not born here, but got through most of the school here, and is good at languages. Although I can also give her some good suggestions, not only in Russian, but in English, too.

Sorry, ESquared!