'Serendipity' was the word of the year in 1981

[Ladyazh]

Hi,
may I ask your help on using one word 'serendipity' in a sentence that actually make sense and easy to understand?

Unlike these I am trying to read and my brain hurts:

Still, I was more subject to serendipity than I yet knew. Soon risk, chance, and a letter from Sir Alun Reese-Jones, the Master of Trinity, my college at Cambridge, were to set my life on an adventurous course.
-- David Freeman, One of Us

Yet even as I planned a rough route, leaving plenty of room for serendipity, I was uncomfortably aware that journeys have a way of creating their own momentum.
-- Lesley Hazleton, Driving To Detroit

There again, perhaps because of serendipity, or an especially conscientious team of doctors, it can also happen that the crucial clues are noticed and recorded for posterity.
-- Edward Hooper, The River

 

[SilentAiche]

If you were looking for your folks in the attic, I hesitate to think what other surprise you might have found...

Ooh, this could get religious: your father above, the mother superior, angles above us (sorry, that one had to do with rafters, not raptures).

Tim

[blue]_______________________________________________________
"As a former farmer, I try to grow the best formers around."[/blue]

 

[SantaMufasa]

Looks like Tim is "cruisin' for a bruisin' " as "Punmeister for September". (So far, Tim leads for the month, I'd say.)

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[Ladyazh]

There was the person who sent twenty different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh.
No pun in ten did.

 

[rjoubert]

BOOOOOOO!!!

 

[Scott24x7]

Peronally, I would list serendipity as one of the most misused, over pedantic words in the English language. Eraticate it from your vocaulary, it only makes you look like either a) an over zelous school girl, or b) someone trying to sound "smarter" then they are.

The worst examplie I can think of for its usage was:

Neophyte serendipity!

(i.e. beginners luck...)


Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Yes. Me think smalling your word list is double-plus good!



[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ181-2886 before posting.

 

[Ladyazh]

Thanks TheManiac, I am officialy exused from using this word ever, am I not? So is this my 'serendipity' moment?

 

[Scott24x7]

anotherhiggins,
I'm not suggesting NOT increasing one's vocabulary... I am suggesting some words just shouldn't be used, ever. They may have had a time and place at one stage, but as the English language evolves, some go to the way side. Haven't heard anyone use the word "ephemeral" in the last 20 years either, unless they were trying to "impress" beyond their capability.
I just find serendipity to be a frequently abused word by those who think they sound smarter then they are...

Ladyazh, I'd say you can live the rest of your life and not need to know how to use this word in a sentance... it's not going to stop you from being mugged, and likely isn't obscure enough to score you the top question on "Who Wants to be a Millionare"



Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[SantaMufasa]

Scott,

I know that there have been times that I, too, have hit the [Submit] button without first clicking [Preview Post] and then proofreading my post, but MAI is the one forum where we can (and should) expect a little teasing from our buddies when we forget to proofread. So, here are my teases:

"...over pedantic words": should be "over-pedantic words".
"...Eraticate": Rodent extermination?
"...over zelous school girl": should be "over-zealous...".
"...someone trying to sound "smarter" then they are": should be "...someone trying to sound "smarter" than he or she is"
"beginners luck": should be "beginner's luck"

...Trying to be smarter than I am, I remain...

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[rjoubert]

And let's not forget...The worst examplie???

 

[rjoubert]

And...vocaulary

 

[SantaMufasa]

Geez, my editing is slipping...

...and I'm hoping that Scott will accept our jostling with the spirit of "fun in friendship" that we intend it.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[Ladyazh]

You guys are so bad ?

 

[rjoubert]

Is that actually a question? Oh great, now we have to correct punctuation too!

 

[Ladyazh]

It is internet punctuation. It means I assume you are bad but I can be wrong so I am letting you know that I am questioning my own assumption.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> internet punctuation

???

--------------
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[Scott24x7]

In my defence, it was about 2:30 in the morning (in my world, or peice thereof) when I posted that, and I'd been up since 6:00am the previous day... so as long as people get what I mean, I'm not too fussed about knowing that what I already know, which is I cant' spell... and if this site had a spell checker I would use it. Sometimes I copy and paste them into Word and let it do it for me, but I just couldn't be bothered.

So, go on, fire away. I can take it. (Usually).


Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Google's Toolbar has a built in Spelling Check tool.

[Cheers]

 

[Scott24x7]

Yes, I know, but I really don't want to install it...


Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."