Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 2076-2080 (Dec. 12-16, 2011)
pwhodges:
The rule, such as it is, is not maintained consistently. English speakers quite often get the choice wrong (if merely using the less common need be considered wrong at all). In a few cases, the use of un- and in- distinguishes two different meanings (there's an obvious example, which I can't recall - I'll add it here if it pops into my mind).
[edit] The example I was trying for is in fact different: uninterested and disinterested - so that claim may be wrong.
Sidhekin:
"unto" and "into"?
<grin,duck,run>
Edit: Seriously though, examples like "informed" vs "unformed", "insure" vs "unsure", or "invoiced" vs "unvoiced" are using the other Latin prefix "in-", not the negating one.
Others, like "insubstantial" vs "unsubstantial" seem synonymous enough – just that one was negated by Romance speakers before export to English, while the other was negated by English speakers after import from Romance languages.
But yeah, I should not be surprised if there turns out to be an example of real difference. English is a living language, and a free one – it cares not for our rules.
pwhodges:
But those aren't prefixes. Or rather, un is not in that case, but in- is a different (also Latin) prefix from in- meaning not, in this case the prefix being the same as the one in inflame or inter (bury).
Throg:
--- Quote from: Soulsynger on 15 Dec 2011, 07:13 ---
--- Quote from: Throg on 15 Dec 2011, 07:04 ---E.g., Padma saying something like "You wanna be with me? You? Dude, you have no prospects. You're floating through life. And that's just not attractive for the long term. It was fun. See ya."
--- Quote from: snubnose on 15 Dec 2011, 07:07 ---You're harsh, and I dont know for what reason. What do you expect Marten to do ?
--- End quote ---
(Its just imaginary harshness)
... and at least get a revelation from it. Realizing would be the first step. A decline in attractiveness when you have nothing going on in your life is a very real thing.
... on the other hand, Faye and some other cast members have equally little going on in their life for the long run but we never complain about them. I wonder why.
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
@snubnose: Just because it's harsh doesn't mean it can't be helpful and positive.
@Soulsynger: you know, that's a damn good point. Faye has been much more cavalier about the possibility of working on her art/sculpture (the strip where she's balancing a sword on her nose comes to mind). On the other hand, you can argue that Faye does at least have the possibility of a wealthy art gallery owner interested in her work.
Carl-E:
--- Quote from: Loki on 15 Dec 2011, 09:07 ---Dude. Is there a rule on when to use in- and when to use un- for negating adverbs/adjectives? I keep confusing the two.
--- End quote ---
Such a rule is unknown.
Jefferson and Adams disagreed about the inalienable/unalienable rights of man as mentioned in the declaration of independence.
Actually, not about the rights themselves, just the spelling...
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