pedant noun ped·ant ˈpe-dᵊnt a: one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge b: one who makes a show of knowledge c: a formalist or precisionist in teaching - ThreadSky

readerofbannedbook.bsky.social • 186 days ago

pedant
noun
ped·ant ˈpe-dᵊnt
a: one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge
b: one who makes a show of knowledge
c: a formalist or precisionist in teaching

Comments

harrylind.bsky.social•186 days ago

Reminds me of a poem i read in junior college:

“The sun rising” by john donne.

“Saucy pedantic wretch” is the line that I remember.

readerofbannedbook.bsky.social•186 days ago

I'm fond of Saucy pedantic wretches.

paperdan.bsky.social•186 days ago

So am I a pedant for using words that I incorrectly assume other people know? Words like cogent, Luddite and pedant?

kerndaly.bsky.social•186 days ago

Love the tip to Fowler's

dylanjcb.bsky.social•186 days ago

Grammar is the act of describing language conventions, not of proscribing language rules. The conventions have an important role. Like all language use, divergence from the conventions should be a deliberate choice, one which effectuates the conveyance of meaning rather than obstructs it. 1/2

dylanjcb.bsky.social•186 days ago

Meaning in language is multi-layered. It’s not merely the semantic content of the string of words. It is also in the form, the tone, the context, the audience, the author. Formalisms convey meaning. Colloquialisms convey meaning. Typos convey meaning. Inattentive use of language says something. 2/3

dylanjcb.bsky.social•186 days ago

This poem is effective b/c the author made a considered choice to reject formalism for the purpose of criticizing formalism; it enhances the message rather than obstructs it. In other contexts, typos can convey human foibles, or convey lazy writing or sloppy thinking. Be intentional with language.

leganto.bsky.social•185 days ago

Had Tom Lehrer been an English professor, he would have written this

desiderata3.bsky.social•186 days ago

👏👏👏

regjoe.bsky.social•186 days ago

d. that butthead in your comments that makes you shake your head and mutter, ''really?" before you hit the block button.
HEY WAIT A MINUTE WHY IS YOUR FINGER HOVERING OVER THE BLOCK BUTTON I WAS JUST POINTING SOMETHING OUT1

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