Paging All Youse Grammar Police - HELP!

lashbear · 11-30-2009, 01:13 AM

Hi all !

Here is a sentence from an Agatha Christie novel [referring to the properties of Curare]:

"It is a very swift and rapid poison"

What is the grammatical term for using two adjectives with identical meaning in the same sentence? Stoat and I can't think of the term, and it's driving us insane.

Morrigoon · 11-30-2009, 05:09 AM

So I googled it, and the answer is "tautology".

lashbear · 11-30-2009, 05:36 AM

Bum, why couldn't we find that ?

thank you so much - you're been beneficially helpfully of use to us !!

Cadaverous Pallor · 11-30-2009, 08:44 AM

I'm trying to think of some minute sliver of distinction between the words "swift" and "rapid".

Moonliner · 11-30-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I'm trying to think of some minute sliver of distinction between the words "swift" and "rapid".

I suppose a poison could be swift to be absorbed into the blood stream but slow to act on the system... So in this case it would be swift to be absorbed and quick to act.

Kevy Baby · 11-30-2009, 09:06 AM

Another word that comes to mind is "redundant"

Ghoulish Delight · 11-30-2009, 09:37 AM

Redundant and repetitive.

SzczerbiakManiac · 11-30-2009, 10:31 AM

I have another grammar question. One of our more annoying directors sent out a banal Thanksgiving e-mail last week which included this sentence:

"Perhaps all of us can get passed the big dinner and look forward for the opportunities ahead to be grateful."

Am I correct in thinking he should have used "past" instead of "passed"? Or is that a perfectly cromulent sentence?

Ghoulish Delight · 11-30-2009, 10:34 AM

Past.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-30-2009, 10:34 AM

Unless he was hoping someone would pass the entire dinner to him from the other end of the table.

11-30-2009, 01:13 AM	#1
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	Paging All Youse Grammar Police - HELP! Hi all ! Here is a sentence from an Agatha Christie novel [referring to the properties of Curare]: "It is a very swift and rapid poison" What is the grammatical term for using two adjectives with identical meaning in the same sentence? Stoat and I can't think of the term, and it's driving us insane. __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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11-30-2009, 05:09 AM	#2
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	So I googled it, and the answer is "tautology". __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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11-30-2009, 05:36 AM	#3
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	Bum, why couldn't we find that ? thank you so much - you're been beneficially helpfully of use to us !! __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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11-30-2009, 08:44 AM	#4
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	I'm trying to think of some minute sliver of distinction between the words "swift" and "rapid". __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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11-30-2009, 09:06 AM	#6
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	Another word that comes to mind is "redundant" __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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11-30-2009, 09:37 AM	#7
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Redundant and repetitive. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-30-2009, 10:31 AM	#8
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	I have another grammar question. One of our more annoying directors sent out a banal Thanksgiving e-mail last week which included this sentence: "Perhaps all of us can get passed the big dinner and look forward for the opportunities ahead to be grateful." Am I correct in thinking he should have used "past" instead of "passed"? Or is that a perfectly cromulent sentence? __________________
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11-30-2009, 10:34 AM	#9
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Past. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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