I hear "vast majority" so often that I think it's time we develop a societal consensus on how large a majority needs to be before it can be considered "vast." (Hint: 51 percent is not "vast.")
I would like to start the negotiations by suggesting something like 88 percent. Thoughts?
CNN says candidate Bob Barr will raise $40 to $45 million, which it then refers to as "eight times less than what Obama is expected to raise." References to "n times less" seem nonsensical to me. Can someone make an argument in its favor? How does one do the math to determine what $45 million is eight times less than?
Comments by efg
efg commented on the word make no mistake
I blame George W. Bush for the popularity of this inane phrase in recent years.
August 11, 2008
efg commented on the word vast majority
I hear "vast majority" so often that I think it's time we develop a societal consensus on how large a majority needs to be before it can be considered "vast." (Hint: 51 percent is not "vast.")
I would like to start the negotiations by suggesting something like 88 percent. Thoughts?
July 7, 2008
efg commented on the word times less
CNN says candidate Bob Barr will raise $40 to $45 million, which it then refers to as "eight times less than what Obama is expected to raise." References to "n times less" seem nonsensical to me. Can someone make an argument in its favor? How does one do the math to determine what $45 million is eight times less than?
July 1, 2008
efg commented on the word incredibly
This seems to be a recently popular substitute for "very."
June 24, 2008