Sir: Two words people often confuse are "dispurse," which means to pay money out, and "disburse," which means to scatter. I have figured out how to tell them apart. "Dispurse" means to open your purse, so it means to pay out. Thus "disburse" means to scatter. Thanks to this memory crutch, I never confuse the two. What do you think of my system?
- S.G.
Answer: It's fine, except that you're wrong in one spelling and both definitions. It's "disperse," not "dispurse," and the "perse" means scatter, so that word means to scatter, not to pay out. And the "burse" in "disburse" means "purse," so that word means to pay out, not to scatter. Still, you came close!
Incidentally, the first syllable in "bursitis" also means purse. Maybe you can remember the words that way. Good luck.
Sir: The common use of "moot" confuses me. The dictionary defines it as meaning debatable or open to discussion, but when Ross Perot departed from the election race at first, some observers stated that a three-way presidential race had become a "moot point." As it obviously became only a two-way race after his departure, what is there to debate?
- P.T.R.
Answer: That word "moot" is enough to confuse anybody. It means a whole variety of things, and it serves either a noun, an adjective or a verb. But one definition says "moot" means of only academic importance. Thus, with Perot out of the race, any question about a three-way contest was of only academic importance. Being moot isn't as good as being president, but at least it's something.
Sir: I hear the word "parameter" used again and again on television when I think they really mean "perimeter."
I can make no sense of the way they use it. My dictionary defines it like this: "In math, a quantity or constant whose value varies with the circumstances of itsapplication." Am I wrong in being annoyed when I hear this?
- Marie T.
Answer: No, you're right. But hang on; sooner or later everyone will grow tired of "parameter." It appears that some splendid person misused it a generation or so ago, and speakers (and writers) all over America were so impressed they followed suit. But by now it's properly identified as an aging vogue word, and only those out of step with the times continue to use it incorrectly. Another hundred or so years and we should be rid of it for good.
Sir: My grade-school teacher taught us that a singular subject required a singular verb. Why do I constantly see the singular subject "couple" used with a plural verb? - Mary V.
Answer: That's because "couple" may be considered either singular or plural, and when it refers to a man and a woman it's quite often considered plural. Think how awkward it would be to say "The couple was both injured in the accident."
Sir: I read in a magazine the statement that "everything comes to he who waits." Is "he" correct? "Him" sounds better.
- G.L.
Answer: It should; it is. Your magazine was wrong.
BIG SALE of the week, reported by Mrs. C.C.B.:
"Recently I saw a sign in a window: `Clarence Sale.' Gee, I wonder how much they asked for old Clarence?"
Send questions, comments, and good and bad examples to Lydel Sims, Watch Your Language, 366 S. Highland, Apt. 410, Memphis, TN 38111. If you quote a book, please give author, title and page number. Sorry, but questions can be answered only through this column.