(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



Word-watching [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2024-02-07  

It’s February 7th and it’s as good a day as any to talk diction. Diction? You heard right, diction.

Off the rails



Okay, so there is this site I frequent and whose principal — and expert — commentators are extremely well-versed in their area of specialization.

So, the other day I read an article that one of the duo posted online having to do with chemical toxicity. In that article what was described was an accident involving a truck transporting anhydrous ammonia. The big-rig driver, in trying to avoid hitting the car attempting to pass it, ended up, instead, losing control of the truck. The truck-tractor combo wound up crashing, its contents leaking, creating what could probably best be described as a hazardous chemical release. This is how I understood events to have unfolded based on the way I interpreted what I read. Two people died from exposure: a father and son. The article’s writer, though, mischaracterized the crash as a derailment. Without knowing all of the particulars, there is just no way of knowing why the author characterized that mishap thus. A derailment this most definitely was not as nary a train nor the tracks trains use were in any way involved.

Toxic chemicals, chemical toxicants, toxins: The one that doesn’t apply



This reminds me of the time when I penned an article having to do with toxic pollutants. Only I referred to such as toxins.

Here is how the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 1991 edition (pp. 1411-1412) defines “toxin”.

Any poison produced by an organism, including the bacterial toxins that are the causative agents of tetanus, diphtheria, etc., and such plant and animal toxins as ricin and snake venom.

I clearly got it wrong.

So, what did I do once I was made aware of the mistake? I made the correction, made a notation to that effect in the text body, this being brought to the attention of readers in the form of an update and, in a comment response, I thanked the person who took the time to provide clarification and for reaching out.

Rhyme-Time Reminder: i’s dotted, t’s crossed and p’s and q’s always watched.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/2/7/2222099/-Word-watching?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/