WSC Logo



SEARCH  

Advanced search

cravebutton_ROS

Stickipedia

stick


A mine of information constructed from sticker cards
From the Weekly Howl. Sign up here

Archive by year

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

2006 2007

Weekly Howl

A mixture of comment, fact and captivating trivia via email

Sign up

NEWSFEEDS

HOME arrow MESSAGE BOARD
Message Board
Welcome, Guest
Picayune, niggling writerly-type question.
(1 viewing) 1 Guest
Go to bottom
TOPIC: Picayune, niggling writerly-type question.
#338688
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 03-02-2010 15:07

 
Whenever there's a corporate spokesperson making one of their typically mealy-mouthed apologies for something that's happened as a result of their product - in this case Toyota - they use the following phrase "We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers/drivers/etc".

Here's the question: do you hear them saying "We apologise for any [and all] inconvenience that was caused" or do you hear "We apologise if there was any inconvenience caused"?

Because the "any" makes me think they're hedging. As in, "if we say that inconvenience was caused, we're admitting liability, and that opens up a whole can of worms".

But if we say "any", it's conjecture, and therefor we're apologising for the inconvenience, and not for the product that may or may not have caused it.

Do you get my drift? Thoughts?
 
Logged Logged
 
#338693
Gangster Octopus
Posts: 4549
User Online Now Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 03-02-2010 15:25

 
Shortly after we bought our latest Yaris, I was driving through Highgate and the accelerator stuck on. Very, very scary it was. Especially in rush-hour. Apparently it was the mat in the driver's side that had slipped; something we'd been warned might happen when we bought the car...
 
Logged Logged
 
#338698
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 03-02-2010 15:36

 
"We apologise for any pants that may have been soiled."
 
Logged Logged
 
#338709
ursus arctos
Posts: 9602
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 03-02-2010 16:01

 
Indeed.

To go back to your original point, it is clearly not meant by the speaker (and his/her employer) to be an admission that there was/is any inconvenience. Your sense of it being a hedge is exactly right.
 
Logged Logged
 
#339064
The Exploding Vole
» » » » » « « « « «
Posts: 906
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 04-02-2010 13:47

 
And there are always some sickos who, far from being inconvenienced, might actually have liked it.
 
Logged Logged
 
#340658
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 15:46

 
Here's another one that bothers me:

"Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems...".

About? Wouldn't 'approximately' or 'nearly'/'more than' sound a bit more informed?

'About' is what children say when they're guessing; "She's about...um....five years old."

Or, as is often the case, is it just me who hears it this way?
 
Logged Logged
 
#340664
Ginger Yellow
Posts: 5618
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 15:59

 
But "about", in this context anyway, does mean "approximately".
 
Logged Logged
 
#340665
ursus arctos
Posts: 9602
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:00

 
Perhaps it's because WOM pronounces it "aboot" . . .
 
Logged Logged
 
#340666
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:01

 
Oh, I know. I just think it sounds awful. About, for whatever reason, sounds like they're guessing while approximately sounds like it's based on some credible calculations.

Like I said, could just be my ear. The one I read with, like.
 
Logged Logged
 
#340669
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:04

 
ursus arctos wrote:
Perhaps it's because WOM pronounces it "aboot" . . .

That's a big myth, eh.
 
Logged Logged
 
#340672
ursus arctos
Posts: 9602
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:14

 
Of course it is.

If it makes you feel any better, my guess was that the choice of "about" was a style decision by whatever source you took the quote from. That seems to be the case, as Toyota's press release uses your preferred formulation of "approximately".

It wouldn't surprise me at all if USA Today-type outlets automaticaly converted "approximately" to "about" or "around".
 
Logged Logged
 
#340673
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:21

 
That's the thing: it was the CBC. I hope they've not adopted the USA Today style sheet.
 
Logged Logged
 
#340676
ursus arctos
Posts: 9602
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:31

 
You can take it up with this guy.
 
Logged Logged
 
#340679
Worn Old Motorbike
Undergoing Revisions
Posts: 6832
User Offline Click here to see the profile of this user
posted 09-02-2010 16:40

 
Ah. Excellent. He'll rue the day...
 
Logged Logged
 
Go to top

Today's most read WSC articles

Riga mortis Gary Johnson in Latvia   

Daunis Auers   

WSC 173 Jul 01

Staying power Everton's stadium plans   

Mark Tallentire   

WSC 196 Jun 03

Division Three 1975-76 Hereford on top, Palace on a Cup run   

Ed Upright   

WSC 246 Aug 07

Black marks No place for racism at Everton   

Mark Tallentire   

WSC 180 Feb 02

Division One 1980-81 Aston Villa win the League   

Josh Widdicombe   

WSC 248 Oct 07