I still read a newspaper, well, most days anyway, and like to assume I am familiar with words and their meanings. I realize there are new vocabulary words used by the younger generation(s) that I am unfamiliar with and I accept that as a shortcoming, with no problem.
But I find there are news reports or articles where the use of even a single word seems to threaten my ability to read smoothy and achieve comprehension
On June 18, such a blockage occurred with the use of the word "harms." I have a longstanding relationship with the word harm in singular form as a noun, and with harms as verb form. So the flow of my morning newspaper routine was disrupted when I read "both teens suffered harms related to their social media use" and "Other children died because of online harms." Why not, I asked myself, just use the word harm; why the added on s.
I suppose, since the article was written by 2 women who are described as Technical Writers, that the use of harms sounds more technical, professional and more likely to be considered newsworthy. OK., I realize (now) that Shakespeare used such word form. Forsooth, let it be.
Apro pro of nothing, I recall an instance when I was in first grade. My father wanted me to pose this math question to Mrs. Flynn, my teacher. If a farmer has twenty sick sheep, and 2 of them die, how many does he now have. And no, the answer is not 24.
AND, the word "before" has been totally replaced by "ahead of." Why is the question.
