Apr 16, 2012

N is for ... That Sick Feeling You Get

I've finally overcome my inability to spell nauseous,  but for years if I had to write that word, in a fit of laziness I would write nauseated  instead. I didn't need a dictionary for that one.

The special case of two very similar words with the same meaning bugs me. What's so special about feeling the urge to hurl that needs two naus+suffix  words to express it? And it's not just one naus+suffix  word that has the same meaning. There's a nauseous/nauseated  combo, and there's also a nauseous/nauseating  combo. Is it something to do with the same illustrative mechanism that causes us to have a million ways to say blowing-chunks? (This could get its series of posts. I have no idea why puking euphemisms make me laugh, I am older than 12, but 'Shouting Groceries' might be the best vomit euphemism ever.)

This pattern doesn't work with other illness-related words ending with -ous.  For instance:
  • Infectious. To infect someone. You can say infected,  which doesn't mean the same thing, but you can't say infectiated.  No infectiating.
  • Contagious. Could spread disease.  There's even fewer options for contagious.  No contagiated.  No contaged.  No contagiating.
I want to endorse nauseated  as the goto word for that going-to-hurl feeling, but I can't. Sure, it's easier to spell, but people will always want a -ous  sick word for it, and nauseous goes better with infectious  and contagious.

Instead, I call for a ban on all other forms of naus+suffix  words. Seems like nauseous  can mean anything anyway, at least this way I only have to remember how to spell one version of this word. Even if this plan does mean supporting a word which has more vowels than is healthy. Seriously, three vowels in a row? Pfft.

9 comments:

  1. This totally cracked me up. I can't count the number of times I've just used nauseated because I can't spell nauseous! I still had to look at your post to remember how to spell it just now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always punk out when it might make me look like an illiterate goob. Even now I'm like... I know how to spell it! (I think. . . . where's the damned dictionary!? PAH)

      Delete
  2. I vote for removing all naus+words too!!! Anyways I don't usually life tough spelling words :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. we gotta have one, unless I get to ad-lib every sick-tummy feeling from now on! I could go for that. Just don't expect anything as brilliant as Shouting Groceries!

      Delete
  3. Hilarious post. I think the English language deserves some good bitch posts. I guess there is 'contagion' but that's not interchangeable with contagious. Pft. Who came up with this stuff? I'D like to know who's to blame for flammable and inflammable meaning the same thing. Uh, what??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wait, do those mean the same thing? I think one means it can catch fire, and one that it can't... Though, why can't they just say flammable and NOT flammable. That is so much clearer, nd it won't lead to questionable double-negative combinations like irregardless. Means exactly the same as regardless, but people kept getting it confused with irregarding(which is another stupid word that means without regard...) It'd be so much better to just say... no regard for... BUT Noooo. Who can we write about this nonsense?

      Delete
  4. LOL, I work for a telephone answering service, and take many calls for Dr's. I always spell it out nauseated instead of the other way. You'd be totally amazed if you knew all of the forms of all of the redundant medical terms out that these educated Dr's and nurses and hospital staff use on a daily basis.
    -Debbie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I want to know all the other words so I can be cranky about them! But it's good to know others share my nauseous-spelling shame. It's a stupid word anyway :)

      Delete

Spammers have found me again, so to save my inbox and avoid an extra, useless, and extra-useless daily task to nick the useless comments, captcha is on!