The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #125865   Message #2792540
Posted By: GUEST,999
19-Dec-09 - 11:12 PM
Thread Name: BS: except/accept- insure/ensure,,,etc.
Subject: RE: BS: except/accept- insure/ensure,,,etc.
I recall that Nero Wolfe--the fictional detective created by Rex Stout--was burning "Webster's Third International Dictionary" page by page because it said one could use imply and infer interchangeably. Wolfe's assistant, Archie Goodwin, stated that he'd heard Wolfe make remarks about book burners. Wolfe replied, "I am neither a government nor a committee of censors. I paid for this book, have read it and found it to be offensive to the English language. So, I am burning it." And with that, he continued on with his task. I always got a kick outta that.