Those usages people keep telling you are wrong but which are actually standard in English.I’m not really bothered by any of these, bar one:
Normalcy vs. normality
The word “normalcy” had been around for more than half a century when President Warren G. Harding was assailed in the newspapers for having used it in a 1921 speech. Some folks are still upset; but in the US “normalcy” is a perfectly normal—if uncommon—synonym for “normality.”Honestly, I want to eat my own face when I see or hear someone say “normalcy”. I’ve known the story behind it for some time (thanks Bill Bryson!) and it just makes me wonder whether GW Bush and his inarticulate manglings of the english language are also going to become acceptable. It’s exactly the same thing. Next thing you know, it will be ok for people to go around saying “nucular”.
Ugh.
‘Normalcy’ makes me want to eat my face too. I hate that (made up) word! It just sounds so awful. I actually feel physically uncomfortable when I hear it.
Thanks for nothing President Harding. - Lyall
