That's the thing Helen, English is so fluid that it is increasingly
difficult to state something is correct or not. I am also an editor and,
whilst acknowledging predate is not the best word for "to prey upon", it
is now in common enough usage to be accepted. In that case, I would
personally hyphenate pre-date as in dating from before, as I use
hyphens like commas - how you pronounce the word, indicating a slight
pause.
On 27/08/2011 11:01 AM, Helen Larson wrote:
Predate doesn't have a hyphen, 'tis a perfectly good word in the sense of
antedate. Ask the Oxford.
Predate as in "Sharks predate on small fish" is not a good word and gets used by
people who think it's derived from the words "predator" or "predation". Possibly
the same people who use "impact" as a verb. Sharks prey upon small fish. Milk
bottles do not prey upon great tits.
Will now remove my editorial nitpicker's hat and try to remember that the
English language is evolving, even if I don't like it.
Helen
<')/////==<
________________________________
From: brian fleming<>
To:
Sent: Fri, 26 August, 2011 17:19:17
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] BBC News - Killer plant 'eats' great tit at Somerset
nursery
On 26/08/2011 3:02 PM, John Leonard wrote:
predate = dating from before
predate = preying upon
Aren't the same word, they are separate words that happen to be spelt
the same. They are clearly distinguished by the stress
pre'date vs
'predate
John Leonard
I would use a hyphen.
I wonder if "Language Log" will pick up this discussion.
Brian Fleming
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