Sometimes we are bugged by some commonplace behavior, belief, or attitude, but bringing it up will come off as obnoxious and elitist. We all have those. I will tell you two of mine, in hope I am not unknowingly a snide weirdo.

1 - And/Or is redundant: Just use OR

At some point it was funny in context (like "the OP is stupid and/or crazy). I can hardly find a context that is not similar to this (arguably) ableist template.

In formal logic there is no use case for saying ‘and’ OR ‘or’, because simply OR entails AND.

If there was a valid case it should represent the logical structure of ‘AND’ OR ‘XOR’, but it is obvious that this is OR.

So, whenever we are tempted to say “and/or” it is kinda definitive that just OR should suffice.

2 - A ‘steep’ learning curve means the skill is quickly mastered : Just use ‘learning curve’

Apparently stemming from an embodied metaphor between the steepness of a hill and the difficulty of climbing it, this misnomer is annoyingly common.

I have yet to find a single source that does not yield to this erroneous, ubiquitous misconception.

Same goes for the fancier alternative ‘sharp’ learning curve.

In fact, in a diagram where the vertical axis is the skill mastery and the horizontal is time, a steep curve would mean that the task is quick or easy to master, since it reaches the higher level quickly, hence the steepness.

Since the literal alternative (‘Rust has a smooth learning curve’) will be counter-intuitive and confusing, and I bet nobody will adopt it, I suggest the following solution.

Almost every time you feel the need to reach for this phrase, YSK that probably just using ‘learning curve’ should suffice. For example ‘This language has a learning curve’. It gets the message across, without making others question your position in the graph interpretation learning curve.

What are your mundane grievances?

  • @dohpaz42English
    4•2 months ago

    1 - And/Or is redundant: Just use OR

    At some point it was funny in context (like "the OP is stupid and/or crazy). I can hardly find a context that is not similar to this (arguably) ableist template.

    In formal logic there is no use case for saying ‘and’ OR ‘or’, because simply OR entails AND.

    I disagree with you about your assessment.

    1. and means all items in a list
    2. or means any items in a list
    3. and/or can mean all items must be true, or any one item can be true.

    So let’s keep it simple, and use the example of receiving a drink and/or a bag of pretzels on a flight. You can choose to have both, or you can choose either the drink or the pretzels. Focusing on the or condition here, you’re only choosing one of the items. In your logic, always using or would imply you’re only ever choosing one, when in reality you also have the choice of choosing both.

    2 - A ‘steep’ learning curve means the skill is quickly mastered : Just use ‘learning curve’ … I have yet to find a single source that does not yield to this erroneous, ubiquitous misconception.

    Maybe we’re using two different search engines, but when I DDG “steep learning curve”, the results agree with you that it means the speed (fast) of learning a task or skill.

    Since the literal alternative (‘Rust has a smooth learning curve’) will be counter-intuitive and confusing, and I bet nobody will adopt it, I suggest the following solution.

    You’re looking for shallow learning curve, and is already commonly used.

    Almost every time you feel the need to reach for this phrase, YSK that probably just using ‘learning curve’ should suffice. For example ‘This language has a learning curve’. It gets the message across, without making others question your position in the graph interpretation learning curve.

    Again, I disagree with you. The use of steep or sharp or no qualifier at all is a subtle, yet important, distinction for the type of learning curve something has.

    Everything new has a learning curve. Some thing are easier or more difficult than others. If someone does not understand the correct usage for steep or shallow, then take the few moments to teach them; they’ll in turn learn something and go on to teach other people too.

    There is a time and a place to simplify your language; especially if it helps the person(s) you’re talking to better understand you. But I believe that in these two cases, the uses are warranted, as they can and will change the meaning of what you’re saying dramatically.

    My first grievance is people who always use “I” when sometimes they should be using “me”. e.g., It’s difficult for my son and I to talk to each other when he’s very upset.

    The rule of thumb is that if you remove the other person in the sentence, does it make sense? As in the example above, no one would say “It’s difficult for I to talk…,” instead you’d say, “It’s difficult for me to talk….”

    Also, while “I” comes after the other person, “me” comes before. So the correct sentence would be, “It’s difficult for me and my son to talk to each other when he’s very upset.”

    I believe this problem occurs because, at least for me, English teachers were lazy and didn’t teach us the differences. They would drill into us to never use “me” and always use “I”.

    Another mundane grievance is when people go to correct somebody over a simple mistake in wording. My thought process is that if everyone understands the speaker’s meaning, correcting them right then and there only detracts from the conversation; and, it makes the speaker look (and probably feel) dumb. It adds very little, if any, value. Just let it go. If you genuinely need to correct someone, wait until later and do it in private. But be prepared to be ignored or scoffed at.