# People who shorten words **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472 "2004-11-07T06:34:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/61 "2004-11-09T07:12:02Z")
I don’t really mind people shortening words, except when the shortened version is really just as long as the long version or when it becomes hard for the uninitiated to guess what it might be a shortened form _of_. Like last fall/early winter when someone said something about a Crimbo present. I thought they were talking about one of those weird-ass British holidays like Boxing Day, or Bank Holiday, or Guy Fawkes or something. Turns out they were talking about Christmas. I still don’t quite get that one. I mean, they’re taking a two-syllable word and shortening it to…two-syllables. And it sounds not a whit like the original word. What the fuck is with that shit? ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/62 "2004-11-09T12:51:21Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Like last fall/early winter when someone said something about a Crimbo present. Ah, yes, Crimbo. That uniquely Southern tradition combining the Christmas Holiday with a celebration of the nectar that is Gumbo. One of my personal favs. Just warms the tummy, dun’t it? Makes me feel downright pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/63 "2004-11-09T13:31:56Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Like last fall/early winter when someone said something about a Crimbo present. I thought they were talking about one of those weird-ass British holidays like Boxing Day, or Bank Holiday, or Guy Fawkes or something. Turns out they were talking about Christmas. I still don’t quite get that one. I mean, they’re taking a two-syllable word and shortening it to…two-syllables. And it sounds not a whit like the original word. What the fuck is with that shit? That comes from the Beatles’ Christmas messages to their fan club. John Lennon mangles the word into something that some people (like me) hear as Crimble, and others as Crimbo. “Crimble Maybe, and a Happy Goo Year.” ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/64 "2004-11-09T13:49:21Z")
We’re onto page 2 here and no one has mentioned _'puter._ I can’t be the only one who gets all itchy and annoyed by that, can I? Or _delish_ . “This sammy is really delish.” Wow, I’m making myself want to go and poke my own eyes out. Great. ---
**Author:** ![stately\_plump\_buck\_mulligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@stately\_plump\_buck\_mulligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stately_plump_buck_mulligan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/65 "2004-11-09T17:10:15Z")
OWCH, I feel that one. Puter just makes me think of a revolting pussy-cooter hybrid. “Mm honey, isn’t my puter just absolutely delish?” ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/66 "2004-11-09T18:07:28Z")
> [@Salem](#): > > Ah, yes, Crimbo. That uniquely Southern tradition combining the Christmas Holiday with a celebration of the nectar that is Gumbo. One of my personal favs. Just warms the tummy, dun’t it? Makes me feel downright pretty. Makes you reach down and feel your pretty, you say? Oh, my. ---
**Author:** ![stately\_plump\_buck\_mulligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@stately\_plump\_buck\_mulligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stately_plump_buck_mulligan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/67 "2004-11-09T18:12:26Z")
I may need to stop reading this thread. Multiple uses of “pretty”-as-noun, especially when related to dogs (! ! ! ! ! ! !) are significantly lowering my quality of life. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/68 "2004-11-09T19:20:48Z")
SupercalifragilisticexpialaDOSH! I’m gonna use the time I saved to play Lego. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/69 "2004-11-09T19:26:07Z")
> [@vinniepaz](#): > > I’m sure everyones gonna disagree with this, but what the hell. > > I can not stand randomly shortened words. Little cutsie ones like “pubbies” and “dems.” It pains me deep in my heart whenever I hear these. Or “sackies” for Sackajawea Dollars. I just really, really wish people wouldn’t do it. > > That is all. Everyones? gonna? If you’re “gonna” be a grammar NAZI, at least post a clean OP. 😃 BTW, you would go ABSOLUTELY NUTS in Australia. They’ve never seen a word that can’t be shortened. I think it’s great, myself… ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/70 "2004-11-09T19:48:42Z")
FYI, “belly” is short for “beligdula” : an almond-shaped mass of nerves in the anterior portion of the abdominal cavity. “Tummy” is short for “Tum tum gland”. “VinniePaz” is short for Vinnie “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza. A pretty decent middleweight in his day, which wasn’t too long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472/71 "2004-11-09T21:15:01Z")
::: rotating my personal torso across the linoleum-covered walking surface engaging in cachinnation :::: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shorten-words/273472.md?page=3)