# The Elements that Comprise Your Beliefs DON'T PAY RENT **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 18, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232 "2001-10-18T15:59:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/21 "2001-10-18T22:03:21Z")
If I may be so bold… It’s r **i** diculous not r **e** diculous! Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/22 "2001-10-18T23:07:20Z")
When you go crazy, you **lose** your mind. You do not **loose** it. And you do especially do not **literally** lose it. Unless you have taken it out of your head and misplaced it. We now return you to your regularly scheduled pedant. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/23 "2001-10-19T06:24:12Z")
**Definitely** a good rant. It is **possibly** one of the best I have read this month. **Supposedly** one is supposed to curse in a pit thread, but you managed to avoid doing so in a cogent, stellarly-expressed fashion. For this you are to be **commended**. **There** are many good points in your rant, and the transgressors **undoubtedly** are hanging **their** heads in shame; **they’re surely** going to appear in this thread to **apologize**. **Grammar** mistakes can be rather confusing; they have an **effect** on a sentence that can **affect** its meaning rather **drastically**. [sub]Did I miss any?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/24 "2001-10-19T07:17:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beelzebubba \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Baldwin \* > > **My guess is that some of our young friends are confused by the existence of the homophonic word “lead”, meaning the metallic element.** > > Man, was I confused…I read that as “homopho **b** ic word ‘lead’” \*\* Lousy godless homophones, trying to get in our schools and corrupt our children. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/25 "2001-10-19T12:55:38Z")
Would that be Homophonophobia, the irrational fear of worlds that sound alike? See also: Deutch Grammophobia - fear of record labels. Obi-wan Kenobiphobia - fear of aging Jedi masters (as opposed to aging LA hippies) Firestonophobia - fear of your tires giving out David Cone-o-phobia - fear of baseball pitchers Moan-a-phobia - fear of being too loud during sex. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/26 "2001-10-19T13:55:51Z")
You **founder** before you drown. A **flounder** has no fear of drowning. ---
**Author:** ![pennylane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pennylane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pennylane)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/27 "2001-10-19T14:22:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*You **founder** before you drown. A **flounder** has no fear of drowning. \*\* But [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) says: flounder \Floun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floundered; p. pr. & vb. n. Floundering.] [Cf. D. flodderen to flap, splash through mire, E. flounce, v.i., and flounder the fish.] To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll, toss, and tumble; to flounce. Third on my list of Three Most Hated Grammar Mistakes: “ **on** accident”. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/28 "2001-10-19T14:24:48Z")
Re: founder v. flounder > [@](#): > > _The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition_ > Usage Note: The verbs founder and flounder are often confused. Founder comes from a Latin word meaning “bottom” (as in foundation) and originally referred to knocking enemies down; it is now also used to mean “to fail utterly, collapse.” Flounder means “to move clumsily, thrash about,” and hence “to proceed in confusion.” If John is foundering in Chemistry 1, he had better drop the course; if he is floundering, he may yet pull through. You learn something new everyday. I always thought of founder as describing someone who founds (establishes) something. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/29 "2001-10-19T14:27:55Z")
**ooops.** Make that: every day ---
**Author:** ![pennylane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pennylane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pennylane)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/30 "2001-10-19T14:30:09Z")
But [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) also has this definition of founder: To sink below the surface of the water: The ship struck a reef and foundered. So it seems that as far as talking about drowning, one could use either word (at least according to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com)). ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/31 "2001-10-19T14:34:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Wellwhen it’s a rant over spelling or grammer it’s pretty week and I do what I must to end the debate, even if I have to suffer the effects of calling someone a spelling or grammer Nazi. Just for the record, AHunter3 has made some very entertaining and informinitive post… but this definatlly deserved the spelling Nazi award. That’s sooooooooooooo funny. I won’t even comment on it. Pet peeves of mine: -“definAtely” -“grammEr” -the whole “affect” VS “effect” thing -any misspelling of “piqued” -any distortion of “au naturel” -“one in the same” (I see this one so often that I’m beginning to wonder if I’m wrong when I say “one AND the same” - if I am, then I feel like an idiot right about now) -any distortion of the word “repertoire” -“rEdiculous” -“its” and “it’s” -any misused form of “there” and its homophones -apostrophes to indicate a plural (UGH!) Hmmmm… most of these were already mentioned by other posters. I’m fitting quite nicely into another category that’s a pet-peeve of mine: posters who have nothing of worth to add to a thread, and mostly repeat what others have said. Ooooops. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/32 "2001-10-19T14:54:59Z")
…and therefore, even if it is no longer applicable, so that discussing it is academic but with no bearing on practical matters, it is NOT a MUTE point, moot point though it may well be! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/33 "2001-10-19T15:26:19Z")
I should spend more time reading dictionaries. That American Heritage one looks like fun. Thanks for the corrections. ---
**Author:** ![pennylane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pennylane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pennylane)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/34 "2001-10-19T16:04:21Z")
Apparently that American Heritage dictionary **is** [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com). Isn’t it, **mornea**? You see I like to use the least reliable-sounding way possible to credit my sources… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/35 "2001-10-19T16:22:58Z")
OOOOH! That’s MUCHMUCHMUCH better than Merriam-Webster’s site. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Esme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@Esme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esme)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/36 "2001-10-19T17:06:15Z")
You could have, would have, should have, not could OF, would OF, and should OF. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/37 "2001-10-19T17:50:12Z")
I should of known that. [sub]sorry, couldn’t help myself ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/38 "2001-10-19T19:08:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Apparently that American Heritage dictionary is [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com). Isn’t it, mornea? I did use [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) to find the passage quoted in my previous post, but the American Heritage dictionary is not the only source used by [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) to provide definitions and word usage. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/39 "2001-10-20T14:17:07Z")
The speaker **implies**. The listener **infers**. I once heard a radio show on which a woman calling herself “The Grammar Police” mixed these two up. Of course, it was at the very end of the radio show and I was in the car, so I couldn’t phone up to scream about it. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232/40 "2001-10-20T15:01:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pennylane \* > \*\*So it seems that as far as talking about drowning, one could use either word (at least according to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com)). \*\* I doubt it (to founder seems to refer exclusively to ships). However, if you were to insist on using it metaphorically, I suppose a drowning victim could be said both to flounder and to founder. In that order. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elements-that-comprise-your-beliefs-dont-pay-rent/88232.md?page=3)