# What word or words would you like to hear in more common usage? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359 "2016-07-19T21:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/21 "2016-07-21T01:06:58Z")
^ It’s like you’re reading my mind, man. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/22 "2016-07-21T01:59:03Z")
Queue rather than line. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/23 "2016-07-21T02:04:18Z")
Thrice. Why are “once” and “twice” used so frequently, but the equally economical “thrice” so rarely? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/24 "2016-07-21T02:06:04Z")
Well, you can’t rape Thrace thrice that often these days. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/25 "2016-07-21T02:18:25Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Well, you can’t rape Thrace thrice that often these days. Although it’s still easier done than said. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/26 "2016-07-21T02:28:12Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Thrice. Why are “once” and “twice” used so frequently, but the equally economical “thrice” so rarely? Not enough syllables? [QUOTE=Not Lionel Richie] Once, twice, thrice [annoyed grunt] a lady… [/QUOTE] They don’t know the word in Chicago? [QUOTE=Not Auric Goldfinger] Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Thrice is enemy action. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/27 "2016-07-21T03:10:03Z")
Probably just me, but I’d like to hear cashiers use “(Will there be) Anything else?” rather than, “Is that all?” Sounds less brusque. (\<—That can’t be good grammar.) ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/28 "2016-07-22T21:32:02Z")
Mooncalf ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/29 "2016-07-22T22:09:00Z")
Riemann: “Originally Posted by **Not Auric Goldfinger** Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Thrice is enemy action.” The **Real Auric Goldfinger** (in the novel) said: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action.” They were also used in chapter titles. This brings up my old query of what comes after thrice? My word abecedarian (the adjective). It’s as simple as … (I thought we all decided the fewer/less thing was rot pushed on people by school teachers who were also into other garbage like not ending a sentence with a preposition.) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/30 "2016-07-22T22:47:21Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > …(I thought we all decided the fewer/less thing was rot pushed on people by school teachers who were also into other garbage like not ending a sentence with a preposition.) The leader of the grammar nazis is the Fewerer. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/31 "2016-07-22T23:38:04Z")
Frottage. And behoove. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/32 "2016-07-23T00:04:12Z")
Groovy! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/33 "2016-07-23T17:49:22Z")
Hurple–Raising one’s shoulders in response to cold or fear. I use it every chance I get (which ain’t often) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/34 "2016-07-24T04:17:13Z")
Ucalegon – well except that to use it, your neighbor’s house must be aflame, so perhaps not. Still it’s a nice word. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/35 "2016-07-24T06:24:33Z")
To be “frank”, rather than to be “honest”. I assume you’re generally honest. If not, why should I believe you now? Also, since a line extends infinitely, say “get on the line segment”. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/36 "2016-07-24T06:45:25Z")
I’d like to see the word “niggardly” used more often, so that people would realize that there is nothing at all wrong with it. We have enough ignorance in the world already. I’m doing my part. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/37 "2017-02-23T01:05:44Z")
\*\*\*Quincunx * * * Sounds dirty but it is a pattern all around us ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/38 "2017-02-23T01:23:17Z")
Mendacious. And there are certainly _many_ opportunities to use it now. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/39 "2017-02-23T01:47:18Z")
whence boustrophodon karmadharaya ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-or-words-would-you-like-to-hear-in-more-common-usage/760359/40 "2017-02-23T01:53:39Z")
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