In another life, I was an aspiring classicist. (Hence my pseudonym.) I draw on that experience when I say that Matthew Yglesias, great blogger and journalist that he is, should stop abusing the Latin language:
So let's concede ad arguendo (though I hasten to add -- only ad arguendo) that John Kerry has no better idea than George W. Bush of how to clean up the mess that George W. Bush and George W. Bush's national security team have made in Iraq.
The proper expression is arguendo. It's the dative case, expressing purpose, and translates perfectly to the English expression "for the sake of argument." The preposition ad takes an object in the accusative case, which would be arguendum, and in fact the phrase ad arguendum appears in Paul's second epistle to Timothy. But ad arguendo is just plain wrong.
This has been a pedantic correction of a writer far superior to me.
Posted by digamma at September 18, 2004 02:12 AM | TrackBackMark, why'd the comments say "6" here but not, actually, list them? Now it says "0". Hmmm.
I think Yglesias should thank you. He's interesting to read, isn't he, because one inevitably thinks of their former selves when one reads him. He's painfully naive about so many things, yet he's learning all the time (though aren't we all) and, I think, is starting to trust his gut more and the Recieved Opinon that he's been taught, less. At the least, I have to respect him for his work ethic, though I admit I don't know how much interns do for him.
Sorry if I came across as too harsh in my follow ups to your comments at my blog. I'm naturally pissed off lately in the political way, but I'd say most of my pique is caused by all the fake libertarians and conservative liberals out there in the blogosphere. And one can't very well read what I have lately without absolutely detesting "principled" free traders, with special bonus annoyance going to the "liberals" who regard FAIR trade as, somehow, racist. Grrrr.
Posted by: RETARDO at September 21, 2004 01:24 PM
digamma--
How was Classics at Rutgers? Did you ever take any courses (Ancient Greece, Classical Greece, etc.) with Cargill? A crazy guy, to be sure, but he knew his stuff.
Posted by: Chuck at September 27, 2004 11:42 AMMay I be the first to say (today): You're a bitch.
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