Stupid “donkey” tricks?

We had a gentleman in the office the other day and he said, “Look to the bottom for the notes in the astricks.”  One would think, in our field (financial planning), especially the last two years, that “risk” is easily pronounced! Of course we can play the other way - his way - “ass trick.” It loses me every time! I can’t find it in a dictionary and I tend to think of it more as a compound word.

And then I heard from another good friend, John Stemke. He wants to get these, ahem, off his chest:

Here is another one I have heard two different people misuse. One was a CEO of a multimillion-dollar company.  "Eavesdropping" and "easedropping" (not even a word).  And finally, one other that I laugh about whenever I hear it: chest of drawers and Chester drawers.

(Good ol' Chester.) "Eavesdropping," according to a current Wikipedia entry, comes from ancient Anglo-Saxon law. Eavesdroppers were people who "skulked in the eavesdrip of another's home; the eavesdrip was also sometimes called the eavesdrop. Eavesdrop also means a small, low-visibility hole near the entrance to a building (generally under the eaves), which would allow the occupants to listen in on the conversation of people awaiting admission to the house. Typically this would allow the occupant to be prepared for unfriendly visitors."

Old and fashionable

Then we had the comment from our own inner circle. In the article about dusting off that neglected website, I wrote: “If you'd like old-fashion customer service in this brave new world of the internet, call us.” Designer and project manager Hillary Edgin asked me: Isn't it supposed to be "old-fashioned" customer service?

So I, ahem, "fashioned" this response:

"Fashion" means "style," hence "old-style." "Fashioned" means "made."  What you're trying to say is "old-style" service, not "old-made" service.

"Fashion" is correct, but sounds incorrect because everyone says it wrong. Worse yet, here are some "authorities" who compound the error:

Paul Brians, in his book: Common Errors in English Usage. His entry: Although “old fashion” appears in advertising a good deal, the traditional spelling is “old-fashioned.”

But as I searched for more authorities, I could find none who supported my position. It comes from my years as a newspaper editor, which were a long time ago, I admit. I could not find my 1982 Associated Press Stylebook, nor an online copy. The 2000 AP stylebook does not address it. I have not yet purchased my 2009 copy, but perhaps I will.

So I suppose I'll have to say for now that, if I am the only person clinging to a rule, then I am wrong. My reasoning, which was really AP's not that long ago, still seems correct to me. I retreat, but slowly.

Call me old-fashion ... ed. Ouch.

And keep a close eye on ours and everyone else's language. Email me what you find.

- Michael Byrd, with Megan and John

We like building websites for non-profits, and and we donate half of our fee back to them. So we were especially happy for the opportunity to rebuild the Latimer House website. Home to the Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear, the Latimer House sponsors tours, houses historical archives, and features a beautiful enclosed garden. Their website, HSLCF.org, includes online ticket purchasing and e-newsletter signup (in addition to a design we really like).

Visit their site at HSLFC.org. More importantly, visit the Latimer House.

Wilmington attorneys Mitch Baker and Troy Slaughter have created a new website for their firm.

The site, bakerandslaughter.com, is flash as well as substance. The design features an animated photo slideshow that presents both attorneys and the approach of the firm. Professional photography makes a world of difference. The site is also a deep and well-organized law library of only original and topical material. As "attorneys to the attorneys," Baker and Slaughter provide current material in a special section of the site geared toward attorneys. Another section addresses the public. A client section is also available, as well as a Hot Topics area that addresses up-to-the-minute developments in ongoing cases.