Use of antiquated language...I'm feeling old :(

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Twice in the last week I have used words in documents that the word processor has identified as possibly incorrect by drawing a squiggly red line under them. I was confused, and knowing that I had been using the words for most of my life, I googled them to verify if I had been incorrect most of my life...scary thought.

The words...Agreeance...Amongst.

I'm looking at these words on my screen right now...they seem perfectly normal...they don't sound detached or satirical when spoken...yet my web-browser is drawing my attention to their possible incorrectly spelt status with its own red line-work

Surely I would have noticed this before now. Was there a meeting a couple of weeks ago to decide that these words, and possibly many others that I am yet to discover, are no longer considered current and either have modern versions, are only used in legal or medical formal documentation, or have perfectly good alternatives that are still ok to use as they have won the race of natural selection?

I wish things would stop changing...

It appears to be a relatively common phenomenon those of us on the autistic spectrum using words that are no longer considered current. I'm learning French and French people have even said I'm using a lot of old French words! Part of the problem seems to be learning words from dictionaries.

I use those words sometimes too. Amongst, thus/thusly, happenstance, etc. It just seems as natural to use those kinds of words as more "modern" equivalents, although I learned that it sounds odd to other people. I'm 17 and have a mix of valley girl and southern accent when I speak, and so I understand when people tell me it's weird when I say "Oh my gosh, I've misplaced my water bottle amongst like all the others!" and "in regards to like /x/, I responded thusly"
Oddly enough I normally don't slip into antiquated or formal word uses unless I'm around friends or feel really at ease, and I more often use those words in my online discussions and writing, as opposed to when I'm actually speaking (fortunately enough, so as to avoid the teasing).

Now this thread has me all self conscious again lol.

My wife kids me all the time with some of the words I use that both her and kids have never heard or haven't heard used in a long time...just another fun fact of being an Aspie I guess.

I get a good chuckle from people calling me an idiot when I use older syntax. Also, websites need to learn that double spaces after a period IS acceptable.

It's not just acceptable, it used to be required. It's also still available as an option in all word processing spell/grammar checks that I have (Word, Open Office, and Pages), to force all sentences to be separated by two spaces. Why do you suppose that is? Because looks better!

It's easier to read too!

Dammit. I tried posting the same sentence twice up there to demonstrate it, but the forum software ignores the second space!

Right! Drilled into my head in grade school, now it's somehow irrelevant. Blasted internet.

I just tested that by pasting some paragraphs and adding double spaces. I think that the single space looks better. The double space between sentences leaves annoying gaps that distract me from reading.

*edit* Just found this link; it gives the reasoning for why double spaces were appropriate and now no longer are:

http://www.slate.com/articles/technolog ... aders.html

Last edited by Who_Am_I on 29 Mar 2012, 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I thought it was correct... and then I thought it was only me.
I used to write promotional material for companies and was regularly questioned regarding words such as: twix, betwixt, thus, thenceforth, thither, hitherto, etc.
I did manage to get a few out into the world

Double spaces throw a spanner in the works when it comes to justifying text. For this reason it became the practice to only leave one space after a period. (When justifying text, the first adjustments are always made between fullstops and capital letters. )

I always type double spaces after a period. That's what you are supposed to do. I never noticed it until just now that the software removes it.

Redacted

Last edited by nat4200 on 21 Apr 2012, 1:56 am, edited 2 times in total.

I usually try not to say anything, because of this.

It makes no sense to be considered stupid just for naturally using words that someone else never learned, when you have no way of knowing that.

Not just acceptable, it is a must. I think, at least here in the Philippines, it is still being taught in schools that double spaces after a period is the correct way. Online? Well the Interwebs kill that, especially with the proliferation of microblogs (ie Twitter) with a limited number of characters (140).

On-topic:
Probably we're just more in tune with 'history' than most? It's hard to say for myself because I like history, I like the middle ages, I use old words when given a chance.

Redacted

Last edited by nat4200 on 21 Apr 2012, 1:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

Perhaps we have a broader vocabulary and enjoy using a wider range of words? Or maybe we find words we like and make use of them regularly, without considering whether they are old-fashioned etc.

I tend not to use old-fashioned words, but I think that's because I work in an Adult Education setting (Literacy) so I try hard to keep up with what's current so that I don't embarrass myself by using an 'out of fashion' word.