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Wince time!

(31 Posts)
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gracesmum Mon 20-Feb-12 12:54:12

militate/mitigate
Why must people use "big" words if they can't get them right?
(Answers on a side of A4)

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Greatnan Mon 20-Feb-12 12:30:06

Mitigate means to lessen the severity of something -it makes no sense to say 'It lessened the severity against...'

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gracesmum Mon 20-Feb-12 11:55:52

One of my favourite hates ifs "falling pregnant" as if pregnancy were an illness, or perhaps there's some sub conscious connection with "fallen woman"?
I am even seeing it in The Telegraph - shock horror- where standards are clearly slipping. angry

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whatisamashedupphrase Mon 20-Feb-12 11:12:34

They seem to think it's ok here

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kittylester Mon 20-Feb-12 09:56:52

Ouch!

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Greatnan Mon 20-Feb-12 08:29:43

Some woman from a water authority was on the Today programme this morning and said some action would 'mitigate against' water conservation.

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