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Comment by LeAnne Law on July 11, 2009 at 5:55

Finger in the dike and Nob Hill are the most commonly used.

Comment by Jennie Ann on July 11, 2009 at 5:45

HELP! These words are spelled several different ways with multiple meanings. I can't figure out which is correct.

Example A. Then you would remove the proverbial finger in the dyke.
Example B. Then you would remove the proverbial finger in the dike

Example 1. If you were an elite, you would have a big home on Nob Hill.
Example 2. If you were an elite, you would have a big home on Knob Hill.
Example 3. If you were an elite, you would have a big home on Nobhill.

I see all of the above examples in Google searches, with a variety of meanings. Which one is right, do you think?

Comment by Brenda Rogers on July 10, 2009 at 11:16

Yes, I have that one in my bookmarks! :)

Comment by Jennie Ann on July 10, 2009 at 3:07

I agree with you, Brenda. You know, for years and years, I did type "yea" for "hooray," and then I changed. It is good to know that I was right then and am still right today, I guess. :)

Check out this very, very cool link created from that book: Searchable Database for Common Errors in English Language

Comment by Brenda Rogers on July 8, 2009 at 8:25

I've always seen and used yay for hooray and yea for yes: "What say you, yea or nay?"

However, I've seen quite a few people who use yea on forums, and not too long ago, there was a discussion on Depoman about it. Upshot was both are correct, and "yea" is preferred according to some dictionaries.

So choose your favorite. My favorite is "yay" because it's most commonly used and most easily recognized. You won't see YEA on a fan sign or anything like that. I would say that the majority of the American public isn't aware of the "hooray" meaning of the word "yea."

I don't think you can go wrong either way, all due respect to the author of Common Errors in English Usage.

Comment by Jennie Ann on July 8, 2009 at 5:23

For years and years, I have used the word "yea" meaning two things: "yes" and "hoorah."

However, especially in recent times, I am seeing many write "yay" for "hoorah," and I soon began to wonder if "yea" should only be used for official votes, such as when there is a roll call and the speaker says, "All those in favor, say aye." Well, some say "yea" and not "aye."

According to a book entitled Common Errors in English Usage, the word "yea" should not be used to mean "hoorah."

"Yea" is a very old-fashioned formal way of saying "yes," according to the above-referenced book, used mainly in voting. It's the opposite of—and rhymes with—"nay." When you want to write the common casual version of "yes," the correct spelling is "yeah" (sounds like "yeh" ). When the third grade teacher announced a class trip to the zoo, we all yelled "yay" (the opposite of "boo'). That was back when I was only yay big.

I did not know that and thought I would share. Thanks in advance for any opinions, thoughts, or comments on "yea" versus "yay" meaning "hoorah." :)

Comment by Jennie Ann on July 4, 2009 at 8:09

Oh, man, LeAnne, you saved the day for me again. It is Hasidim. That makes perfect sense. This speaker I have is using a lot of unfamiliar terms, and it's driving me bananas.

Thanks again. Don't work too hard. Happy 4th!

Comment by LeAnne Law on July 4, 2009 at 7:32

I think you're looking for Hasidim.

Sure glad I'm not the only one working on this holiday weekend!

Comment by Jennie Ann on July 4, 2009 at 7:24

I cannot find this word. It sounds like [hah-see-dum].

Here is the sentence: "You have these black-hatted [hah-see-dum] walking, and then you have these kind of scantily clad young women as well. And they say hi to each other in the street."

I am thinking it may be a Yiddish word, but I could be way off base. HELP!

Comment by Jennie Ann on June 19, 2009 at 6:13

Diane, I agree. Those two words come up all the time.

The way I understand "warranty' and "warrantee" -- and I may be wrong -- is that, though they are both nouns, "warranty" is the document itself, and "warrantee" is the person to whom the warranty is being made.

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