[geeks] power (was Mr. Bill)

Sandwich Maker adh at an.bradford.ma.us
Thu Sep 18 10:41:51 CDT 2008


" From: Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com>
" 
" der Mouse wrote:
" >>>>> has wreaked its havoc.
" >>>> you mean wrought its havoc?
" >>> "Wrought" is the past and past participle of "work".
" >>> "Wreaked" is correct.
" > 
" > In this case, so is "wrought", though its correctness has nothing to do
" > with the verb "(to) wreak".
" > 
" > "Wrought" has a certain degree of idiomaticity behind it when paired
" > with "havoc", too.
" 
" I've heard the "wreaked" idiom just as much.

i'd always thought it was a product of the folks who also say 'medias'
and 'yatch'.  i've seen a general decline in proper pluralization etc
of loan words and other irregular english vocabulary.

sadly, if it becomes common enough, the reaction is to change not the
teaching but the dictionaries.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh at an.bradford.ma.us                       and think what none thought



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