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Hanged vs. Hung
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Posted on 07/03/2008 3:04:25 PM PDT by occamrzr06
When hang means, as it generally does, "to suspend," then hung is the correct past-tense and past participial form of the verb: "Yesterday, I hung a picture on the wall"; "I have hung many pictures on many walls." When hang means "to put to death by hanging," however, hanged is the correct past-tense and past participial form: "We hanged the horse-thieving varmint yesterday"; "We've hanged nigh unto forty horse thieves this year." Given that hanging has become a fairly infrequent means to a fairly infrequent end, you might think that this is an unimportant distinction. But, because of a colloquial use of hung that we blush bright yellowish green to mention here, you can end up embarrassing yourself if you use hung as an adjective to describe a male historical figure executed by hanging. History records that John Billington was hanged at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1630; whether Mr. Billington was hung, history does not record.
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Reference; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: english; punctuation; vanity; wellhanged
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This is just a pet peave of mine. I'm by no means an English scholar, but it is something that bothers me.
To: occamrzr06
(redacted comment, too much self-esteem))
2
posted on
07/03/2008 3:08:19 PM PDT
by
Doctor Raoul
(Fire the CIA and hire the Free Clinic, someone who knows how to stop leaks.)
To: occamrzr06
3
posted on
07/03/2008 3:09:38 PM PDT
by
raybbr
(You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
To: occamrzr06
There are so many X rated jokes in this thread waiting to be born.....
4
posted on
07/03/2008 3:09:57 PM PDT
by
stravinskyrules
(Why is it that whenever I hear a piece of music I don't like, it's always by Villa-Lobos?)
To: occamrzr06
My pet language peeve:
Voila is French for “here it is.” Viola is Italian for “big fiddle.”
5
posted on
07/03/2008 3:09:59 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
(~ ~ FREE LAZAMATAZ! ~ ~ [Shipping and handling charges may apply.])
To: Slings and Arrows
You at least know how to spell peeve. Another pet peave of mine!
To: Slings and Arrows
Therefore, the big fiddle is in France. Duh!
7
posted on
07/03/2008 3:17:11 PM PDT
by
null and void
(every Muslim, the minute he can differentiate, carries hate of Americans, Jews & Christians - OBL)
To: occamrzr06
Obligatory "Blazing Saddles" reference......
Sheriff Bart's friend: "They said you was hung."
Sheriff Bart: "They was right!"
8
posted on
07/03/2008 3:19:14 PM PDT
by
Lizavetta
To: occamrzr06
The improper use of everyday vs. every day makes me crazy.
9
posted on
07/03/2008 3:20:34 PM PDT
by
Lizavetta
To: null and void
Therefore, the big fiddle is in France. Sarkozy has a new nickname.
10
posted on
07/03/2008 3:24:49 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
(~ ~ FREE LAZAMATAZ! ~ ~ [Shipping and handling charges may apply.])
To: Slings and Arrows
Voila is French for “here it is.”"There it is."
"Here it is" is Voici.
11
posted on
07/03/2008 3:26:47 PM PDT
by
Petronski
(Scripture & Tradition must be accepted & honored w/equal sentiments of devotion & reverence. CCC 82)
To: Lizavetta
ROFL.
See proper usage of the verb!
To: Petronski
So we gotta throw French pet PEEVES into an American pet PEEVE thread. Damn French!
To: occamrzr06
How’s your hammer hangin’?
14
posted on
07/03/2008 3:31:16 PM PDT
by
i_dont_chat
(The elephant has fallen and it can't get up.)
To: occamrzr06
We are loosing our cents of spell because of phonix.
15
posted on
07/03/2008 3:31:40 PM PDT
by
wildbill
( FR---changing history by erasing it from memory.)
To: Petronski
>> Voila is French for “here it is.”
> “There it is.”
> “Here it is” is Voici.
Voila!
16
posted on
07/03/2008 3:31:46 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
(~ ~ FREE LAZAMATAZ! ~ ~ [Shipping and handling charges may apply.])
To: Slings and Arrows
17
posted on
07/03/2008 3:33:01 PM PDT
by
Petronski
(Scripture & Tradition must be accepted & honored w/equal sentiments of devotion & reverence. CCC 82)
To: i_dont_chat
The hammer was taken from me for improper postings. I hope to get it back by Labor Day.
To: occamrzr06
What's the proper usage with this guy?
-PJ
19
posted on
07/03/2008 3:37:35 PM PDT
by
Political Junkie Too
(Repeal the 17th amendment -- it's the "Fairness Doctrine" for Congress!)
To: retrokitten
PEEVES!
20
posted on
07/03/2008 3:38:14 PM PDT
by
null and void
(every Muslim, the minute he can differentiate, carries hate of Americans, Jews & Christians - OBL)
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