Words and Phrases.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20282, 17 April 1934, Page 8

Words and Phrases.

STATEMENT that Shaw was a provocative man was the subject of an inquiry, which could be answered only briefly yesterday. Provocative means literally to call forth, and although in the commonest sense it is used of anger or resentment, it means also to urge or stimulate to activity, to arouse, incite or be the cause or occasion of some feeling or activity, as to provoke a smile. Provocation, standing by itself, would almost always mean the act of provoking resentment or vindictive feeling. In law, provocation means such conduct as may serve to justify an assault. The context should' be a guide to the meaning of a word. It would be better to say that Shaw used provocative arguments than that he was a provocative man. Yesterday’s correspondent questioned the use of the phrase “ Everyone seemed at their ease.” The plural is creeping in after everyone and everybody because grammatical exactitude would demand “ everyone seemed to be at his or her ease,” and even that is not perfect, because in the best English the word one is not interchangeable with his or her. As you would not say everyone seemed to be at everyone’s ease, you are forced to fall back on their, but the construction ought to be avoided. TOUCHSTONE.