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Difference between revisions of "Disputed words"

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Several of [[Countdown]]'s rules regarding which [[ODE]] words are permitted and which are not are applied inconsistently. This page lists words which should be "approached with caution".
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Several of [[Countdown]]'s rules regarding which [[Oxford Dictionaries Premium]] words are permitted and which are not are applied inconsistently. This page lists words which should be "approached with caution".
  
 
==Mass noun plurals==
 
==Mass noun plurals==
−
The Countdown rules state blah blah.
+
The Countdown rules state:-
 +
 
 +
<blockquote>
 +
These notes outline the general rules that the judges in dictionary corner use when deciding whether a noun can have a plural.
 +
Nouns and senses of nouns may be labelled in the dictionary as being either [MASS NOUN] or [COUNT NOUN].
 +
If an entry for a noun has no label, it indicates that the noun is an ordinary countable noun, and a plural is allowed: for example, table-tables, boy-boys, book-books, lass-lasses, and so on.
 +
If an entry for a noun has the label [MASS NOUN] it means that the word is not usually or typically used in the plural, for example 'sanidine'. In this case the plural would not be allowed.
 +
 
 +
However, there are particular types of mass nouns that can take a plural under certain circumstances – for instance when referring to different types of something such as food. Because these types of nouns follow regular rules for forming plurals in particular contexts, the dictionary does not generally indicate that a plural may be allowed. The main types are listed below. Where a noun falls into one of these categories, it means that a plural is usually allowed, though each individual case will be judged on its merits.
 +
 
 +
Categories of mass nouns that can take a plural:
 +
#Types or varieties of:
 +
#*food, e.g. yogurt/yogurts, pasta/pastas, cheese/cheeses
 +
#*drink: e.g. rum/rums, lager/lagers
 +
#*plants: e.g. bergamot
 +
#*certain languages or subjects: e.g. science/sciences
 +
#*metals and alloys: e.g. steel/steels, solder/solders
 +
#*rocks: e.g. lava/lavas, clay/clays
 +
#*chemical compounds: e.g. fluoride/fluorides
 +
#*some substances or materials: e.g. rind/rinds, soil/soils, sealskin/sealskins, suncream/suncreams
 +
#Portions or units of something, especially food and drink: e.g. lager (glasses/bottles of lager = lagers), paella (dishes of paella = paellas), vindaloo (dishes/plates of vindaloo = vindaloos)
 +
#Shades of colours: e.g. pink/pinks, scarlet/scarlets, grey/greys
 +
#An instance of:
 +
#*an action or process: e.g. genocide (act of genocide = genocides)
 +
#*a surgical operation: e.g. ablation/ablations
 +
#*an emotion, pain, or feeling: e.g. backache/backaches, grief (an instance or cause of grief = griefs),
 +
#An area of land of a specified type: e.g. terrain/terrains
 +
</blockquote>
 +
 
 +
Clearly these rules are quite ambiguous and some words have been allowed and disallowed at different times, e.g.
 +
* {{word|LOGICS}}
 +
* {{word|OPALINES}}
 +
* [[Episode 5627|{{word|PLUMAGES}}]]
 +
* {{word|SEDATIONS}}
 +
* {{word|STOWAGES}}
 +
 
 +
Some words have no obvious basis for pluralisation but have been allowed (implicitly or explicitly) at various points, e.g. [[Episode 4611|{{word|PELAGES}}]].
 +
 
 +
Even words which are explicitly listed in the introduction are generally not permitted if their entry doesn't support it.
  
 
==Adjective inflections==
 
==Adjective inflections==
−
Countdown rules state that all one-syllable adjectives have one-word comparative and superlative forms (i.e. they take -ER and -EST).
+
Countdown rules state:-
−
===Allowed on [[apterous]], may not be allowed on Countdown===
+
<blockquote>
 +
The rule of thumb for Countdown is that comparatives of all 2-syllable adjectives must be specified in the dictionary or they will not be allowed on the show. You’ll get used to what is acceptable and what isn’t over a period of time – but in general, if it’s not listed in the dictionary, it is not allowed – with ONE exception – and this is for 1-syllable adjectives like dark, cold, bleak. The dictionary doesn’t list darker and darkest, colder and coldest etc, as we have a rule that the vast majority of 1-syllable adjectives can be extended in this way, but do be aware this rule doesn't cover every single possibility.
 +
</blockquote>
 +
 
 +
This rule can applied somewhat arbitrarily.
 +
 
 +
===Allowed on [[Apterous]], may not be allowed on Countdown===
 
* BRUTER, BRUTEST (Assumed inflections of BRUT).
 
* BRUTER, BRUTEST (Assumed inflections of BRUT).
 +
* CHIEFER, CHIEFEST
 +
* DUSKER, DUSKEST
 +
* FEINTER, FEINTEST
 +
* JOINTEST
 +
* MAINER, MAINEST
 +
 +
Another issue is adjectives labelled "[in combination]". It is generally assumed that these are not allowed.
 +
 +
==Verbs==
 +
===Passive verbs===
 +
Some verbs appear as headwords but with only the passive form specified, such as "lenite (be lenited)". It is not clear whether the other inflections are to be allowed, and in practice rulings have been inconsistent (e.g. {{word|REPUTING}} in Episodes [[Episode 3938|3938]] and [[Episode 5146|5146]]). These are presently allowed on ''apterous''.
 +
* {{word|ENAMOUR}}
 +
* {{word|LENITE}}
 +
* {{word|NEAP}}
 +
* {{word|REPUTE}}
  
 
==American spellings==
 
==American spellings==
−
Countdown rules that American words are permitted, while American spellings are not. This occasionally causes issues because the ODE itself makes no such distinction, simply marking words as "US" in either case. Generally the distinction is obvious but sometimes it's debatable.
+
''Countdown'' rules state that American words are permitted, while American spellings are not. This occasionally causes issues because the ODP itself makes no such distinction, simply marking words as "US" in either case. Generally the distinction is obvious but sometimes it's debatable.
−
===Allowed on [[apterous]], may not be allowed on Countdown===
+
 
−
* ASSHOLE (Considered US spelling of ARSEHOLE but has a recognisably different pronunciation in UK and US dialect).
+
A particularly perplexing example is {{word|SULFUR}}; there is no such label, implying that {{word|SULFUR}} is valid, and a usage note specifies that "the -f- spelling is now the standard form in all related words in the field in both British and US contexts". Other such -f- spellings, including {{word|SULFITE}} and {{word|SULFIDE}}, are also allowed.
−
* BRINKSMANSHIP (Considered US spelling of BRINKMANSHIP which is obviously just nonsense.)
+
 
 +
Entries spelled {{word|-IZE}} or {{word|-IZER}} and inflections are also allowed, as this is actually an Oxford spelling rather than a US spelling.
 +
 
 +
*{{word|MODIST}} has been both allowed and disallowed over the years. It was [[Episode 3605|disallowed in 2003]], [[Episode 6785|disallowed in 2018]], but [[Episode 7625|allowed in 2021]]. It is labelled as the "US equivalent" of {{word|MODISTE}}.
 +
 
 +
==Capitalised words with lower-case usages==
 +
Any words and inflections in ODP which contain a capital letter are not allowed (e.g. {{word|Kevlar {{x}}}}, {{word|eBay {{x}}}}).
 +
 
 +
However, some words do have instances in which a lower-case capital letter is used (e.g. the verbs 'to google' and 'to hoover' are spelled with a lower-case g and h respectively, and therefore allowed). There are a handful of instances which are less obvious, e.g.:
 +
 
 +
'''Orarian'''
 +
 
 +
Pronunciation: /ɒˈrɛːrɪən/  Pronunciation: /əˈrɛːrɪən/
 +
ADJECTIVE
 +
 
 +
'''Chiefly with lower-case initial'''. Living by the shore. ''rare'' .
 +
 
 +
==Unknown rules==
 +
Occasionally, the dictionary's intention is difficult to discern:
 +
* {{word|LAGOBISES}}: {{word|LAGOBIS}} specified in the {{word|LEGGO}} entry; plural is questionable as it is listed underneath ADJECTIVE, but definition implies this could be a noun.
 +
* {{word|OUTLAIN}}, {{word|OUTLIED}}: definition of {{word|OUTLIE}} is ambiguous as it could mean to outlie geographically, or to tell more lies than the next person.
 +
 
 +
==Other==
 +
* Plurals of nouns marked [IN SINGULAR]: the plural of these have been disallowed during the paper dictionary era (e.g. {{word|OUTSETS}}). As of the ODP era, this rule has since been relaxed, so all [IN SINGULAR] words are allowed the plural.
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Study aids]]

Latest revision as of 22:01, 27 September 2023

Several of Countdown's rules regarding which Oxford Dictionaries Premium words are permitted and which are not are applied inconsistently. This page lists words which should be "approached with caution".

Mass noun plurals

The Countdown rules state:-

These notes outline the general rules that the judges in dictionary corner use when deciding whether a noun can have a plural. Nouns and senses of nouns may be labelled in the dictionary as being either [MASS NOUN] or [COUNT NOUN]. If an entry for a noun has no label, it indicates that the noun is an ordinary countable noun, and a plural is allowed: for example, table-tables, boy-boys, book-books, lass-lasses, and so on. If an entry for a noun has the label [MASS NOUN] it means that the word is not usually or typically used in the plural, for example 'sanidine'. In this case the plural would not be allowed.

However, there are particular types of mass nouns that can take a plural under certain circumstances – for instance when referring to different types of something such as food. Because these types of nouns follow regular rules for forming plurals in particular contexts, the dictionary does not generally indicate that a plural may be allowed. The main types are listed below. Where a noun falls into one of these categories, it means that a plural is usually allowed, though each individual case will be judged on its merits.

Categories of mass nouns that can take a plural:

  1. Types or varieties of:
    • food, e.g. yogurt/yogurts, pasta/pastas, cheese/cheeses
    • drink: e.g. rum/rums, lager/lagers
    • plants: e.g. bergamot
    • certain languages or subjects: e.g. science/sciences
    • metals and alloys: e.g. steel/steels, solder/solders
    • rocks: e.g. lava/lavas, clay/clays
    • chemical compounds: e.g. fluoride/fluorides
    • some substances or materials: e.g. rind/rinds, soil/soils, sealskin/sealskins, suncream/suncreams
  2. Portions or units of something, especially food and drink: e.g. lager (glasses/bottles of lager = lagers), paella (dishes of paella = paellas), vindaloo (dishes/plates of vindaloo = vindaloos)
  3. Shades of colours: e.g. pink/pinks, scarlet/scarlets, grey/greys
  4. An instance of:
    • an action or process: e.g. genocide (act of genocide = genocides)
    • a surgical operation: e.g. ablation/ablations
    • an emotion, pain, or feeling: e.g. backache/backaches, grief (an instance or cause of grief = griefs),
  5. An area of land of a specified type: e.g. terrain/terrains

Clearly these rules are quite ambiguous and some words have been allowed and disallowed at different times, e.g.

  • LOGICS
  • OPALINES
  • PLUMAGES
  • SEDATIONS
  • STOWAGES

Some words have no obvious basis for pluralisation but have been allowed (implicitly or explicitly) at various points, e.g. PELAGES.

Even words which are explicitly listed in the introduction are generally not permitted if their entry doesn't support it.

Adjective inflections

Countdown rules state:-

The rule of thumb for Countdown is that comparatives of all 2-syllable adjectives must be specified in the dictionary or they will not be allowed on the show. You’ll get used to what is acceptable and what isn’t over a period of time – but in general, if it’s not listed in the dictionary, it is not allowed – with ONE exception – and this is for 1-syllable adjectives like dark, cold, bleak. The dictionary doesn’t list darker and darkest, colder and coldest etc, as we have a rule that the vast majority of 1-syllable adjectives can be extended in this way, but do be aware this rule doesn't cover every single possibility.

This rule can applied somewhat arbitrarily.

Allowed on Apterous, may not be allowed on Countdown

  • BRUTER, BRUTEST (Assumed inflections of BRUT).
  • CHIEFER, CHIEFEST
  • DUSKER, DUSKEST
  • FEINTER, FEINTEST
  • JOINTEST
  • MAINER, MAINEST

Another issue is adjectives labelled "[in combination]". It is generally assumed that these are not allowed.

Verbs

Passive verbs

Some verbs appear as headwords but with only the passive form specified, such as "lenite (be lenited)". It is not clear whether the other inflections are to be allowed, and in practice rulings have been inconsistent (e.g. REPUTING in Episodes 3938 and 5146). These are presently allowed on apterous.

  • ENAMOUR
  • LENITE
  • NEAP
  • REPUTE

American spellings

Countdown rules state that American words are permitted, while American spellings are not. This occasionally causes issues because the ODP itself makes no such distinction, simply marking words as "US" in either case. Generally the distinction is obvious but sometimes it's debatable.

A particularly perplexing example is SULFUR; there is no such label, implying that SULFUR is valid, and a usage note specifies that "the -f- spelling is now the standard form in all related words in the field in both British and US contexts". Other such -f- spellings, including SULFITE and SULFIDE, are also allowed.

Entries spelled -IZE or -IZER and inflections are also allowed, as this is actually an Oxford spelling rather than a US spelling.

Capitalised words with lower-case usages

Any words and inflections in ODP which contain a capital letter are not allowed (e.g. Kevlar ☓, eBay ☓).

However, some words do have instances in which a lower-case capital letter is used (e.g. the verbs 'to google' and 'to hoover' are spelled with a lower-case g and h respectively, and therefore allowed). There are a handful of instances which are less obvious, e.g.:

Orarian

Pronunciation: /ɒˈrɛːrɪən/ Pronunciation: /əˈrɛːrɪən/ ADJECTIVE

Chiefly with lower-case initial. Living by the shore. rare .

Unknown rules

Occasionally, the dictionary's intention is difficult to discern:

  • LAGOBISES: LAGOBIS specified in the LEGGO entry; plural is questionable as it is listed underneath ADJECTIVE, but definition implies this could be a noun.
  • OUTLAIN, OUTLIED: definition of OUTLIE is ambiguous as it could mean to outlie geographically, or to tell more lies than the next person.

Other

  • Plurals of nouns marked [IN SINGULAR]: the plural of these have been disallowed during the paper dictionary era (e.g. OUTSETS). As of the ODP era, this rule has since been relaxed, so all [IN SINGULAR] words are allowed the plural.
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