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Difference between revisions of "Disputed words"

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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".
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Several of ''[[Countdown]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>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".
 +
 
 +
For an overview of how words are adjudicated, see the [[Contestant Guidelines]].
  
 
==Mass noun plurals==
 
==Mass noun plurals==
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The Countdown rules state:-
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Some of these have been allowed and disallowed at different times, e.g.
  
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<blockquote>
 
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These notes outline the general rules that the judges in dictionary corner use when deciding whether a noun can have a plural.
 
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Nouns and senses of nouns may be labelled in the dictionary as being either [MASS NOUN] or [COUNT NOUN].
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
−
 
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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.
 
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Categories of mass nouns that can take a plural:
 
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#Types or varieties of:
 
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#*food, e.g. yogurt/yogurts, pasta/pastas, cheese/cheeses
 
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#*drink: e.g. rum/rums, lager/lagers
 
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#*plants: e.g. bergamot
 
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#*certain languages or subjects: e.g. science/sciences
 
−
#*metals and alloys: e.g. steel/steels, solder/solders
 
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#*rocks: e.g. lava/lavas, clay/clays
 
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#*chemical compounds: e.g. fluoride/fluorides
 
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#*some substances or materials: e.g. rind/rinds, soil/soils, sealskin/sealskins, suncream/suncreams
 
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#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)
 
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#Shades of colours: e.g. pink/pinks, scarlet/scarlets, grey/greys
 
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#An instance of:
 
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#*an action or process: e.g. genocide (act of genocide = genocides)
 
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#*a surgical operation: e.g. ablation/ablations
 
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#*an emotion, pain, or feeling: e.g. backache/backaches, grief (an instance or cause of grief = griefs),
 
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#An area of land of a specified type: e.g. terrain/terrains
 
−
</blockquote>
 
−
 
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Clearly these rules are quite ambiguous and some words have been allowed and disallowed at different times, e.g.
 
 
* {{word|LOGICS}}
 
* {{word|LOGICS}}
 
* {{word|OPALINES}}
 
* {{word|OPALINES}}
 
* [[Episode 5627|{{word|PLUMAGES}}]]
 
* [[Episode 5627|{{word|PLUMAGES}}]]
 
* {{word|SEDATIONS}}
 
* {{word|SEDATIONS}}
−
* {{word|STOWAGES}}
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* {{word|STOWAGES}} (now has a [COUNT NOUN] sense)
 +
* {{word|TOWAGES}}
 +
* {{word|TRUANCIES}}
 +
* {{word|UPTAKES}}
  
 
Some words have no obvious basis for pluralisation but have been allowed (implicitly or explicitly) at various points, e.g. [[Episode 4611|{{word|PELAGES}}]].
 
Some words have no obvious basis for pluralisation but have been allowed (implicitly or explicitly) at various points, e.g. [[Episode 4611|{{word|PELAGES}}]].
−
 
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Even words which are explicitly listed in the introduction are generally not permitted if their entry doesn't support it.
 
  
 
==Adjective inflections==
 
==Adjective inflections==
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Countdown rules state:-
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The following words are allowed on [[Apterous]], but may not be allowed on ''[[Countdown]]'':
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<blockquote>
 
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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.
 
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</blockquote>
 
  
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This rule can applied somewhat arbitrarily.
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* {{word|BRUTER, BRUTEST}} (assumed inflections of {{word|BRUT}}).
 +
* {{word|CHIEFER, CHIEFEST}}
 +
* {{word|[[Episode 7834|DUSKER]], DUSKEST}}
 +
* {{word|FARSER, FARSEST}} (see [[hard-to-find words]])
 +
* {{word|FEINTER, FEINTEST}}
 +
* {{word|JOINTEST}}
 +
* {{word|MAINER, MAINEST}}
  
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===Allowed on [[Apterous]], may not be allowed on Countdown===
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Another issue is adjectives labelled "[in combination]". It is generally assumed that these are not allowed.
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* BRUTER, BRUTEST (Assumed inflections of BRUT).
 
−
* CHIEFER, CHIEFEST
 
−
* DUSKER, DUSKEST
 
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* FEINTER, FEINTEST
 
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* JOINTEST
 
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* MAINER, MAINEST
 
  
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Another issue is adjectives labelled "[in combination]". It is generally assumed that these are not allowed.
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==Passive verbs==
 +
Some verbs appear as headwords but with only the passive form specified, such as {{word|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]].
  
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==Verbs==
 
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===Passive verbs===
 
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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|ENAMOUR}}
 
* {{word|LENITE}}
 
* {{word|LENITE}}
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==American spellings==
 
==American spellings==
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''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.
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''[[Countdown]]'' rules state that American words are permitted, while American spellings are not. This occasionally causes issues because the ''[[Oxford Dictionaries Premium|ODP]]'' itself makes no such distinction, simply marking words as "US" in either case. Generally the distinction is obvious but sometimes it's debatable.
  
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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.
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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.
  
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Entries spelled {{word|-IZE}} or {{word|-IZER}} and inflections are also allowed, as this is actually an Oxford spelling rather than a US spelling.
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Entries spelled {{word|-IZE}} or {{word|-IZER}} and inflections are also allowed, as this is actually an {{w|Oxford spelling}} rather than a US spelling.
  
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*{{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}}.
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{{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==
 
==Capitalised words with lower-case usages==
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Any words and inflections in ODP which contain a capital letter are not allowed (e.g. {{word|Kevlar {{x}}}}, {{word|eBay {{x}}}}).
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Any words and inflections in ''ODP'' which contain a capital letter are not allowed (e.g. {{word|Kevlar {{x}}}}, {{word|eBay {{x}}}}).
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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.:
 
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'''Orarian'''
 
  
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Pronunciation: /ɒˈrɛːrɪən/  Pronunciation: /əˈrɛːrɪən/
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However, some words do have instances in which a lower-case capital letter is used (e.g. the verbs 'to {{word|GOOGLE}}' and 'to {{word|HOOVER}}' are spelled with a lower-case g and h respectively, and therefore allowed).
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ADJECTIVE
 
  
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'''Chiefly with lower-case initial'''. Living by the shore. ''rare'' .
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=="In singular" words==
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Plurals of nouns marked [IN SINGULAR] 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.
  
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==Unknown rules==
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==Plural of words only preceded by "the"==
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Occasionally, the dictionary's intention is difficult to discern:
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These words might or might not be interpreted as mass nouns:
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* {{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.
 
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* {{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.
 
  
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==Other==
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* [[Episode 8234|{{word|BEYOND}}]]
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* 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.
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* {{word|ESCHATON}}
 +
* {{word|INTERNET}}
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* {{word|SANDMAN}}
 +
* {{word|SERENE}}
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* {{word|YONDER}}
  
 
[[Category:Study aids]]
 
[[Category:Study aids]]

Latest revision as of 02:21, 16 September 2024

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".

For an overview of how words are adjudicated, see the Contestant Guidelines.

Mass noun plurals

Some of these have been allowed and disallowed at different times, e.g.

  • LOGICS
  • OPALINES
  • PLUMAGES
  • SEDATIONS
  • STOWAGES (now has a [COUNT NOUN] sense)
  • TOWAGES
  • TRUANCIES
  • UPTAKES

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

Adjective inflections

The following words are allowed on Apterous, but may not be allowed on Countdown:

  • BRUTER, BRUTEST (assumed inflections of BRUT).
  • CHIEFER, CHIEFEST
  • DUSKER, DUSKEST
  • FARSER, FARSEST (see hard-to-find words)
  • FEINTER, FEINTEST
  • JOINTEST
  • MAINER, MAINEST

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

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.

MODIST has been both allowed and disallowed over the years. It was disallowed in 2003, disallowed in 2018, but allowed in 2021. It is labelled as the "US equivalent" of MODISTE.

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).

"In singular" words

Plurals of nouns marked [IN SINGULAR] 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.

Plural of words only preceded by "the"

These words might or might not be interpreted as mass nouns:

  • BEYOND
  • ESCHATON
  • INTERNET
  • SANDMAN
  • SERENE
  • YONDER
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