Re: [OT] non technical Q: bad or worse. Was: To do the same as Windows safe mode...........
On Wed, Jan 1, 2014 at 9:24 PM, Eike Lantzsch <zp6cge@gmx.net> wrote:
> On Wednesday 01 January 2014 22:31:58 Charlie wrote:
>> On Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:59:36 +1100 Scott Ferguson sent:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> > Less worse. You meant less worse. :)
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> Yes, less worse.
>>
> Sorry I got this honest question 'cause I'm not a native English
> speaker and what is worse: I don't live in an English speaking country
> what means that some colloquialisms are well over my head. I do not
> intend to nitpick.
>
> I found "less worse" somewhat funny. Is that part of modern English?
> I learned "not as bad as" but English changed so much since then and
> "not as bad as" does not seem to convey the same shade of meaning as
> "less worse".
>
> I found this article:
>
> http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/22/now-the-less-worse-economy-looks-good/
>
> Is that special biz speak of Hong Kong? T'isnt Scots innit?
>
> Eike
I didn't check the article, but "less worse" is not standard English.
Your suggestion of "not as bad as" is standard.
"Less worse" and "more better" are sort of colloquial forms. I think
the use of "less worse" here is to invoke the parallel of "less evil"
without actually saying the provider is evil, but Scott may have just
been using an Oz dialect. (It's somewhat common in certain other
places, too, such as west Texas. Climate might have something to do
with it?)
--
Joel Rees
Be careful where you see conspiracy.
Look first in your own heart.
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