Twice is an endangered word. Join the campaign to re-popularize and save it from extinction.
I shudder every time I hear a television or radio presenter use two times instead of twice. Why use two words when one will do? To my ears, it sounds clumsy and uneducated. As an alternative to twice two, I'll concede that two times two is acceptable when reciting multiplication tables but I can't think of another single instance. For example: two times bitten, two times shy cannot compare with the original axiom and two times blessed instead of twice blessed - that's putting a real strain on mercy.!
English is a living language. Every day new words and expressions comes into existence, while at the same time, we gradually stop using certain older words. Thrice, a useful and succinct word, is now forgotten but there's still time to save twice if enough people use it in their everyday conversation. This week make an effort to popularize twice because I predict the next victim will be once. One time more unto the breach and one time upon a time .. . plleasse!
The White Amah, a mystery set against the backdrop of the timber logging industry in Malaysia. Sample or purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456578065
The Biocide Conspiracy, a Young Adult thriller that sweeps readers into the world of biowarfare. Sample or purchase; http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456503367
I shudder every time I hear a television or radio presenter use two times instead of twice. Why use two words when one will do? To my ears, it sounds clumsy and uneducated. As an alternative to twice two, I'll concede that two times two is acceptable when reciting multiplication tables but I can't think of another single instance. For example: two times bitten, two times shy cannot compare with the original axiom and two times blessed instead of twice blessed - that's putting a real strain on mercy.!
English is a living language. Every day new words and expressions comes into existence, while at the same time, we gradually stop using certain older words. Thrice, a useful and succinct word, is now forgotten but there's still time to save twice if enough people use it in their everyday conversation. This week make an effort to popularize twice because I predict the next victim will be once. One time more unto the breach and one time upon a time .. . plleasse!
Ann Massey
http://www.annmasseyauthor.net/
Author of:
The White Amah, a mystery set against the backdrop of the timber logging industry in Malaysia. Sample or purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456578065
The Biocide Conspiracy, a Young Adult thriller that sweeps readers into the world of biowarfare. Sample or purchase; http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456503367