Comments on: What’s Going On with “Underestimate”? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what%e2%80%99s-going-on-with-%e2%80%9cunderestimate%e2%80%9d/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:29:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: David http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what%e2%80%99s-going-on-with-%e2%80%9cunderestimate%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-376203 David Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:08:26 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4709#comment-376203 I've always used "overstate" instead of "overestimate" when I'm attempting to convey an unobtainable limit. "When it comes to longevity, it's impossible to overstate the importance of breathing." I suppose there's a different connotation in "stating" versus "estimating" something, but in most contexts the point is rather moot. I’ve always used “overstate” instead of “overestimate” when I’m attempting to convey an unobtainable limit.

“When it comes to longevity, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of breathing.”

I suppose there’s a different connotation in “stating” versus “estimating” something, but in most contexts the point is rather moot.

]]> By: Anton Meneghella http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what%e2%80%99s-going-on-with-%e2%80%9cunderestimate%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-265374 Anton Meneghella Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:16:09 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4709#comment-265374 Is it possible that we are overestimating the value people place on phrases of value, to have a pet peeve about them getting the phrasing wrong. The other related, and very common misused phrase is "cheap at half the price!" - duh! of course it would be cheaper if an item was discounted by 50%. The original and correct phrase "cheap at twice the price." means that even if you have to pay two times as much for an item, you are still getting a bargain. I fell we can not overestimate the value of this discussion, but will the commonality of mis-use render correct usage outdated, as per fulsome? Is it possible that we are overestimating the value people place on phrases of value, to have a pet peeve about them getting the phrasing wrong.

The other related, and very common misused phrase is “cheap at half the price!” – duh! of course it would be cheaper if an item was discounted by 50%.

The original and correct phrase “cheap at twice the price.” means that even if you have to pay two times as much for an item, you are still getting a bargain.

I fell we can not overestimate the value of this discussion, but will the commonality of mis-use render correct usage outdated, as per fulsome?

]]> By: Jeffrey D. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what%e2%80%99s-going-on-with-%e2%80%9cunderestimate%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-252476 Jeffrey D. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:43:00 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4709#comment-252476 This reminds me of one of my pet peeves. I hate it when people say "I could care less," when they mean they care so little about something that they "couldn't care less." This reminds me of one of my pet peeves. I hate it when people say “I could care less,” when they mean they care so little about something that they “couldn’t care less.”

]]> By: Rod http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what%e2%80%99s-going-on-with-%e2%80%9cunderestimate%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-249208 Rod Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:08:32 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4709#comment-249208 If you couldn't care less you don't care at all. Don't under-estimate old sayings If you couldn’t care less you don’t care at all.
Don’t under-estimate old sayings

]]> By: Libby Lewis http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what%e2%80%99s-going-on-with-%e2%80%9cunderestimate%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-249129 Libby Lewis Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:40:20 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4709#comment-249129 The discussion "What's Going on with "Underestimate"? reminds me of the similar confusion between the comments "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less." The first tells us that the speaker actually cares about the topic; if you could care less, then you have some amount of "care" in you. When speakers actually don't care at all, then it's not possible to care less than they already do. Therefore, they couldn't care less. One of my pet peeves! I think I have scars on my tongue from biting it whenever I hear this mistake!! :-) The discussion “What’s Going on with “Underestimate”? reminds me of the similar confusion between the comments “I could care less” and “I couldn’t care less.” The first tells us that the speaker actually cares about the topic; if you could care less, then you have some amount of “care” in you. When speakers actually don’t care at all, then it’s not possible to care less than they already do. Therefore, they couldn’t care less.

One of my pet peeves! I think I have scars on my tongue from biting it whenever I hear this mistake!! :-)

]]>