Comments on: “Wreck,” “Wreak,” and Other [rek] Words

By: Tarah Sweeney

Tarah Sweeney — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:45:43 +0000

No, I’m afraid I’m still clueless. Oy, this is frustrating. Although, I do think I’m starting to see a tiny glimmer of understanding shining though.

Please could someone explain when to use start and when to use begin instead?

By: Maeve

Maeve — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:08:03 +0000

Chris,
I’m glad the article on “shall” and “will” proved of use.

Your question about “rack and ruin” deserves an article of its own and I’ll get right onto it. Meanwhile, I’ll tell you that it is “wrack and ruin” and the word is related to “wreck.”

Cheers

By: Chris O'Brien

Chris O'Brien — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:40:05 +0000

Is the phrase “rack and ruin” (not sure if that first word is spelled properly) closely related to “wreck”? I am not sure how to search for it. I’ve heard it spoken but have never encountered it in a book, so far as I can recall. I love this mailing list and have used the explanation of “will” vs. “shall” in my Taiwanese students’ college English writing class. Most of them had NEVER been introduced to “shall” at all in their seven or more years of English classes!
Thanks a dozen.

By: Benjamin Baxter

Benjamin Baxter — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:49:32 +0000

This post is reekless. No typo.

By: Grace

Grace — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:48:17 +0000

Thanks so much for including ‘I reckon’!
Both of my parent are from the South, but I live in the North (of America), so a lot of my friends just consider it a ’southern’ phrase. It’s actually in the Bible, though. If you care to look.