The Boston Housing Authority is the largest landlord in Boston and the largest public housing authority in New England. As such, the BHA houses approximately 10 percent of the city's residents through its programs.
This is the first time in MONTHS, maybe more, that I've seen "as such" used correctly. Kudos, BHA.
"As such" is one of my usage pet peeves. I cringe when I hear someone saying, "I am always hungry. As such, I eat a lot of food." "As such" does not mean "therefore," which is how most people use it. It has to refer to a noun -- as such a what? You can either say:
I am always hungry. Therefore, I eat a lot of food.
Or:
I am a perpetually hungry person. As such [meaning "as a hungry person"], I eat a lot of food.
As such, please use "as such" correctly. No! What I mean is, in conclusion, please use "as such" correctly. Thank you.
P.S. - An anonymous commenter said they don't like the term "pet peeve." Why not?
(The pink part is his leash. It's important to keep your pet peeve on a leash or he might run amok.)
15 comments:
Among my biggest pet peeves (in addition to the term "pet peeve" itself) are (1) the use of the word "ironically" to mean its opposite; and (2) television news reporters' mechanical use of the expression "of course . . ." as a space-filler when nothing about the statement that follows is obvious ("of course, John D. Weinhauwser is assistant associate undersecretary in the Department of Governmental Services Affairs").
I don't like the term "pet peeve" because I can't understand what it has to do with a pet (and I doubt that most people who use the term have any idea). I'm sure there's some explanation, but, because I can't figure it out even after giving it some thought, the connection can only be tenuous (at least to me). And I do not like the kind of poetry (including metaphor) that relies on tenuous and unnatural connections. Also, I just hate the very sound of the word "peeve" (just as I hate the sound of the word "heave," as in "dry heaves").
It's like a "pet cause" -- it's something that you care about.
From dictionary.com:
pet
–adjective
6. favorite; most preferred: a pet theory.
I like peeve, especially in its adverb form, peevish, because I think the sound of the word captures that peeved feeling. But I can't argue with you about not liking it.
I am in love with your "pet peeve" picture. The leash just makes it work.
-- and also, regarding the tag, I did think of you first, if that's any consolation. :-)
I drew it all by myself! And I have been waiting for someone to tell me how nice it is. (pats self on back)
I love this post. Wonderful!
lol. I'm not the greatest when it comes to grammar but I do have my own grammer pet peeves. Like when people confuse "that" and "which" or "who" and "whom."
It's sad how many people in America can't even speak (or write) their own language!
Is anyone else bothered when people use "more __________" when "___________-er" is appropriate? (For example: "more dumb" instead of "dumber.") I don't know why, but it's driving me crazy!
That's right. Unleash those peeves.
That/which and who/whom don't bother me at all, but that/who does bother me a little (as in "the person that told me" instead of "the person who told me").
I just came from my class in which THAT guy (you know the one I'm talking about) used "as such" . . . wrongly. Man I hate THAT guy.
I second the vote for "that" and "which." I'm also peeved by "a whole nother," the very frequently misused "literally," and when people say the feel "nauseous" instead of "nauseated."
There. I feel better now.
I second the vote for "that" and "which." I'm also peeved by "a whole nother," the very frequently misused "literally," and when people say they feel "nauseous" instead of "nauseated."
There. I feel better now.
My grammar pet peeve is when people misuse "i.e." and "e.g."
i.e. = that is...
e.g. = for example...
Oh, and misuse of "its" and "it's"... that bothers me too. But I never thought about "as such." Good catch.
Mine is when people start sentences with conjunctions and then a comma, like "But, that didn't work out." For some reason a lot of the blogs I read have done this. Why would you do that? That's not even how it sounds when you say something like that out loud!
And I love your picture too.
The "that" vs. "which" thing is nonsense. Fowler invented this "rule" (he said as much). Strunk violated it in the original Elements of Style. George Orwell broke it. The KJV breaks it regularly.
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