Microsoft? It didn't say "berm" was an obscure word. It simply didn't include it in it's dictionary. Quit spinning, Pompass.
How to fix Microsoft Word's spell-checker. - By Chris Wilson - Slate Magazine
Obscure Canwest Canspell Words
- Thread starter dumpthemonarchy
- Start date
How to fix Microsoft Word's spell-checker. - By Chris Wilson - Slate Magazine
I am quite OK with that, dumpthemonarchy. In fact I like it when I am fighting many adversaries at one time, that gets my juices going.
I got 388,000 and to the side of where google said how many hits it got on the word "berm" was the word "definitions" in brackets.
So apparently to thos geniuses at RD, Pompass, and you, "berm" is obscure. Sorry if I don't hold you three to be a major source of reference.
Quite so. If Microsoft Word spell checker flags it (and it does) and if Reader’s Digest says it is an obscure word (and it does), then it indeed is an obscure word. Only, perhaps not in this forum.
lmao I suppose it is to those poor schmucks in Toronto. Apparently Reader's Digest is the only "reference" that says berm is an obscure word. Microsoft doesn't have it in it's vocabulary, but then I doubt Microsoft has a big vocabulary to begin with and doesn't specifically say that berm is an obscure word.
I think I agree with TP that Reader's Digest reading level is about Gr. 8.
I think I agree with TP that Reader's Digest reading level is about Gr. 8.
Maybe grade 8 based on today's reading skills- Grade 3-4 when I went to school, which is actually a good thing, it's a magazine for the masses- I enjoy it, nice to read something once in awhile where you don't need a dictionary handy (unless of course you've never heard of "berm".):lol::lol::lol::lol:
I think we need a compromise here- East of the Lakehead it's an obscure word, West of the Lakehead it's common like "cat" and "dog".
You may have something there, JLM. It may be that in a few isolates patches in BC, Alberta etc. it is well known. But that does not cover the whole English speaking world, and the word still must be considered obscure.
In this respect, the word ‘lagniappe’ comes to mind. It hails from New Orleans. So it is quite possible that it is in common usage in New Orleans (I haven’t been to New Orleans, so I wouldn’t know). Nevertheless, it is an obscure word as far as most of English speaking world is concerned.
It may be the same with berm. In the opinion of Reader's Digest (tacitly supported by Microsoft Word) it is an obscure word and I agree.
Berm is in Websters - a much higher authority than Readers Digest or Microsoft ... and there is one around almost every auto salvage yard, fuel depot and aggregate pit.
Speaking of Merriam-Webster:
Maybe RD thinks that berms are obscure in the first definition as in not clearly marked. Or perhaps the 2nd definition: mysterious. "It's a spooky berm you have there, Mr. Farmer".
Speaking of Merriam-Webster:
Maybe RD thinks that berms are obscure in the first definition as in not clearly marked. Or perhaps the 2nd definition: mysterious. "It's a spooky berm you have there, Mr. Farmer".
I think it's got more to do with the word being obscure to the guy who writes the article on definitions for R.D. more than R.D. itself. I may look into further and email a little note to R.D. on the matter.