GrammarBlog

Mocking Poor Grammar
Since 2007

A noun that is formed from a verb and which describes an action. In English it ends in -ing, eg 'the baking of bread' and 'Smoking damages your health'.

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1. I don’t think that “permanent guest” is an oxymoron. Guest doesn’t imply impermanence to me. Wasn’t Partridge a permananet guest at the Travel Tavern (AKA his “sordid little hell hole”)? Wasnt the Major a permanent guest at Fawlty Towers?

   Comment by MKTB FFS — 18th September, 2009 @ 11:35 am

2. You’re wrong, and you’re a grotesquely ugly freak. The very purpose of guest ales is that they are not permanent and you get variety, intrigue, novelty, and sometimes weird ‘eggy smells’. Ergo in this context it leans towards an oxymoron. Obviously the sign is correct in trying to say that they offer six guest ales on a permanent basis, but the phrasing is clumsy. I enjoy it though.

   Comment by Paddy — 18th September, 2009 @ 12:09 pm

3. Firstly, “grotesquely ugly” must surely be tautology. No need. Secondly, other than the dreadful spelling, this sign is not the worst example of idiocy, particularly as there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with “permanent guest(s)”. You’re just splitting hares.

   Comment by MKTB FFS — 18th September, 2009 @ 12:24 pm

4. splitting hares? :p…………..hair?

   Comment by Chi — 30th September, 2009 @ 7:44 am

5. It really is hard to see that M, Isn’t it? For some reason this reminds me of permafrost. And if you are splitting HAIRS, how big are they? Less than a **** hair?

   Comment by phylladee — 30th October, 2009 @ 10:15 am

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