Those whose profession depends on its daily use say it—dieticians, nutritionists, personal trainers—yet they’re all wrong. It’s enough to make you want to instigate a dictatorship, enforce a law banning them from using ‘regime’ incorrectly and then buy a heck of a lot of shoes. Admittedly, totalitarianism does have its perks. In today’s Grammar 101, we clear up the difference between weight-loss and loss of rights in a handy and easy-to-remember diagram.
Like this post to alert your haphazard friends to their erroneous ways and see an end to silly mistakes. We welcome you to nominate words requiring clarification. Please leave your comments below.
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Eloise King-Smith
4 months ago
Dear Mr Agony Uncle,
You constantly make me giggle, and your poster is funny, but accordingly with what happens in word drift, regime has two meanings!
Where originally referring to a medical course or plan, the meaning has expanded so that it also refers to a political or administrative rule. In fact regimen and regime for either meaning can be used interchangeably, although the use of the word regimen to refer to a dictatorship is now rare. Regimen for medical uses tends to be an American habit, while regime continues to be more usual in the UK medical community. (Poor Australia, where American and British English are both used! Is it shades of grey or gray?!)If you can find a funny way to explain this (I would if I could) that would be great. I don’t want Grammar 101 to be wrong!
Yours Grammatically,
An Amelioratrr.
ps, Source: Online Oxford English Dictionary
Eloise King-Smith
4 months ago
Pardon, that should be “Ameliorator”!