Grammar 101: Uninterested and Disinterested
I'm getting closer to publishing Grammar 101 as a book on Amazon's KDP platform. Here's #16.
Grammar 101: Uninterested and Disinterested
Previously:
Its and It's...
i.e. and e.g....
Lie and Lay...
Youse, Yous, Alot and Lot's...
The Difference Between a Weasel and a Stoat...
Uninterested and Disinterested
These two look similar but have quite different meanings.
Many people use "disinterested" when they mean "uninterested".
Uninterested
Uninterested means exactly what you think. It means that you have no interest in the subject. You simply don't care about it.
"My Dad is obsessed with model trains, but I'm completely uninterested in them."
"I was uninterested in the lecture's subject matter and can hardly remember what it was about."
Disinterested
Disinterested means having no personal stake in the matter or colloquially, no skin in the game.
For example, say there was a controversial goal scored in a soccer game. You couldn't seek a disinterested opinion from a fan of one of the sides. But if there were a University professor who wasn't a fan of either side but was an expert in the rules of soccer and how they were applied, he could give an opinion that you could rely on as disinterested.
Note that the professor isn't uninterested, but can give a disinterested opinion.
Recent Comments
57
Go for it, Phil.
Publish.
The English language, in my opinion, is a language that has no boundaries. But you are talking about Grammar and the Use of the same, I think.
According to "Britannica," English is:
A west Germanic language of the Indo-European language family that is closely related to the Frisian, German, and Dutch (in Belgium called Flemish) languages.
English originated in England and is the dominant language of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various island nations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
It is also the official language of India, the Philippines, Singapore, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa.
English is the first choice of foreign language in most other countries of the world, and it is that status that has given it the position of a global lingua franca. It is estimated that about a third of the world’s population, some two billion persons, now use English.
Uninterested
Uninterested means exactly what you think. It means that you have no interest in the subject. You simply don't care about it.
Disinterested means having no personal stake in the matter or colloquially, no skin in the game.
col·lo·qui·al:
used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
"colloquial and everyday language"
Disinterested have something to say but will not answer until questioned.
Uninterested maintain their disinterest until "shit hit the fan" so to speak.
Just publish but allow for feedback.
I see too much going out to the "publishing" block without any any recourse for feedback.
Kindest regards from Canada.
Paul Mindra.
Thanks, Paul. I might include some of this information in an introduction.
I have several books published on Amazon and of course anyone can publish a review in response (including your competitors).
In addition, I always include a link to the appropriate website at the end of the book.
Good one, Phil.
I'm humbled. I'm a grammar nazi, and I'm sure I've used "disinterested" improperly!
Grammar 101 as a book is a great idea!
Is there a more complicated language than English? I always found it absurd that we have to study our own language for 12 years in school, and most of us still come out unable to speak it.
Make sure to add a section to the book about words that are entirely misused, like "ironic", and "literally" (two very common ones, these days). And phrases like, "The thing is is that..." is another one that makes me grind my teeth...
Ok, one more:
"Irregardless".
Cheers!
Craig
Hi Craig.
Nice response.
The English language has 26 if I am correct.
Sanskrit has 36 plus 5 if I am correct.
I agree that English should be the universal language.
English is hard to define and maintain. "But it is what it is," are we correct?
Make sure to add a section to the book about words that are entirely misused, like "ironic", and "literally" (two very common ones, these days). And phrases like, "The thing is is that..." is another one that makes me grind my teeth...
Ok, one more:
"Irregardless".
Hard to maintain, for sure!
The problem is that people now just say what everyone else is saying, as wrong as it may be. I don't think they are very focussed on teaching things that matter in schools, anymore.
History has already been altered beyond recognition. We might as well completely bastardize the language, too...
Some things need to remain sacred, or eventually nothing will be!
It's an ongoing balance between maintaining standards and accepting the natural evolution of the language.
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More good stuff here, Phil!
Jeff
Thanks, Jeff. Getting close to publishing.
That's awesome too, Phil!
Jeff