A Conversation for Ask h2g2
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
Icy North Started conversation Apr 17, 2015
It's in the dictionary. It means 'to be expected'. But it just stopped me in my tracks when reading it in a sentence.
I've never used it - have you? And is there any nuance of meaning in 'expectable', which would make it a better word to use than 'to be expected'?
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
Mr. X ---> "Be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes!" Posted Apr 17, 2015
Never seen it before.
I don't think there's any nuance to it, but if it were in common speech patterns then there are certain sentence structures that would.... roll off the tongue a little easier than "to be expected."
As is true of so many words...
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
KB Posted Apr 17, 2015
There seems to be a very slight difference, to me: 'expectable' suggests that it *can* be expected - ie., it isn't impossible - whereas 'to be expected' suggests that it *should* be expected - ie., it is almost certain.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
Xanatic Posted Apr 17, 2015
I do believe I have used it. I would also agree with kb that it's a bit different from saying it is to expected.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
Mr. X ---> "Be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes!" Posted Apr 17, 2015
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
You can call me TC Posted Apr 17, 2015
I agree - it has a different meaning from "to be expected".
Nor do we use "anticipable" which sounds even funnier.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
Bluebottle Posted Apr 17, 2015
Tay, tay, tay, tay,
T-t, t-t, ter, tay, tay,
Take or leave me
Only please believe me
I ain't never gonna use 'expectable'
<BB<
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
SashaQ - happysad Posted Apr 17, 2015
Thank you <BB< - you expressed in words what my brain was thinking when I read the title of this thread
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
Still Incognitas, Still Chairthingy, Still lurking, Still invisible, unnoticeable, missable, unseen, just haunting h2g2 Posted Apr 17, 2015
No.Never heard anyone else use it and I bet any teacher would red pen it straight off.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
SiliconDioxide Posted Apr 17, 2015
No, but I've sat on the expectacle.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
You can call me TC Posted Apr 17, 2015
And the Spanish Inquisition is definitely not expectable.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant Posted Apr 17, 2015
" is there any nuance of meaning in 'expectable', which would make it a better word to use than 'to be expected'?" [Icy North]
"Expectable" is useful if, for whatever reason, you must keep word count low, as it counts as one word, not three. Some magazines require low word count, as in short short stories. Tweets may not exceed 140 characters.
Do you use the word 'expectable'?
2legs - Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side... Posted Apr 18, 2015
expectibility would I expect, be of mor euse, due to its meaning, in context.... perhaps... I don't think I've used expectable though... well... I expect I've never used it... but all words have their plaice. shirly.
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Do you use the word 'expectable'?
- 1: Icy North (Apr 17, 2015)
- 2: Mr. X ---> "Be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes!" (Apr 17, 2015)
- 3: KB (Apr 17, 2015)
- 4: Xanatic (Apr 17, 2015)
- 5: Mr. X ---> "Be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes!" (Apr 17, 2015)
- 6: You can call me TC (Apr 17, 2015)
- 7: Bluebottle (Apr 17, 2015)
- 8: SashaQ - happysad (Apr 17, 2015)
- 9: Still Incognitas, Still Chairthingy, Still lurking, Still invisible, unnoticeable, missable, unseen, just haunting h2g2 (Apr 17, 2015)
- 10: SiliconDioxide (Apr 17, 2015)
- 11: You can call me TC (Apr 17, 2015)
- 12: paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant (Apr 17, 2015)
- 13: 2legs - Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side... (Apr 18, 2015)
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