Reuters Blogs

Good, Bad, and Ugly

Reader reaction to Reuters news

07:48 October 13th, 2009

Treble without a cause?

Posted by: Robert Basler
Tags: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, , , ,

Microsoft launches new phone software

The market for phones is set to treble or quadruple in the next few years, Ballmer said, and Microsoft is ready to challenge other phone makers for market share.

The following quote: “The market for phones is set to treble or quadruple in the next few years, Ballmer said, and Microsoft is ready to challenge other phone makers for market share.” was on your site today.

While I do have trouble getting decent bass on my cellphone, the treble is quite good.

T.A.

Ballmer used the word correctly. You may wish to check a dictionary:

Treble: verb (used with object), verb (used without object) to make or become three times as much or as many; triple. GBU Editor

Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation Steve Ballmer gestures during a news conference in Munich, October 7, 2009. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Join the Good, Bad, Ugly Facebook Blog Network

4 comments so far

I think you’re kind of sleazing. It’s chiefly British. When was the last time you saw a skilled American writer use it?

- Posted by Pete Cann

Dictionary.com says nothing about it being chiefly British. And since when is that sleazing, anyway?

- Posted by Robert Basler

Using a Britishism isn’t sleazing. Using an invalid pretext to defend inappropriate action is. Merriam-Webster’s 11th does accept it without calling it archaic or British. By the rules, you’ve got me, but when was the last time you saw a skilled American writer say “treble” rather than “triple?” I’m not sure Ballmer is a good authority. However, if your quote was accurate, and I would assume it was, the eccentricity was Ballmer’s and none of yours.

- Posted by Pete Cann

Thanks Pete, I’m sure you’ll get me next time…

- Posted by Robert Basler

Post Your Comment

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word

House Rules:
  • We moderate all comments and will publish everything that advances the post directly or with relevant tangential information
  • We try not to publish comments that we think are offensive or appear to pass you off as another person, and we will be conservative if comments may be considered libelous information.