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rl:

Whilst some of it is just too contrived, it makes the point. The point is that clever changes to the language are neat! And bad ones are not.

Some of the words he uses are not made up at all. Perhaps people more often speak of unrequited love, but, thankfully for the state of the world, it is indeed often requited!

If "unique" is used to mean "unusual", then it can be modified by "very", "fairly", etc.

However, if "unique" is used to mean "sole", then, as you said, there can be no gradient to it.

There is no such meaning of unique!

Well, perhaps there is now, because dictionaries change to reflect usage, even when the usage is wrong. and unique is often misused.

But still, unique really means unique. Just one.

I wish I could. Unfortunately I tend to go by what sounds right rather than the mechanics of why it is right or wrong.

I did learn grammar in school (Wren and Martin, anyone?) but even then could not remember the rules.

"Nonetheless" is correct.

What does "freest" even mean? Is it OK to say "Apple, Appler, Applest"?

Yup, me too!

"Preventative", anyone? The word is "preventive". It is the same case with "Orientated" vs. "oriented".

I am guessing people will soom start saying "Vaccines preventated the virus from becoming a pandemic."

Cheers

The difference is that "free" can be an adjective or an adverb in addition to being a noun or a verb, whereas "apple" is only a noun.

Not up to your usual standard of pedantry! ;) See Binand's reply.

Gosh. I was going to say that it is not an adverb, but, luckily I googled first! It can be be an adjective, adverb or a verb.

Freer and freest sound fine: they look awful. One is free not to write them, but use more or most. Style counts as much as pure grammar.

Quite a convoluted way of saying "comfort" :)

I notice more often people not using punctuation and definitive articles ("the") - as in the quoted post.

Cheers

I think it is called "definite article" - not definitive article.

Hmmm... I don't even remember! <Blush>

indefinate, definate.... Yes, I think you are right

Comfortability is an excellent example of making up a nonsense word.

...No offense to the OP. I'd advise using examples anonymously. I have got myself into trouble before!

Oops! I knew it was "definite" and yet I had a brain-fart and said "definitive"!

Thanks and cheers :)

Today I came across the word "rorty" in two threads, describing engine note. I thought, at first, that it is a word made up by enthusiastic petrol heads. So I Googled and found out that such a word do exist lol:
By the way, "comfortability" is such an invention which only us Indians can come up with rl:

Talking of word invention - this came in my feed a few days back:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/l...ivionaire.html

A young girl from Islamabad is the winner of NYT's Invent a Word challenge.

Oblivionaire... Lovely!

Next word up for consideration: post.

Did I gripe about this before? Very likely. And it seems to be getting more common: T-BHPers love this word. Post reading this, many of them will be posting it and, post posting it will have their tea, and their post-tea walk.

Post is not a drop-in synonym for after. And even if it was, why use an archaic bit of Latin instead?

Interesting: this writer doesn't even approve of using it as a stand-alone word at all! Why “Post” is Not a Synonym for “After.” I wasn't going to go that far, but I wouldn't mind.

Up for discussion...

This writer has made me upset. I think I'll write an admonishing letter to him.
Now, if only there was a way to send it to him..........

Made me upset? This writer has upset me.