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<h1 class="title">Battling with English - part 3 (HPR Show 2751)</h1>
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<h2 class="author">Dave Morriss</h2>
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<h1>Table of Contents</h1>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#some-word-confusions">Some word confusions</a><ul>
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<li><a href="#confusing-been-and-being">Confusing <em>been</em> and <em>being</em></a><ul>
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<li><a href="#example-of-what-you-should-never-write">Example of what you should never write</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li><a href="#confusing-weather-wether-whether-wither-and-whither">Confusing <em>weather</em>, <em>wether</em>, <em>whether</em>, <em>wither</em> and <em>whither</em></a><ul>
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<li><a href="#examples-of-what-you-should-never-write">Examples of what you should never write</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li><a href="#links">Links</a></li>
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<h2 id="some-word-confusions">Some word confusions</h2>
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<p>In this episode, the third of this series, I’m looking at some words that are sometimes used in the wrong places, often being confused one with another. These words are often particularly difficult to differentiate by people for whom <a href="https://www.englishpractice.com/common-mistakes" title="English Practice - Common Mistakes">English is not their first language</a>.</p>
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<h3 id="confusing-been-and-being">Confusing <em>been</em> and <em>being</em></h3>
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<p>These two words often <em>sound</em> similar, though, as you see, they have different spelling. They are often confused though, particularly by <a href="https://www.englishpractice.com/common-mistakes/difference-9/" title="English Practice - Difference between being and been">people learning English</a>.</p>
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<p>Both are forms of the verb <em>to be</em>.</p>
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<dl>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/been"><b><em>been</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning:</u>(verb)</small> <em><a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/past_participles.htm" title="Grammar Monster: 'What Are Past Participles?'">past participle</a> of be; often used after have</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “I have <u>been</u> enjoying this week’s output from HPR.”
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 2:</u></small> “The children were excited to find out if Santa Claus had <u>been</u> and left gifts.”
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 3:</u></small> “Where have you <u>been</u>, I was expecting you 30 minutes ago!”
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 4:</u></small> “I’ve <u>been</u> there and done that!”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/being"><b><em>being</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 1:</u>(verb)</small> <em><a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/present_participle.htm" title="Grammar Monster: 'What Are Present Participles?'">present participle</a> (usually end with -ing) of be</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “He was <u>being</u> positively rude.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 2:</u>(noun)</small> <em>existence; being alive; living</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “Hacker Public Radio came into <u>being</u> at the end of 2007.”
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 2:</u></small> “‘<em>The Unbearable Lightness of <u>Being</u></em>’ is a 1984 novel by Milan Kundera”<a href="#fn1" class="footnote-ref" id="fnref1"><sup>1</sup></a>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 3:</u></small> “Some of my readers may have an interest in <u>being</u> informed whether or no any portions of the Marshalsea Prison are yet standing.”<a href="#fn2" class="footnote-ref" id="fnref2"><sup>2</sup></a>
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 3:</u></small> <em>the nature or essence of a person</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “My father was the business brains behind it and this affected every fibre of his <u>being</u>.”
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 2:</u></small> “I oppose the reinstatement of the death penalty with every fibre of my <u>being</u>.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 4:</u>(noun)</small> <em>a real or imaginary living creature or entity, especially an intelligent one</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “It is also a matter of how all living <u>beings</u>, not just human <u>beings</u>, live side by side.”
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 2:</u></small> “The motif of alien <u>beings</u> peopling our planet is a very common one in science fiction.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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</dl>
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<h4 id="example-of-what-you-should-never-write">Example of what you should never write</h4>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>It ended up been a waste of money.</em> ✖</p>
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</blockquote>
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<p>The correct word to use rather than “<em>been</em>” is “<em>being</em>”.</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>It ended up being a waste of money.</em> ✔</p>
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</blockquote>
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<p>The meaning here is that “it was a waste of money” or “looking back it has been a waste of money” (note the use of “<em>has been</em>”). The form of “<em>being</em>” here would be the <a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/present_participle.htm" title="Grammar Monster: 'What Are Present Participles?'">present participle</a> of the verb <em>to be</em> (meaning 1 above), whereas “<em>been</em>” is the <a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/past_participles.htm" title="Grammar Monster: 'What Are Past Participles?'">past participle</a>.</p>
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<hr />
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<h3 id="confusing-weather-wether-whether-wither-and-whither">Confusing <em>weather</em>, <em>wether</em>, <em>whether</em>, <em>wither</em> and <em>whither</em></h3>
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<p>The words <em>weather</em>, <em>wether</em>, and <em>whether</em> sound the same though their spellings are different, but mean very different things. The similar words <em>wither</em> and <em>whither</em> can also be confused with each other and with the previous group but mean different things.</p>
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<dl>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/weather"><b><em>weather</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 1:</u>(noun)</small> <em>the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “Scotland’s <u>weather</u> was remarkably hot in the summer of 2018”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 2:</u></small> <em>Cold, wet, and unpleasant or unpredictable atmospheric conditions.</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “The band of trees on the hill provide some protection from the <u>weather</u>”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 3:</u>(modifier)</small> <em>Denoting the side from which the wind is blowing, especially on board a ship; windward.</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “The side of tree trunks facing the prevailing wind and rain, the <u>weather</u> side, may be colonised by moisture-loving mosses and lichens”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 4:</u>(verb)</small> <em>To withstand or to endure</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “The ship <u>weathered</u> the storm at anchor in a sheltered bay”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 5:</u>(verb)</small> <em>To erode</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “The cliff was being <u>weathered</u> by the rough sea during the storm”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wether"><b><em>wether</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning:</u>(noun)</small> <em>a castrated ram (sheep) or billy (goat)</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “Non-<u>wethers</u> tend to be smelly due to their scent glands.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/whether"><b><em>whether</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 1:</u>(conjunction)</small> <em>expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives; similar to if</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “No one has even taken the trouble to inquire <u>whether</u> I was alive or dead.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 2:</u>(conjunction)</small> <em>expressing an enquiry or investigation (often used in indirect questions)</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “She poured the milk into a mug, enquiring as to <u>whether</u> he would like some as well.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 3:</u>(conjunction)</small> <em>indicating that a statement applies whichever of the alternatives mentioned is the case.</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “Nor had she given any indication by letter <u>whether</u> she admitted or denied the charges.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wither"><b><em>wither</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 1:</u>(verb)</small> <em>become dry and shrivelled (relating to a plant)</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “After all flowers have <u>withered</u>, cut off the entire stem.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 2:</u>(verb)</small> <em>become shrunken or wrinkled from age or disease (relating to a part of the body)</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “His body was wrinkled and <u>withered</u>, slightly bent over and hunched.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 3:</u>(verb)</small> <em>fall into decay or decline</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “For creativity is a muscle that must be worked or it will gradually atrophy and <u>wither</u>.”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 4:</u>(verb)</small> <em>humiliate (someone) with a scornful look or manner</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “She <u>withered</u> him with a glance”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/whither"><b><em>whither</em></b></a></dt>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 1:</u>(interrogative adverb)</small> <em>to what place or state (literary, archaic)</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “<u>Whither</u> are we bound?’”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>meaning 2:</u>(relative adverb)</small> <em>to which - with reference to a place (literary, archaic)</em>
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</dd>
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<dd><small><u>example 1:</u></small> “One finds oneself walking mechanically to the tower of Belvedere Castle <u>whither</u> all other park visitors have gravitated like the ghouls in ‘Night of the Living Dead’”
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</dd>
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<dd><br/>
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</dd>
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</dl>
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<h4 id="examples-of-what-you-should-never-write">Examples of what you should never write</h4>
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<h5 id="example-1">Example 1</h5>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>Lovely wither we’re having!</em> ✖</p>
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</blockquote>
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<p>Somebody who enjoys shrivelling? Should have been:</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>Lovely weather we’re having!</em> ✔</p>
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</blockquote>
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<h5 id="example-2">Example 2</h5>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>DuckDuckGo discussed and wether it personalizes searches</em> ✖</p>
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</blockquote>
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<p>From the notes for HPR show 1416. The corrected version would read:</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>DuckDuckGo discussed and whether it personalizes searches</em> ✔</p>
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</blockquote>
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<h5 id="example-3">Example 3</h5>
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<blockquote>
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<p><em>…you don’t have to worry about whither you check your feeds on a desktop PC or on your phone.</em> ✖</p>
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</blockquote>
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<p>From the notes for an HPR show; the (archaic) <em>whither</em> should have been <em>whether</em>.</p>
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<h2 id="links">Links</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>Been:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/been">Definition of “been”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/been">“been”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Being:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/being">Definition of “being”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/being">“being”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Been versus Being
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<ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.englishpractice.com/common-mistakes/difference-9/">English Practice - Difference between being and been</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Examples of the use of Being:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/being">Example sentences using <em>being</em></a></li>
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</ul></li>
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</ul>
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<!-- -->
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<ul>
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<li>Weather:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/weather">Definition of “weather”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/weather">“weather”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Wether:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wether">Definition of “wether”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/wether">“wether”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Whether:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/whether">Definition of “whether”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/whether">“whether”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Wither:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wither">Definition of “wither”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/wither">“wither”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Whither:
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<ul>
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<li>Oxford Dictionaries: <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/whither">Definition of “whither”</a></li>
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<li>Online Etymology Dictionary: <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/whither">“whither”</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Weather, wether, and the rest:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="http://grammarist.com/usage/wither-whither/">Grammarist</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/weather_whether_wether.htm">Grammar Monster</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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</ul>
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<!-- -->
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<ul>
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<li>Previous episodes in this series:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr2558">Battling with English - part 1</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr2596">Battling with English - part 2</a></li>
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||
</ul></li>
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</ul>
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<section class="footnotes">
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<hr />
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<ol>
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<li id="fn1"><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unbearable_Lightness_of_Being">Wikipedia article on ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’</a><a href="#fnref1" class="footnote-back">↩</a></p></li>
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<li id="fn2"><p>From the preface to the 1857 edition of “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens<a href="#fnref2" class="footnote-back">↩</a></p></li>
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</ol>
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</section>
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</article>
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