Correct spelling of...
- Thread starter Mariah
- Start date
I have been thinking about this and while I know how and when it was first spelled, I also concede that as some have stated so eloquently, we have invented a new word. It's obvious that "minibike" is "now" one word for all practical purposes.
We never said "mini cycle" or even "minicycle" when they came out. We said "80." (Hey, let's go ride the 80!) The terms mini cycle and midi cycle and overall adjectivation has been occurring since the "dumbing down" began which is about the same time as shop classes and Civics disappeared from our public schools. We can thank our advertisers, and our laziness.
Since everyone on the planet now seems to own a fancy cell phone and does "texts," imagine what some of our etymology is going to look like in fifty more years! Pfft. And we bitched about "ebonics." :laugh:
We never said "mini cycle" or even "minicycle" when they came out. We said "80." (Hey, let's go ride the 80!) The terms mini cycle and midi cycle and overall adjectivation has been occurring since the "dumbing down" began which is about the same time as shop classes and Civics disappeared from our public schools. We can thank our advertisers, and our laziness.
Since everyone on the planet now seems to own a fancy cell phone and does "texts," imagine what some of our etymology is going to look like in fifty more years! Pfft. And we bitched about "ebonics." :laugh:
Just because an advertisement from the back of an old comic book has a hyphen doesn't mean it's expressed correctly.
For instance... a mini-bike could be slang for a miniature bicycle. Most of us would know it is being used to describe a small motorized two-wheeled vehicle but a significant percentage of people in the world will interpret it differently. Bike has more than one meaning but it's usually short for bicycle. Notice the word "bicycle" isn't spelled "bi-cycle" for the same reason.
However, when spelled as minibike it creates a stronger identity. It's no longer a conjunction containing an adjective and a noun. It's an entirely unique noun with only one meaning.
If you still don't believe me go look it up in a dictionary.
1st type the word "minibike" and see what comes up.
Then type "mini-bike" and see what comes up.
Dictionary.com | Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com
I rest my case. :wink:
For instance... a mini-bike could be slang for a miniature bicycle. Most of us would know it is being used to describe a small motorized two-wheeled vehicle but a significant percentage of people in the world will interpret it differently. Bike has more than one meaning but it's usually short for bicycle. Notice the word "bicycle" isn't spelled "bi-cycle" for the same reason.
However, when spelled as minibike it creates a stronger identity. It's no longer a conjunction containing an adjective and a noun. It's an entirely unique noun with only one meaning.
If you still don't believe me go look it up in a dictionary.
1st type the word "minibike" and see what comes up.
Then type "mini-bike" and see what comes up.
Dictionary.com | Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com
I rest my case. :wink:
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