A reader of my BLOG left a comment that I had used the word "propriety" incorrectly in my article titled WHY IS IT YOU WANT TO KNOW? The sentence in question: "I was more offended by her lack of propriety in asking in such a public place."
I asked, "What word do you think would have been correct usage?" He answered, "Proprietary."
I replied, "Perhaps you are confusing PROPRIETARY with PROPRIETY." I learned that he wasn't aware that there was the word "propriety".
PROPRIETY: "the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals."
PROPRIETARY: "of or relating to an owner or ownership."
No, Dear Reader, the woman showed NO propriety when asking embarrassing questions!
1 comment:
He obviously has NO propriety! ML
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