You know how much I love trivia about the English language. One of my favorite resources for that sort of thing is the AWC – the Australian Writers’ Centre – and their free weekly newsletter. It includes a great grammar section called Q&A, plus another one, The Village Idiom, which examines the origins of some popular expressions.
To give you an example of what subscribers can expect, I’m including a recent sample of a recent Q&A and the Village Idiom.
Uninterested vs. Disinterested…
Q: Hi AWC, I have a question that may or may not interest you.
A: What is it?
Q: It’s about the difference between “uninterested” and “disinterested”.
A: We see what you did there.
Q: Where?
A: Never mind. So let’s start by saying that both are real words. But we should probably first take a closer look at where the prefixes “un–” and “dis–” come from.
Q: I guess I should make myself comfortable.
A: Good idea. So “un–” is the older of the two, originally used for verb opposites like “do” and “undo” or “cover” and “uncover”. Fun fact – this prefix form was originally spelt “on–” but changed over time.
Q: That was a fun fact.
A: At the same time, “un–” also took on another job; this time providing opposites for adjectives. So we got words like “unhappy” or “unadventurous” or “unexciting”.
Q: “Un–” sure sounds like fun at parties… not.
A: Well actually, it can be. If you’re into “uninhibited” dancing, “unbridled” passion or “unlimited” entertainment. “Un–” knows how to have a good time.
Q: Fair enough. That was unnecessary and uncalled for.
A: Putting the “un” into “fun” since Old English times…
Q: Nice.
A: So anyway, a few centuries later, along comes “dis–” – one of a gazillion other French or Latin words that flooded into the English language during the Middle Ages like shoppers in a department store on Boxing Day morning.
Q: I got a bullet blender for just $19 last year. Ahem, so what was “dis” there for?
A: Well it’s related to the word “bis”, meaning “two”. It’s job was to indicate separation.
Q: Like a linguistic family law specialist?
A: Something like that. So it gave us words such as “disengage” or “disable”. Many words forms had both “un–” and “dis–” prefixes, traditionally with separate meanings, but used interchangeably today.
Q: So “disinterested” and “uninterested” is one such example?
A: Well, many DO use both interchangeably these days to mean “bored, not interested, yawn” etc. But there is actually a wafer-thin distinction between the two, and it’s a good idea to know what it is.
Q: Do tell.
A: No one has a problem with “uninterested”, indicating as was always intended with “un–” prefixes – the opposite of interested. So if you are “uninterested”, you have no interest in the subject. It bores you.
Q: I must find where I put that bullet blender…
A: So, how does this differ from “disinterested”, you ask?
Q: I didn’t ask that.
A: Go on then.
Q: So how does it differ from “disinterested” then?
A: Glad you asked. Traditionally, “disinterested” means that you have no stake in the subject matter – you are removed or separate from it. Impartial or unbiased. A judge must remain disinterested in court cases, or two people disputing a fact may call in a disinterested party to help resolve it.
Q: It seems like most people use “disinterested” interchangeably with the meaning of “uninterested” these days.
A: Yes, that is happening more and more. Here’s a quote we found in a newspaper: “Fox Sports is convinced it can convert those AFL and NRL fans disinterested in cricket to continue their subscriptions over summer…” In this situation, using “uninterested” or “not interested” would have been better.
Q: It’s a pretty fine distinction.
A: But the distinction remains, so it’s a good idea to use it in your writing. Another tip would be to use “unbiased” or “impartial” and avoid the word “disinterested” altogether.
…and a Grain of Salt
Image: oneragamuffin.wordpress.com
We’ve all heard the phrase “I’d take that with a grain of salt” – meaning nothing to do with adding flavour, but being skeptical about the believability of something. There are a few theories about exactly where the phrase first took hold, but they tend to all relate to salt being used as either an antidote for poison, or to help swallow poison in small doses without suffering its effects.
So in the case of the phrase, we are accepting what is being said – drinking the ‘poison’ – but we are taking the salt to indicate we’re also well aware of its somewhat dubious nature.
Something to think about next time you’re waiting at the local fish ‘n’ chip shop…!
To Subscribe…
The newsletter includes information on various courses, some online and some aimed at writers Downunder, plus tips like the Top 55 Writing Apps for 2016 etc. To subscribe (did I mention it’s free?), just visit the AWC website and click Sign Up. Yes, it’s that easy 🙂
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Fun and informative. 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Thanks for the distinction.I’ve not thought about there being any difference. That said, I’d like to be able to say I’m disinterested, but that would be disingenuous. 😉
Lol – yes, quite 😀
A hard distinction I’d never thought about, but I see why there different. Definitely interested in this post!
Lol – thanks 🙂
Yes, I learned this distinction in high school. Uninterested = not interested. Disinterested = objective, impartial. My mother was my grammar teacher and she knew more about grammar than anybody else I’ve ever known.
That’s helpful 😀
Interesting. I knew about uninterested and disinterested (not that I use them correctly), but the “grain of salt” history is new. I love learning the origins of phrases – they’re fascinating 🙂 Thanks for the lesson.
Please don’t make me feel like a teacher 😀
Why not? I learn a lot on your site 😀
Aw, you 😀
What an eye-opener. Thanks, Nicholas. Interesting. 🙂
A pleasure! I’m glad you weren’t, ahem, disinterested. Or is that uninterested?
Ha ha. It’s just noon here and I’ve had too much caffeine to make a level-headed comment. 😛
I have a tendency to use longer versions, at least in conversation. ‘Not in the least interested’, or ‘Of no interest whatsoever’ are two favourites. I like ‘disinterested’, but I have always been aware that it refers to being indifferent, or impartial, so I would generally use ‘indifferent’.
Best wishes, Pete.
That’s interesting, actually. I quite like your longer versions, even if I normally prefer being laconic (one of the side effects of constant editing 😀 )
How fun. Definitely not “uninterested” in this grammar group. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Nicholas. 🙂
Lol – thanks, Rachael 🙂
Definitely interested. I tend to use uninterested instead of disinterested, but I can see the difference now. I always imagine uninterested people scoffing before walking away. Meanwhile, a disinterested person remains there and zones out to think of more important things.
For some reason, I always thought the grain of salt dealt with its size. Never sure how that made any sense.
Lol – well, size matters I guess, but not when it comes to salt 😀