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Languages and Linguistics

Rollo

(2,559 posts)

25. Well, does "cold water heater" make any more sense?

Reply to Lionel Mandrake (Reply #21)

Mon Jul 31, 2017, 11:35 PM

Jul 2017

No, didn't think so.

Language is full of little quirks and redundancies. The purpose of language is to communicate. Nobody is unsure what is meant by "hot water heater", are they?

And I suspect that "hot water heater" is used primarily to refer to an appliance that heats water attached to plumbing for use in a home or business. A water heater inside some piece of industrial equipment - or even in a coffee maker - would not get that tag. I think. The "hot water" part sort of conveys what comes out of the "hot water tap". If only cold water comes out, then it's a signal to scream, "The hot water heater is not working!!!"

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Highlight:

Does redundancy constitute bad grammar? [View all] Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 OP

Take it up with the manager of the department of redundancy management department. nt Xipe Totec Jul 2017 #1

Ah, a nitplicker after me own heart Warpy Jul 2017 #2

FDJT? Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #10

Not always bad poetry, I think... Glorfindel Jul 2017 #3

I agree, Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #11

I'm not sure this cyclonefence Jul 2017 #15

You're not full of shit, my dear cyclonefence...not at all Glorfindel Jul 2017 #16

How do you feel about PIN number? cyclonefence Jul 2017 #18

You mean what I have to punch into the ATM machine Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #19

I love her, but listen to Rachel Maddow with your eyes closed... targetpractice Jul 2017 #4

If we "refer back" to the OP, we'll come to a "general consensus" that he has a point. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Jul 2017 #5

"Continue on" bugs me. nt tblue37 Jul 2017 #9

Back in the sixties, rogerashton Jul 2017 #6

Most of those are okay, Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #12

Doesn't rogerashton Jul 2017 #13

No, it means Jane Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #20

Then there are those who get their panties in a twist over "hot water heater"... Rollo Jul 2017 #7

Every time I say "hot water heater", Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #21

Well, does "cold water heater" make any more sense? Rollo Jul 2017 #25

No, a coffee maker is not called a water heater, although it does heat water. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2017 #31

It depends on the medium. Novels vs. songs vs. ordinary speech unblock Jul 2017 #8

Yeah, right. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #22

How about menus that offer... 3catwoman3 Jul 2017 #14

That drives me up the wall, Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #23

Even worse, I had someone at a very fancy function ask me if I wanted my roast beef "with awe jew" Rollo Jul 2017 #26

Auggghhhh! 3catwoman3 Aug 2017 #28

About that reverse apostrophe... Lionel Mandrake Aug 2017 #32

Thanks for the info and... 3catwoman3 Aug 2017 #33

Yeah, I try to appear knowledgeable even when I'm not. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2017 #34

Sometimes. Igel Jul 2017 #17

It's clear that you know what you are talking about, Lionel Mandrake Jul 2017 #24

While redundancy has its place in poetry.... Docreed2003 Jul 2017 #27

Not a mention of the long history of rhetoric? JackintheGreen Aug 2017 #29

I'm not sure how to parse the 2nd clause in your last sentence. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2017 #30

Hrm...I thought the grammar of the clause was reasonably clear JackintheGreen Aug 2017 #35

Thanks for the clarification. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2017 #36

The RAID insecticide ad slogan meow2u3 Aug 2017 #37

people say I'm redundant prodigitalson Apr 2019 #38