Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Upmost Respect...

  • 23-01-2009 12:12pm
    #1
    ArmCandyBaby
    Closed Accounts Posts: 201 ✭✭


    Is this phrase incorrect? Do you have to show 'Utmost Respect'? I was reading an article, quoting a statement, which went "Upmost [sic] Respect..."

    Is there need for the [sic]?


Comments

  • #2
    FlutterinBantam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,575 ✭✭✭✭FlutterinBantam


    "Utmost respect" is a perfectly ok phrase in my opinion.

    I'm confused about your other query.


  • #3
    Sleipnir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,513 ✭✭✭Sleipnir


    "Utmost" is correct. "Upmost" is ignorance.


    [SIC] is just used to show that a mistake has been reprinted verbatim i.e.

    "I have the upmost [sic] respect for Bertie Ahern" wrote the minister.

    This just means that the writer of the above sentence is quoting the minister verbatim i.e. the writer hasn't made the mistake, it was the minister.


  • #4
    ArmCandyBaby
    Closed Accounts Posts: 201 ✭✭ArmCandyBaby


    I was wondering if 'Upmost Respect' was acceptable too?


  • #5
    Gauge
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,818 ✭✭✭Gauge


    No, they both have different meanings.

    http://grammartips.homestead.com/utmost.html


  • #6
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 39,022 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    ArmCandyBaby
    Closed Accounts Posts: 201 ✭✭ArmCandyBaby


    Sleipnir wrote: »
    "Utmost" is correct. "Upmost" is ignorance.

    But it still makes some sense... "I have the uppermost ie. highest degree of respect for so-and-so...'". "Upmost" even produces more hits in google than "Utmost", though that doesn't really mean much.
    Gauge wrote: »
    No, they both have different meanings.

    http://grammartips.homestead.com/utmost.html

    Hah, I saw that article too but since it's American I instantly disregard it out of hand! ;)


  • #8
    Sleipnir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,513 ✭✭✭Sleipnir


    Yes, you don't go to America for english lessons!


  • #9
    ArmCandyBaby
    Closed Accounts Posts: 201 ✭✭ArmCandyBaby


    My thinking at the moment is - These words are sure to have very similar etymologies and if english was so rigid so as not to allow "Upmost Respect", these words wouldn't have the ostensibly different meanings that they have now.

    The media never say it themselves which pleases me but it seems in general they don't mark as incorrect "upmost respect" quotes with a [sic] tag. In fact if you search for "upmost (sic) respect" in google news, only the article that I read came up. It's an eggcorn of sorts!


Advertisement