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Nauseous vs nauseated

  • 30-10-2010 02:46PM
    #1
    take everything
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,860 ✭✭✭


    Just reading a bit on which is the correct term for "feeling sick".
    Nauseated, the form that i have always used (was always suspicious of "nauseous") seems to be the technically correct form.
    But the (possibly largely American) proliferation of nauseous/ nooawshuss, and its inevitable slavish adoption everywhere else in recent years seems to have muddied the waters a bit. Technically, doesn't "nauseous" mean sick-making rather than feeling sick.

    Are people who say "i'm nauseous" indeed making others sick?
    Mods, if this is in the wrong forum sorry.

    /anticipates "that post made me nauseous" etc etc etc.


Comments

  • #2
    Earthhorse
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,722 ✭✭✭✭Earthhorse


    According to the Oxford American the distinction was traditionally drawn between nauseated and nauseous, as you describe, but that the latter is so commonly used to mean 'affected with nausea' that it has become standard.

    I would also say that nauseating is beginning to replace as nauseous where one wants to say 'casuing nausea'.


  • #3
    The Raven.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,008 ✭✭✭The Raven.


    take everything wrote: »
    Are people who say "i'm nauseous" indeed making others sick?

    Yes, they are. It makes me sick to hear it. Anyone who says that is nauseous ;)!


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