Extraordinary isn't extra ordinary!

The word "extraordinary" is a fascinating example of how language can evolve, leading to curious terms that might seem illogical at first glance. When we break down "extraordinary" into its components, "extra" and "ordinary," it appears to suggest something that is extremely ordinary. However, the intended meaning of "extraordinary" is actually quite the opposite. It describes something exceptional or remarkable.^[1]  

As its own word, “extra” is an intensifier meaning “to a greater extent” or “especially”. But, as a prefix, “extra-“ means “beyond” or “outside”.  

This linguistic oddity raises an interesting question: Why do we say "extra" and "ordinary" together to convey the idea of something exceptional, instead of simply using the word "exceptional" itself?

One possible explanation lies in the evolution of language. English, like many languages, has absorbed and adapted words and phrases from various sources over time. The term "extraordinary" dates back to the 15th century, derived from Latin roots meaning "beyond" (extra) and "ordinary" (ordinarius). In this context, "ordinary" refers to the usual or expected state of affairs.^[2]

At the time of its origin, the term "extraordinary" likely served to emphasize the exceptional nature of something, emphasizing its deviation from the norm. Over time, as language evolved, the compound word "extraordinary" became firmly established in the English lexicon, retaining its original meaning despite its seemingly contradictory structure.

The continued use of "extraordinary" to mean exceptional may also be attributed to the richness and nuance of language. Words often carry connotations and shades of meaning that extend beyond their literal definitions. In this case, the juxtaposition of "extra" and "ordinary" in "extraordinary" may evoke a sense of something both beyond and outside the ordinary, emphasizing its exceptional nature in a way that "exceptional" alone might not.

Beyond Extraordinary

While "extraordinary" and "exceptional" are strong choices, our vocabulary offers a wealth of alternatives to describe the extraordinary:

Remarkable: This word emphasizes how something is worthy of notice and comment.

Stupendous: This choice conveys a sense of astonishment and wonder.

Phenomenal: This term implies something extraordinary and almost unbelievable.

Prodigious: This word suggests exceptional skill, talent, or achievement.

Astounding: This emphasizes how something leaves you speechless and amazed.

The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey. So, next time you encounter something that transcends the ordinary, reach for the word that best captures its remarkable nature!

Pronunciation

Although "extraordinary" is a common word, it is still often mispronounced. It is not pronounced as "extra" and "ordinary", as that implies something that is very ordinary, as noted previously.  Instead, the "a" is silent.  Weirdly, you also need to break up the "k" and "s" sounds from "x" between two syllables, as in ik·stror·duh·neh·ree, or /ɪkˈstrɔːr.dən.er.i/ in international terms, with some minor localized variations.^[3] In particular, the "stror" or "strɔ" syllable might be difficult for nonnative English speakers, with its two separate "r" sounds.

Usage

According to Google Ngram, it appears that usage of "extraordinary" has been in a steady decline in written works over the past 200 hundred years.^[4]  I cannot find any information as to why.  My guess is that we are living in a world that requires increasing precision. "Extraordinary" maybe used in a manner that is not conducive to express such precision. There are plenty of other words which can be used interchangeably.  In a gradient system (such as couple-several-few), could one really say that "remarkable" or "exceptional" are on high or lower tiers from "extraordinary" or each other?  (There have been attempts at order, for example.)

However, I was able to dig up one op-ed that actually claims the word "extraordinary" is in a state of overuse. I find that opinion to be extraordinary.

The Case for Words with Diaeresis

Double-Dotting Your ï's and ü's 

Some vowels in English include tiny dots above them. These are diaeresis marks. Think of the words "naïve" or "Noël". While these dotted vowels might seem like a typographical relic, they hold a unique position in English. The diaeresis is the only true diacritical mark used in the language. Diacritical marks are those little additions to letters that alter pronunciation or meaning, like the accent marks in French or the cedilla in "ça."

Diaeresis Disappearance in English

In the past, words with diaeresis were more common. However, their use in English has declined for a few reasons. One factor is simplification. As English spelling evolved, some words adopted alternative spellings without diaeresis. For example, "coöperate" became "cooperate".

Another reason is the influence of American English. American dictionaries generally favor spellings that omit the diaeresis, and this preference has filtered into broader usage.

However, words with diaeresis haven't completely disappeared from English. They are still used in some proper names, like Zoë (pronounced "zo-ee"), and certain loanwords, like naïve or aïoli (a type of sauce). Additionally, some writers and publications choose to use them for added clarity, especially when the pronunciation might be ambiguous.

A Brighter Future for Diaeresis?

The Information Age has made including diaeresis in writing significantly easier than ever before. Gone are the days of struggling with physical limitations of a typewriter.  Modern wordprocessors apps and smartphones offer easy insertion of these characters.

This newfound ease of use could potentially lead to a resurgence of words with diaeresis, particularly in situations where pronunciation clarity is important.

How to Use Diaeresis on Your Devices

Including diaeresis in your digital communication is a breeze! Here's how:

• PCs:

  • Microsoft Word: The most common way to add diaeresis in MS Word is by using a keyboard shortcut:

    1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the vowel with a diaeresis.
    2. Hold down the Ctrl + Shift keys simultaneously.
    3. While holding those keys down, press the colon ":" key.
    4. Release all three keys (Ctrl, Shift, and colon).
    5. Then, type the desired vowel (e.g., "a" for ä).

  The vowel with the diaeresis will appear in your document. This method works for all vowels that can have a diaeresis (a, e, i, o, and u).

  • WordPerfect: In WordPerfect, you can add diaeresis using a two-step process involving the "Symbols" dialog:

    1. Activate the Symbols function: Press Ctrl + W. This activates the "Symbols" dialog, which allows you to create special characters using key combinations.

    2. Insert the vowel with diaeresis: When Symbols dialog pops up, press the desired vowel key, then add the double quote ("), and press ENTER.

  The vowel with the diaeresis will appear in your document.  This method works for all vowels that can have a diaeresis (a, e, i, o, and u).

• Wordprocessor alternative: You can also just include several replacement words in your Wordprocessor apps, so when you type without the diaeresis, the spelling correction will automatically correct it to use the diaeresis. (Basic instructions on how to use Autocorrect in MS Word; and QuickCorrect in WordPerfect.)

• Smartphones and Tablets: The process is even simpler on mobile devices. When the keyboard is shown, simply press and hold on the desired vowel key. A pop-up menu will appear with diacritical options, including the vowel with diaeresis.  Select the vowel with the diaeresis mark, and it is inserted into your text.

Applications on MACs also have methods with a number of keystrokes too.

By familiarizing yourself with these methods, you can incorporate diaeresis vowels seamlessly into your digital communication, adding a touch of precision and clarity to your writing.

Ideas

Have fun using them!  Some words you may consider their inclusion are coöperate, coördinate, coördinator, coördination, reënter, reïnvigorate, reënactment, reëmburse, reëlect, coöccur, reëquip, naïf, reëntry.  There's many more too!

The empt in PREEMPT is not the same as EMPTY

Preëmpt: A Word's Etymology is More Than Meets the Eye

The English language is full of words that can mislead us in regards to their origins at first glance. "Preëmpt" (or its more common forms "preempt" or "pre-empt") is a prime example. With its ending resembling the root of "empty," one might assume a connection to the concept of being devoid of something. However, the etymology of preëmpt reveals a far more intriguing story.

The Unexpected Formation of Preëmpt

Unlike most words built with prefixes like "pre-" (meaning "before"), preëmpt doesn't directly descend from the noun "empt." Instead, it's a back-formation. This means the verb preëmpt was actually created from the existing noun "preemption," which has been in use since the 16th Century. Preemption refers to the act of claiming something before someone else can.^[1]

Tracing the Roots Back to Latin

So, from where does preemption come? Its origins lie in the Latin verb "preemere." This verb literally translates as "to take beforehand," perfectly aligning with the meaning of preëmpt. The word preemere itself is a combination of two Latin components: "prae-" (meaning "before") and a form of "emere" (meaning "to take").^[2]

A False Cognate: Empty vs. Emere

While emere might seem suspiciously similar to the English word "empty," they aren't directly related. Emere likely has roots in the Indo-European language family, predating written records. The English word "empty" comes from a separate branch of this family, giving it a distinct etymology.^[3]

Empty: A Different Etymological Branch

While preëmpt leads us down a fascinating path through Latin verbs, the story of empty takes us in a completely different direction. Unlike the back-formation of preëmpt, the word empty has a more straightforward etymology rooted in the history of the English language itself.

Old English Roots

The word empty finds its origins in Old English, which was spoken in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Old English word for empty was "ǣmettig," which can be further traced back to the adjective "ǣmetta" meaning "leisure" or "unoccupied."^[4]

The Mystery of the Root

The exact origin of ǣmetta is a bit more obscure. Linguists believe it might be related to the Old English verb "mōtan," meaning "to have to" or "must." However, the precise connection remains unclear.

A Separate Etymological Journey

The key takeaway is that empty has a distinct etymology from preëmpt.  While they share a similar sounding elements, their historical origins lie in different branches of the language tree. Empty sprouted from Old English, whereas preëmpt traces back to Latin verbs.

A list of many types of Angles from Geometry

There are many types of angles in geometry. I previously made a very basic list of angle pairings on my technical blog. This was written from the perspective of sketching shapes. The previous article only scratched the surface. As such, I've been wanting to revisit this topic from more generic geometry-based perspective. As an ad interm step, I've complied this list of different types of angles (basic types or shapes), angle pairings (group or related), and angle positions. In the future, I'll use this list as the basis for some sort of content with visual examples.
 

Angle Name	Alternate name	Definition	Concept
Acute	n/a	An angle that measures less than 90 degrees.	basic type
Full	Full Rotation	An angle that measures exactly 360 degrees.	basic type
Obtuse	n/a	An angle that measures more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.	basic type
Reflex	n/a	An angle that measures more than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees.	basic type
Right	n/a	An angle that measures exactly 90 degrees.	basic type
Straight	n/a	An angle that measures exactly 180 degrees.	basic type
Zero	n/a	The two rays of the angle make zero degrees inclination with respect to each other	basic type
Adjacent	n/a	Two angles that share a common vertex and a common ray but do not overlap.	group
Alternate	n/a	Pairs of angles formed when a transversal intersects two lines. They are on opposite sides of the transversal and are congruent.	group
Alternate Exterior	n/a	Pairs of angles formed when a transversal intersects two lines. They are on opposite sides of the transversal and outside the pair of lines.	group
Alternate Interior	n/a	Pairs of angles formed when a transversal intersects two lines. They are on opposite sides of the transversal and inside the pair of lines.	group
Congruent	n/a	Angles that have the same measure.	group
Consecutive Exterior	n/a	Pairs of angles formed when a transversal intersects two lines. They are on the same side of the transversal and outside the pair of lines.	group
Consecutive Interior	n/a	Pairs of angles formed when a transversal intersects two lines. They are on the same side of the transversal and inside the pair of lines.	group
Corresponding	n/a	Pairs of angles formed when a transversal intersects two lines. They are on the same side of the transversal and in corresponding positions.	group
Non-adjacent Complementary	n/a	Either of two non-adjecent angles whose sum is 90 degrees.	group
Non-adjacent Explementary	Conjugate	Either of two non-adjecent angles whose sum is 360 degrees.	group
Non-adjacent Supplementary	n/a	Either of two non-adjacent angles whose sum is 180 degrees.	group
Central	n/a	An angle whose vertex is at the center of a circle.	position
Inscribed	n/a	An angle formed by two chords in a circle with its vertex on the circle.	position
Related	n/a	A general term used for pairs of angles with a common vertex, which can include various angle relationships.	position
Adjacent Complementary	n/a	Either of two adjecent angles whose sum is 90 degrees.	related
Adjacent Explementary	n/a	Either of two adjecent angles whose sum is 360 degrees.	related
Adjacent Supplementary	Linear Pair	Either of two adjecent supplementary angles.	related
Vertically Opposite	Vertical	A pair of non-adjacent angles formed by the intersection of two straight lines and are opposite to each other. They have equal measures and will never form a linear pair.	related
Concave	n/a	An angle with some of its interior points outside the polygon it forms.	shape
Convex	n/a	An angle with all its interior points inside the polygon it forms.	shape
Dihedral	n/a	The angle between two intersecting planes.	shape
Exterior	n/a	An angle formed by one side of a polygon and the extension of an adjacent side.	shape
Exterior Right	n/a	An angle formed by an extended side of a polygon and an adjacent side at a right angle.	shape
Interior	n/a	Angles formed within the boundary of a polygon.	shape
Reflex Interior	n/a	An angle greater than 180 degrees within a polygon.	shape
Spherical	n/a	An angle formed by two intersecting great circles on a sphere.	shape

The last time I mentioned geometry on this blog was back in 2007. It's a story about how I solved an "impossible" geometry problem on a technicality.