Friday 1 May 2020

A usage without basis

This has turned into one of my pet peeves, along with the use of post as a preposition. I am talking about the increasing trend of writing basis instead of on the basis of or based on, as has been done in the following examples:

Employees will have to evaluate which regime works for them, basis the amount of deductions / exemptions they wish to claim. (The Economic Times)
The premium rates will vary basis the sum assured option chosen by the policyholder. (maxlifeinsurance.com)

Tuesday 28 April 2020

Should teenagers propose?

In Indian English, teenagers often talk of proposing to someone when they mean to ask someone out on a date or declare their fondness for that person.

Not so in standard English, where to propose (in the intransitive sense, i.e. when the verb doesn't have a direct object) only means 'to make an offer of marriage to someone'.

https://www.lexico.com/definition/propose

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propose