January 24, 2007
Taste the Flavor of Lunchtime Grammar or No Tengo Dinero para AlmuerzoPosted by Bryan
I left my wallet at home, by accident. So, lunch today consists of a well-nurs'd and oft-reheated cup o' coffee, a six-pack of Austin® Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter*, and a Quaker® Oatmeal to Go breakfast bar with a new microwaveable wrapper.
And it is said that ministers are among those with the poorest diets.
All the while, this cruel coupon mocks me.
I'm not even certain that a Quiznos is within driving distance. Yet, just knowing out there...somewhere...this eatery offers an expression of appreciation for my employment that must alas go unrequited...well, it makes my snack crackers** a little less flavorful.
And while I'm on that topic, let me just be grammar cop for a second and note that there is a difference between taste and flavor.
The former is primarily a verb, when used in its intransitive form, expresses the quality of the latter, which is primarily a noun. Accordingly, "taste," when used as a noun ("left a bitter taste in my mouth") is grammatically incorrect, as is "flavor" when used as a verb ("how did you flavor the soup?" -- the correct word here is "season," which is another issue altogether). However, "flavor" and its alternate forms can be used correctly as both an adverb and an adjective.
And these last two paragraphs help explain why some people dislike me.
*may not be real peanut butter.
**possibly created from 100% post-recycled product.
That explains why I am so annoyed by that Healthy Choice commercial in which the female chef says, "And that's how we add flavor to taste." Every time I hear that, I want to scream, "That makes no sense!"
Posted by: Lee Anne Millinger at January 25, 2007 11:00 AMEEEEEK!!! And this is EXACTLY why I google'd that line. I freakin' HATE those commercials.
In fact -- I could NOT believe it when a SECOND commercial came out, using that SAME Stupid LINE!!!
Glad to know I'm not the only screaming at the television.
Posted by: toni at March 3, 2007 4:30 AM