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Mark P
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:05 am
Post subject: deceptively simple/difficult |
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While talking with a coworker today, I was trying to characterize a
problem which seems simple at first but is actually surprisingly
difficult. I told him the problem "is deceptively difficult." To which
he replied, "You mean, 'deceptively simple'?". So now I'm not sure
which is appropriate, if either, so I'd like your opinions.
(After a few moments thought it occurred to me that it would have been
clearer to say "it appears deceptively simple," which to my mind is
unamibguous. Do you agree with that assessment?)
Thanks,
Mark
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Harvey Van Sickle
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:13 am
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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On 05 Oct 2005, Mark P wrote
| Quote: | While talking with a coworker today, I was trying to characterize
a problem which seems simple at first but is actually surprisingly
difficult. I told him the problem "is deceptively difficult." To
which he replied, "You mean, 'deceptively simple'?". So now I'm
not sure which is appropriate, if either, so I'd like your
opinions.
|
Hmmm...both strike me as awkward -- they'd both usually need a bit of
further explanation.
FWIW, if "deceptively" has to be used I'd agree with your coworker.
But I think I'd opt for something like "surprisingly" or "unexpectedly"
difficult instead, as that keeps the focus on the encountered
difficulty rather than the expected simplicity.
| Quote: | (After a few moments thought it occurred to me that it would have
been clearer to say "it appears deceptively simple," which to my
mind is unamibguous. Do you agree with that assessment?)
|
It is to me.
--
Cheers, Harvey
Canadian (30 years) and British (23 years)
For e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van |
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Adrian Bailey
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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"Mark P" <usenet@fall2005REMOVE.fastmailCAPS.fm> wrote in message
news:jeX0f.1114$dB4.576@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | While talking with a coworker today, I was trying to characterize a
problem which seems simple at first but is actually surprisingly
difficult. I told him the problem "is deceptively difficult." To which
he replied, "You mean, 'deceptively simple'?". So now I'm not sure
which is appropriate, if either, so I'd like your opinions.
|
Tricky. A similar question arises when estate agents describe a house as
"deceptively large". I think most people pay most attention to the
adjective. Therefore "deceptively large" would tend to mean "large(r than it
looks) and "deceptively simple" would tend to mean "simple(r than it
looks)". I say that even though I'm not sure that such interpretations are
logically correct. Anyroad, it confuses the hell out of me so I'd advise
junking the word "deceptively" altogether.
| Quote: | (After a few moments thought it occurred to me that it would have been
clearer to say "it appears deceptively simple," which to my mind is
unamibguous. Do you agree with that assessment?)
|
Hmm. It seems a bit tautological.
Adrian
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Richard Yates
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:28 am
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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| Quote: | While talking with a coworker today, I was trying to characterize a
problem which seems simple at first but is actually surprisingly
difficult. I told him the problem "is deceptively difficult." To which
he replied, "You mean, 'deceptively simple'?". So now I'm not sure
which is appropriate, if either, so I'd like your opinions.
|
A similar construction heard about athletes is "deceptively fast". I think
what is meant is that the runner is faster than he seems to be.
Richard Yates |
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P Darby
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:43 pm
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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"Mark P" <usenet@fall2005REMOVE.fastmailCAPS.fm> wrote in message
news:jeX0f.1114$dB4.576@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | While talking with a coworker today, .....
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Never liked the word coworker ...
sounds like someone who orks cows. |
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the Omrud
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:32 pm
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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P Darby spake thusly:
| Quote: |
"Mark P" <usenet@fall2005REMOVE.fastmailCAPS.fm> wrote in message
news:jeX0f.1114$dB4.576@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
While talking with a coworker today, .....
Never liked the word coworker ...
sounds like someone who orks cows.
|
This is so commonplace in Usenet that it's not really noticeable any
more:
http://tinyurl.com/b85vn
--
David
=====
replace usenet with the |
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Weatherlawyer
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:04 pm
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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the Omrud wrote:
| Quote: | Never liked the word coworker ...
sounds like someone who orks cows.
This is so commonplace in Usenet that it's not really noticeable any more:
|
The alternative being someone whom, in the height of summers, never
sweats, never washes, handles a pistol with panache in the most
egregious of circumstances and though riding -of all things, an horse
that is never dirtied, never dusty and never fed or watered, has no
flies on him?
Outstanding! |
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Numeromania
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:39 am
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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Mark P wrote:
| Quote: | While talking with a coworker today, I was trying to characterize a
problem which seems simple at first but is actually surprisingly |
difficult. I told him the problem "is deceptively difficult." To which
he replied, "You mean, 'deceptively simple'?". So now I'm not sure
which is appropriate, if either, so I'd like your opinions.
| Quote: |
(After a few moments thought it occurred to me that it would have
been clearer to say "it appears deceptively simple," which to my mind is |
unamibguous. Do you agree with that assessment?)
Clearer? Yes. Unambiguous? No sure. (You can never tell how others might
interpret it -- I used to think "bimonthly" was unambiguous.) Anyway,
"deceptively simple" is customary language for what you wanted to say. |
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Robert Lieblich
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:55 am
Post subject: Re: deceptively simple/difficult |
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Weatherlawyer wrote:
| Quote: |
the Omrud wrote:
Never liked the word coworker ...
sounds like someone who orks cows.
This is so commonplace in Usenet that it's not really noticeable any more:
The alternative being someone whom, in the height of summers, never
sweats,
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"someone whom ... never sweats." You need help with this one.
[ ... ]
--
Navylawyer |
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