Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2025-05-10
“Unslightly bulges” rather than “unsightly bulges”, presumably based on the the idea that … well, that the bulges in question aren’t slight, rather than because they are displeasing to the sight!
250 hits on Google, many of which seem to be semi-professional advertising copy from sites selling clothing.
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I came up with 13,900 Google hits for “unslightly.” Most seem to use it as if it were synonymous with “unsightly.” I find this really puzzling because “unslightly” seems to be a more complex word than “unsightly.” I don’t have the foggiest idea of what’s going on in the utterers’ head. At any rate, I thought it might be instructive to have a few examples to hash over…
Irons & Steamers at MSN ShoppingSay goodbye to unslightly wrinkles and leave behind… More annoying ironing chores with the lightweight 1500W Quick Steam Professional. In just 60 seconds, ...
shopping.msn.com/results/shp/?bCatId=5152,minPrice=80,maxPrice=129.99 – 90k – Cached – Similar pages
HELP! – How do I get rid of my unslightly yellow fingernails ...”HELP! – How do I get rid of my unslightly yellow fingernails?” – Find the answer to this question and millions more on Yahoo! Answers UK.
uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060615054628AAqpTI9 – 209k – Cached – Similar pages
Covering up Tattoos and other unslightly blemishes for the Wedding …Thinkwedding’s Public Service Articles about wedding planning,family relationships, time management, money management,wedding budgeting, etc.
www.thinkwedding.com/Art-Ceremony2.htm – 18k – Cached – Similar pages
Soft top | no elastic socks… socks are designed to provide a gentle, yet secure grip, so your socks stay up as long as you do, without leaving unslightly constriction lines. ...
www.nu-worlds.com/acatalog/No_Elastic_Socks.html – 129k – Cached – Similar pages
eBay: Watch Bra Clear Crystal Guard 31mm fits Omega & Others (item …They protect your watch crystal like no product ever before with no unslightly rubber bands The easiest way to describe WatchBras are like the static cling …
cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330110221938&ih=014&category=10363&rd=1 – 92k – Cached – Similar pages
Last edited by jorkel (2007-04-20 11:27:22)
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For some reason, there are lots of “intrusive” l’s, r’s, and n’s in English. These letters tend to get inserted in places where they don’t usually exist – especially, it seems, in words that already have an l, r, or n. (The opposite process happens, too – a word with two n’s may often have one deleted.)
For n’s, there’s a discussion of the phenomenon right here on the Database, in the article on “inherent>>inherit.” That article also has links to a Language Log post with more info:
For r’s, there’s a short and very accessible post on a phonology blog here:
I haven’t seen a comparable discussion of l’s, but it’s easy to find examples on the Web. Think of a longish, somewhat learned word with at least one l in it, and then try inserting another l in a place where the pronunciation seems to remain reasonably comfortable and natural. Then google your phonological Frankenstein. You’ll be amazed how often you get decent hits. I just got 620 raw ghits for “parlallel,” 207 for “triblulations,” and 2 for “alleglorical.” And even words without l’s will sometimes work – 76 ghits for “hablitat.”
Of course, I don’t mean to imply by this that any word with l-insertion is not eggcornish. In fact, this process may enable the formation of some eggcorns. I really like “unslightly,” especially with regard to bulges.
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