Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2018-04-11
Hi everyone,
Just found this forum. Excellent stuff. Here’s my contribution.
For years, I’d be occasionally receiving formal announcements from our HR department, some of which were even from the department’s bigwigs. That’s where I first saw “dateline” used to mean “deadline”. I then began noticing this in some of the documents of my colleagues, and even a few friends. Well “dateline” seems to make more sense than “deadline” doesn’t it? After all, it’s the date whose line cannot be crossed, i.e. something must be performed before that date or line … dateline.
As an example, if you google the phrase “meet the dateline”, you’ll see quite a few results. Some even from schools and government websites.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%2 … tnG=Search
I remember coming across a few interesting eggcorns over the years. Can’t seem to recall them though. I’ll post here whenever I remember any. Keep up the search for eggcorns, folks!
Cheers,
Primes Genato
http://www.primesgenato.com
Last edited by primesgenato (2007-10-19 06:36:40)
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I got 5500 Google hits for “meet the dateline”. That’s quite a hefty number.
Some examples:
MUIS :: Mosque Building FundIf we cannot meet the dateline of 1 st July for the new contribution rates, can we contribute later, say, in September? Will there be a penalty or interest …
www.muis.gov.sg/cms/WorkArea/linkit.asp … ItemID=962 – 61k – Cached – Similar pages
Singapore’s largest mall – VivoCity – Page 2 – SkyscraperCitySome interior decorators whom I know personally practically camped in the premises just to meet the dateline and open to “critics’ scrutinisation”. ...
www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=398816&page=2 – 102k – Cached – Similar pages
Ecquaria Technologies – Case StudiesIn order to meet the dateline, Ecquaria leveraged the Public Service Infrastructure (PSi), a ready Government-wide eServices delivery infrastructure put in …
www.ecquaria.com/customers/case_studies_nss.html – 24k – Cached – Similar pages
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I note all the references are from Singapore. In Singapore “deadline” is universally replaced by “dateline.” I live here and have questioned a number of Singaporeans on it (I’m Canadian). They all report having used this “since school days” which for my friends means at least 30 years. This may just be Singlish and not a more widespread eggcorn as I’ve not heard it used outside the region.
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missbossy could be right about specialized English usage abroad. And, perhaps Singapore isn’t the only place where “dateline” replaces “deadline,” so there may be other examples from other nations. But, I got 5500 Google hits for “meet the dateline,” and I can’t tell just how many are from American websites.
Example:
Tomorrow, soldier.: Part Two: Perfect Proposal
His body laboring to meet the dateline he, himself, had set without recognition. Paul was tired, but his jubilance vastly overshadowed the fatigue. ...
www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~... – 18k – Similar pages
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Thanks for your input, missbossy. Over the last couple of years we’ve run across a number of eggcorns that seemed largely restricted to Singapore, so I’m pleased as punch that we have someone reading the forum there.
I found a few instances of this use of “dateline” on websites based in China (with the .cn suffix), but it sure does appear to be favored by English users who are native speakers of Chinese.
India and Pakistan is another area I’ve noticed that occasionally produces eggcorns not found elsewhere.
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