Jean in Newcastle Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 From a political ad, "I want the veterans to be treated right." The word right seems "not right" to me. But rightly seems wrong too. Well? Correctly? or is Right, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 From a political ad, "I want the veterans to be treated right." The word right seems "not right" to me. But rightly seems wrong too. Well? Correctly? or is Right, right? I would have said, "I want veterans to be treated with the care and honor that they deserve." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 I agree with both you and Mrs. Mungo. It should read "...treated correctly." But both "right" and "correctly" are subjective. What is right/correct for one may not necessarily mean dignity and honor to another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share Posted July 19, 2010 I agree with both you and Mrs. Mungo. It should read "...treated correctly." But both "right" and "correctly" are subjective. What is right/correct for one may not necessarily mean dignity and honor to another. I wasn't going to comment on the political side of it:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 I agree with both you and Mrs. Mungo. It should read "...treated correctly." But both "right" and "correctly" are subjective. What is right/correct for one may not necessarily mean dignity and honor to another. :iagree: I like politicians to be specific. What does treating veterans right look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share Posted July 19, 2010 :iagree: I like politicians to be specific. What does treating veterans right look like? Well, there were a lot of sound bites before this final one on keeping veterans hospitals open and not forgetting their sacrifice for our country. But it was a short political ad that was heavier on trying to elicit an emotional response than in giving you actual facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmama4 Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 :iagree: I like politicians to be specific. What does treating veterans right look like? :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirch Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 Right is an adjective. You need an adverb in that position, so "correctly" would be the best word if you leave the sentence as written. I'd probably rewrite it, though. In the context of the ad, "right" was probably the best choice because it sounds down-to-earth, like a "real" person would give his/her opinion. The other options would sound more formal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share Posted July 19, 2010 Right is an adjective. You need an adverb in that position, so "correctly" would be the best word if you leave the sentence as written. I'd probably rewrite it, though. In the context of the ad, "right" was probably the best choice because it sounds down-to-earth, like a "real" person would give his/her opinion. The other options would sound more formal. Ah - mob appeal (ad populum)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 Ah - mob appeal (ad populum)! You can always tell when someone is studying/has studied logic. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share Posted July 19, 2010 You can always tell when someone is studying/has studied logic. :D Actually I had to appeal to ds13 for the proper term. . . :leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 From a political ad, "I want the veterans to be treated right." The word right seems "not right" to me. But rightly seems wrong too. Well? Correctly? or is Right, right? Yeah...I agree with the others :D. "I want the veterans to be treated well" would seem correct to me, but I don't know the politician's intent, and it would seem both vague and lame. "I want the veterans to be treated correctly" is too subjective. But, "I want the veterans to be treated right" makes the politician sound stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 Yeah...I agree with the others :D. "I want the veterans to be treated well" would seem correct to me, but I don't know the politician's intent, and it would seem both vague and lame. "I want the veterans to be treated correctly" is too subjective. But, "I want the veterans to be treated right" makes the politician sound stupid. :iagree: Both "correctly" and "well" would be appropriate in the sentence, but don't connote the same meaning or tone in colloquial usage as "right", however "wrong" it may be grammatically. Unfortunately, many politicians take to using improper English in order to sound "down to earth" and like "regular folk". I agree he would have sounded more sincere, concise and intelligent if he had re-worded the sentence with more specifics, such as being "treated with the respect they deserve", etc. Oh well, I'm sure no one but you noticed...:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirch Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 You can always tell when someone is studying/has studied logic. :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 I've sure heard enough people talk (or at least ) about treating someone right. It seems like it is an adverb at least according to some people; see #42-45 on Dictionary.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 Politicians are encourages to speak very plain every day English, even if it breaks grammar rules. Still, that is certainly not the word I would have chosen. He could have said he wanted Veterans to be treated "well" or "correctly" or "with respect". I agree with those who say that this is all very vague and non-specific but that is another thing politicians try to do. They want to say the things that will make the most people like them with the fewest people disliking them. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 (edited) The OED has right, adv. III. Senses relating to truth, correctness, or propriety. 10. a. In accordance with justice, goodness, or righteousness; righteously, virtuously, piously; sincerely; (in later use) in a morally correct manner, in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour. 11. a. In a proper, fitting, or appropriate manner; in the required or necessary way; properly; duly. Examples include for the first 1611 Bible (A.V.) Psalms ix. 4 Thou satest in the throne iudging right. 1667 MILTON Paradise Lost III. 155 Father, who art Judge Of all things made, and judgest onely right. 1736 BP. J. BUTLER Analogy of Relig. II. viii. 286 They act right or wrong. for the second 1895 T. HARDY Jude viii, You made a fool of a mistake about her... The harm you did yourself by dirting your own nest serves you right. 1918 W. FAULKNER Let. 13 July in Thinking of Home (1992) 77 The British are great sticklers for this and it must be done right. Edited July 19, 2010 by stripe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 I want veterans to get the right treatment. They deserve no less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishmommy Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 Fairly? But, it still does beg the question of what is "fairly". Personally, I would say, "with the respect they deserve for serving our country unselfishly (or for their unselfish service)." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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