Curmudgeons' Corner

Malcolm Tent gives a coal forecast...

I recently heard a radio journalist, who was speaking about the current power problems in California, say "Coal prices are forecasting at a record high."  Boy, did I find that interesting, because I had no idea that coal prices were sentient beings who could forecast!  Well, all right, so maybe they aren't.  What the journalist should have said was, "Coal prices are being forecast at a record high."  Note that the coal prices are the subject of a forecast.  They aren't doing the forecasting.  Note also that prices are not being forecasted.  The past tense of forecast is forecast.  You wouldn't say, "He casted the first stone", now, would you?

Is there something you read or hear that sends you up the wall?

Do tell us.

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