Curmudgeons' Corner

Guestmudgeon Dick Timberlake is between Scylla to Charybdis

An expression that just drives me up the wall is the use of to with between. This usage occurs only with quantities or time, such as: "Our store hours are between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.", or "The increase will be between 3 to 5 per cent." I suppose this is influenced by "From A to B": "Our store hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM."

I know that usage (eventually, anyway) makes the language, but I still cringe when confronted by between… to. My knowledge of linguistics conflicts with the illogic of this annoying expression. I find myself between Scylla to Charybdis on this one.

Very well put, Dick, for we address the general "Curmudgeon" issue in this week's Sez You...

Have you heard or read similar or equally distressing usages?

Do tell us. 

Read this before commenting on this week's Curmudgeons' Corner

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