skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Grammatical error on Jeopardy last night. The shame!

10 years ago

Jeopardy made an error that happens to be one of my pet peeves (unfortunately for me because it's so common): the misuse of the word only. Last night the question was

The Proboscidea order only has one living relative today, this one.

Of course (of course!) it should have read has only, not only has.

This kind of error bothers me more when an action verb is involved. For example, if someone says, "I'm only eating one piece of pizza," I might think, You're only eating it? What else would you do with it? LOL

Featured Answer

User

10 years ago

I've taken advanced grammar courses and never heard that one. I didn't really see the difference until I read the Bob example. DH is a retired tech writer who is also interested in grammar and usage, so I read the Bob sentence to him with "only" in all the positions. His response? Poor Bob.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

lgmd_gaz
10 years ago
I agree, for shame!
Lindsey_CA
10 years ago
It is jarring when it happens on a program that showcases intelligence.
Related Discussions
Mad Diary of Zone Busting in Zone 3 ...The End is a Long Way Away
Q
Comments (7)
Oh my. What is a passionate rose lover like you doing in that glacial hell hole? Reading about your endeavors has exhausted me and I haven't even lifted a shovel. I admire your grit and determination, but would love to see you rewarded with thousands of blooms on your rose bushes for all your hard work. I bet they could use engineers in zones 7 to 10!
...See More
Our Story Using TV Shows....The Entire Story Line
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks for all your hard work Karen! Can't wait to read it in its entirety. Jodi-
...See More
Did you Jeopardy fans enjoy Tournament of Champions?
Q
Comments (22)
Speaking of Jeopardy (and champions), did anyone notice the current champion's peculiar speech? She has a sing-song thing going on at the end of some of her statements. If she says "two hundred," for example, her voice goes down a few notes at "dred" and back up again at the finish. I'm wondering if it's a regional thing, or something unique to her. PS: I don't think I explained that very well. :-)
...See More
Jeopardy made an error
Q
Comments (8)
Eh, give them some wiggle room. It's a TV show that provides entertainment, not anything more than that. Mistakes are part of life. You don't want the pilot of the airplane you're in to make a fatal error they can't recover from but sometimes they do. A question on a TV show is far from important. Absolute accuracy 100% of the time in any endeavor can never be achieved.
...See More
Elmer J Fudd
10 years ago
I don't think most people would have noticed what you're pointing out, alisande.

Grammar is dynamic, I know you know that. It happens often that an incorrect approach comes into frequent common usage and ultimately replaces an older form. Or becomes accepted as an alternative. The examples of this are too numerous to mention. Many of the changes that evolve from common usage result from the speech
of less well educated people who use a phrase or structure incorrectly
because they think what they're saying is correct. That spreads and can become the predominant practice.
Alisande
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Yeah, yeah, yeah--I knew all that, Snidely. LOL

And I agree that it probably sounded just fine to most people. But thought with all the picky people in this world--many even pickier than I (what a concept!)--I'd see references to it on the Internet today. But I didn't, at least not in a shallow Google pass.
sheilajoyce_gw
10 years ago
I agree, Alisande. I remember my father lecturing us on the use of "only" at the dinner table using the sentence, "I hit Bob yesterday." Putting "only" before or after any word in the sentence changes the meaning completely from the other versions.
Alisande
Original Author
10 years ago
Sheilajoyce, I never heard that one. Love it!
bob_cville
10 years ago
I must say I am not a fan of sheila's example.
carabubble
10 years ago
LOL, Bob.
eld6161
10 years ago
If only......

Related Stories

FARM YOUR YARD My Houzz: Backyard Farming for a Kansas City Family

By Jordana Nicholson

A backyard garden provides a family of 5 with organic seasonal produce. Here's how they do it

ENTERTAINING Houzz Guide: How to Set a Table

By Stacy Briscoe

Here’s everything you need to know to prep your table for a get-together

BATHROOM DESIGN 5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid

By Dylan Chappell

Dodge blunders in toilet placement, shower type and more, and see examples of how to get your bathroom right

PAINTING How to Hire a Painter to Do Your Interiors

Here’s what to know about hiring a painting contractor and what to expect during the job

ACCESSORIES To Chop or Not to Chop?

By The Yellow Cape Cod

Karate-chopped pillows pop up in design photos all the time — to the delight of some, the dismay of others. Here's why

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Your Fridge, Inside and Out

By Bonnie McCarthy

Keep your refrigerator clean and fresh, while you gain storage space and lose those ‘UFOs’

BATHROOM DESIGN Warm Up Your Bathroom With Heated Floors

By Tiffany Carboni

If your bathroom floor is leaving you cold, try warming up to an electric heating system

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: From Olden Church to Soaring Modern Marvel

By Mitchell Parker

Pray join us on this trip through an incredible home in Melbourne that's a real sanctuary

COMMUNITY Get a Bird's-Eye View of America's Housing Patterns

See the big picture of how suburban developments are changing the country's landscape, with aerial photos and ideas for the future

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Quit Procrastinating on Color Choice

By Laura Gaskill

If you're up to your ears in paint chips but no further to pinning down a hue, our new 3-part series is for you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Still frosted and still learning

161

Dancing With the Stars-Guillermo

19

Pope Leo’s surgery, lung nodules, risk assessment

9

I'll show you mine/ysmy - Th 10/15/26

3

Smile today - 10/15/26

1