Private Auction question.

[matt_hopper]

Hi,

I listed an item as private by accident so bidders can remain private. The item is fairly valuable, over a grand. A bidder complained, saying this may put off bidders as it could make it easier for me to scam. He would be reluctant to bid on a private auction. I have a 20 year ebay history and 1100 feedback. 

I am wondering if I should cancel the sale and relist it without private?? Any advice please!

Matt.

[monroe67]

What does “like per say” mean?

"Per se" -- Latin words for "in itself" or "of itself" -- are pronounced in American English as "per say."   And "per say" isn't found in any eBay documents that I've ever seen.  This community board is open to all users who may or may not know that "per se" is OK.

Apparently along the way no teacher ever explained to a lot of Americans that "per se" is a Latin phrase meaning "in itself" or "of itself."   And, of course, a major religion stopped using Latin some 50-plus years ago.  I wonder if any American public school teachers who started their professions within the last 15-20 years even know that "per se" is Latin . . . . . . . . . . . .  

I myself was wondering how far I should stroll down to see whatever I am supposed to see . . . . . . .

[femmefan1946]

I wonder if the poster meant "ie" (id est/it is) or more correctly "eg" (exempli gratia/ for example) (which I had to look up) instead of "per se".

Yes ,I took Latin. And managed to pass even though I never could decline "terra". And yes, it was 60 years ago.

My pet peeve, among many many others, is "wallah" for "voilà" / there it is!

[monroe67]

I failed Latin 101 in my first semester of college, more than 50 years ago.   I didn't go to class all the time, let's say!  But I eventually graduated with a double major in Spanish and English, and my Spanish classes included at least one, maybe two, on history of the language which, of course, is closely related to Latin.  English is a mess of Latin and Germanic derivations.  

One day a couple weeks ago I had to call my doctor's office's billing service and the young lady I spoke with seemed to be able to help me with the problem BUT she kept saying things like, "We have ran your payment."  I just cringed and shook my head.   She may not know grammar and verb forms, but if she gets my payment credited to my account, I have to be happy.  

[soh.maryl]

In the pet peeve category, there are so many for me, but "wallah" does pretty much make the top five.

If you are a fan of usage, spelling and/or grammatical errors, have you checked out Facebook?

Has the educational system become that bad? Example:  A local mall became defunct some years ago.  When asking a question recently, someone referred to it as "Rolling Ackers" (Acres).  So far, my local fave, but the day is young.  Don't believe I am a usage, spelling or grammatical snob, I just personally cannot stand that kind of error.  And do not get me started on their, there and they're.  

[creativecrisis]

I come from a family of teachers ... English teachers! (And there's a librarian in the mix somewhere.) The grammar police are out in full force at all family reunions. 😅  I spent my career as an editor and technical writer, so I totally get the desire to protect and preserve our wonderful English language. But at some point I realized my life would be happier if I worried about usage, spelling, and grammar only when I was getting paid to do so.

And now I shall stroll on down the screen.

[femmefan1946]

You did that last sentence on purpose.

[soh.maryl]

Just can't help it -- drives me nuts.

Sometimes you run across errors in books by well-known authors, and well-known publishers.

Recently, for instance, "peddle" used as "he had to peddle his bike down a long road".  And, no, he was not selling it.  

[creativecrisis]

@soh.maryl 

Oh, I know! Errors like this are everywhere. I get depressed if I pay too much attention to it.