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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Wiggle room vs wriggle room
A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions to the literature of business ethics yesterday, when we came to discuss the phrase 'wiggle room'. The referee had 'corrected' it to 'wriggle room'.
Is there a substantive difference? Is there a pondial difference?
Can one wiggle but not wriggle? Or vv?
'She wiggled as she walked' seems to convey a different (and more alluring) meaning from 'she wriggled as she walked'.
The Google stats are
Wiggle room
All 144000 UK only 3230
Wriggle room
All 6860 UK only 495
Mike Page
'The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it.'
(Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment, p195)
Is there a substantive difference? Is there a pondial difference?
Can one wiggle but not wriggle? Or vv?
'She wiggled as she walked' seems to convey a different (and more alluring) meaning from 'she wriggled as she walked'.
The Google stats are
Wiggle room
All 144000 UK only 3230
Wriggle room
All 6860 UK only 495
Mike Page
'The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it.'
(Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment, p195)
Top answer
[nq:1]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions ... 'wiggle room'. The referee had 'corrected' it to 'wriggle room'.
- [nq:1]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions ...
- 'wiggle room'.
- The referee had 'corrected' it to 'wriggle room'.
- Is there a substantive difference?
- [/nq] There is no merit in the correction.
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9 Answers
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[nq:1]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions ... 'wiggle room'. The referee had 'corrected' it to 'wriggle room'. Is there a substantive difference? Is there a pondial difference?[/nq]
There is no merit in the correction. Dictionaries from both Rightpondia and Leftpondia agree on this. No doubt your editor is rel
There is no merit in the correction. Dictionaries from both Rightpondia and Leftpondia agree on this. No doubt your editor is rel
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[nq:1]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions ... 'wiggle room'. The referee had 'corrected' it to 'wriggle room'. Is there a substantive difference? Is there a pondial difference?[/nq]
I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room". Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, po
I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room". Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, po
00
Mike Page filted:
[nq:1]'She wiggled as she walked' seems to convey a different (and more alluring) meaning from 'she wriggled as she walked'.[/nq]
Get thee behind me, STS!...
"HEL-lo-o-o, bay-BEE!"...r
[nq:1]'She wiggled as she walked' seems to convey a different (and more alluring) meaning from 'she wriggled as she walked'.[/nq]
Get thee behind me, STS!...
"HEL-lo-o-o, bay-BEE!"...r
00
[nq:1]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions ... walked'. The Google stats are Wiggle room All 144000 UK only 3230 Wriggle room All 6860 UK only 495[/nq]
Wriggle is given as a synonym for wiggle in MWCD. I think usage is a matter of preference.
Mike
Wriggle is given as a synonym for wiggle in MWCD. I think usage is a matter of preference.
Mike
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Mike Hardy:
[nq:1]I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room".[/nq]
Likewise.
[nq:1]Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, potentially arbitrarily.[/nq]
I'd say it means that the constraints are incomplete, allowing some decisions. There's room to wiggle, but not to completely turn around.
Mark Brader > "It is impractical fo
[nq:1]I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room".[/nq]
Likewise.
[nq:1]Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, potentially arbitrarily.[/nq]
I'd say it means that the constraints are incomplete, allowing some decisions. There's room to wiggle, but not to completely turn around.
Mark Brader > "It is impractical fo
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[nq:1]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over a referee's comments on one of our modest potential contributions ... 'wiggle room'. The referee had 'corrected' it to 'wriggle room'. Is there a substantive difference? Is there a pondial difference?[/nq]
William Safire discussed this recently in the NY Times:
He says that "wiggle" outnumbers "wriggle" 14:1.
Gopi S
William Safire discussed this recently in the NY Times:
He says that "wiggle" outnumbers "wriggle" 14:1.
Gopi S
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[nq:2]A learned and amusing professor and I were musing over ... Is there a substantive difference? Is there a pondial difference?[/nq]
[nq:1]I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room". Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, potentially arbitrarily. Mike Hardy[/nq]
I've always thought of "wriggle" as combination of "wiggle" and "writhe" what a wo
[nq:1]I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room". Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, potentially arbitrarily. Mike Hardy[/nq]
I've always thought of "wriggle" as combination of "wiggle" and "writhe" what a wo
00
[nq:1]Mike Page filted:[/nq]
[nq:2]'She wiggled as she walked' seems to convey a different (and more alluring) meaning from 'she wriggled as she walked'.[/nq]
[nq:1]Get thee behind me, STS!... "HEL-lo-o-o, bay-BEE!"...r[/nq]
Dat's de Big Boppah, sho' nuf. She noze what he likes.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
[nq:2]'She wiggled as she walked' seems to convey a different (and more alluring) meaning from 'she wriggled as she walked'.[/nq]
[nq:1]Get thee behind me, STS!... "HEL-lo-o-o, bay-BEE!"...r[/nq]
Dat's de Big Boppah, sho' nuf. She noze what he likes.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
00
It could only be 'wriggle room' to me (AuE).
[nq:2]I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room". Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, potentially arbitrarily. Mike Hardy[/nq]
[nq:1]I've always thought of "wriggle" as combination of "wiggle" and "writhe" what a worm does on a fish hook.[/nq]
Yes, I think you could wiggle your finger, but you'd
[nq:2]I've always heard "wiggle room"; never "wriggle room". Generally it means lack of constraints, so that one may make decisions, potentially arbitrarily. Mike Hardy[/nq]
[nq:1]I've always thought of "wriggle" as combination of "wiggle" and "writhe" what a worm does on a fish hook.[/nq]
Yes, I think you could wiggle your finger, but you'd
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