Unwritten Rules Of English Grammar: 'Tock-tick', 'Dong-ding', 'Kong ...

Home » Why Tock Tick Sounds Wrong » Unwritten Rules Of English Grammar: 'Tock-tick', 'Dong-ding', 'Kong ...

Maybe your like

Skip to content

Thanks to something called ablaut reduplication — a rule stating that, if you repeat a word and change an internal vowel, the order you say them in has to follow I-A-O.

This is why it’s King Kong, Ding Dong, Tick Tock (which sounds right to your ear), and not Kong-King, Dong-Ding, and Tock-Tick (which doesn’t sound right at all!)

Ever wonder why it’s Little Red Riding Hood? The adjective rule helps you remember what order to put things in:  it’s obscure, but yes, it is a thing!

  1. opinion
  2. size
  3. age
  4. shape
  5. color
  6. origin
  7. material
  8. purpose
  9. Noun

ie: little green men, not green little men; and Big Bad Wolf, not Bad Big Wolf.

0KHDp42

And… now you know about the crazy things elements of eloquence* that I, as an editor, know, to help make your manuscript better! #knowledgeispower #research #grammar #saywhat?

*Editor’s Note- The “elements of eloquence” is a great book by Mark Forsyth! Get it and enjoy learning how to turn a phrase.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Like Loading...

Related

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Δ

Recent Posts

  • New Adventures #bookstagram
  • John Steinbeck / Marilyn Monroe Fan Letter
  • Pens… Pencils… Notebooks… Pads… Oh My
  • Long Time No Blog…
  • Memorial Day Reading List
Search for: Search

Archives

Archives Select Month May 2022 March 2022 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 March 2020 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 July 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013

Other Links of Interest

Follow Dara Rochlin Book Doctor on WordPress.com

Social

  • View DaraRochlinBookDoctor’s profile on Facebook
  • View bookdoctordara’s profile on Twitter
  • View drochlin’s profile on Pinterest
  • Comment
  • Reblog
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Dara Rochlin Book Doctor
      • Join 86 other subscribers Sign me up
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Dara Rochlin Book Doctor
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
Loading Comments... Write a Comment... Email (Required) Name (Required) Website %d

Tag » Why Tock Tick Sounds Wrong