Posts: 3676
Threads: 354
Joined: April 12, 2015
Reputation:
42
How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 10:06 am
I thought late means recently dead (late=lately or of late). But how is recently defined quantitatively? You wolldn't say "the late George Washington" or "the late Elvis Presley." But would you say "the late Ronald Reagan" or "the late Rick James?"
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
Posts: 33626
Threads: 1422
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation:
152
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 10:14 am
I doubt I ever used the term late in reference to someone who was dead.
And you are correct, the term late is in reference to a recent death. None of those deaths you listed were recent.
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Posts: 7045
Threads: 20
Joined: June 17, 2014
Reputation:
55
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 10:17 am
From the Grammarist:
Quote:In reference to a recently deceased person, the late shows respect. It’s often used to inform or remind readers that a mentioned person has died recently, and it’s sometimes a polite way of saying recently deceased, even when virtually everyone knows that the person is recently deceased. In general, it applies to anyone who has died in the last decade or so, and it almost always carries a note of reverence. So, for example, the late Osama bin Laden might strike some English speakers as too respectful.
In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 33626
Threads: 1422
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation:
152
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 10:19 am
I cannot remember who said it, but it is something akin to:
If you are not pissing someone off with your writing, then you are doing it wrong.
Therefore, fuck Reverent Late.
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Posts: 1897
Threads: 33
Joined: August 25, 2015
Reputation:
27
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 10:35 am
How the fuck did that get started anyway? And what are they late for?
Posts: 31035
Threads: 204
Joined: July 19, 2011
Reputation:
141
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 10:59 am
They may be late, but I'm guessing they aren't showing up at all. The dead are notoriously unreliable for social engagements.
Posts: 10025
Threads: 21
Joined: September 8, 2015
Reputation:
79
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 11:12 am
I'm not so sure. Elvis seems to be around quite a bit, if you read the tabloids.
If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.
Posts: 69247
Threads: 3759
Joined: August 2, 2009
Reputation:
258
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 11:17 am
I can't wait to refer to the late Donald Trump.
Posts: 3879
Threads: 21
Joined: June 6, 2016
Reputation:
39
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 11:33 am
(This post was last modified: May 18, 2017 at 11:34 am by mlmooney89.)
I like the decade rule FatAndFaithless quoted for famous people. For people you know personally I would think maybe a year, two tops. Well... to easily explain that you are a widow(er) it wouldn't hurt to refer to them as your late husband... oh hell I can argue all day long why you need an oxford comma but I don't know this answer.
(May 18, 2017 at 11:17 am)Minimalist Wrote: I can't wait to refer to the late Donald Trump.
lmao you are going to hell for that one
I reckon I am too for laughing so hard.
“What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of what it's supposed to be.”
Also if your signature makes my scrolling mess up "you're tacky and I hate you."
Posts: 8303
Threads: 40
Joined: March 18, 2014
Reputation:
54
RE: How Long Does Someone Have to be Dead Before People stop Referring to them as Late?
May 18, 2017 at 11:41 am
(May 18, 2017 at 10:06 am)Rhondazvous Wrote: You wolldn't say "the late George Washington" or "the late Elvis Presley."
Of course you wouldn't say "the late Elvis Presley." He's not dead. He just went home.
Thief and assassin for hire. Member in good standing of the Rogues Guild.
