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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?"
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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