I await the season with bated breath.

[Kibitzer]

Q. "Bated breath?" Don't you mean "baited breath?"

A. Nope. Bated is the correct word here. Baited is incorrect.

Q> Are you sure? I see baited all the time.

A. I am certain. Baited is a common error, like supersede, committment, or judgement. Common mistake, bit still incorrect in this usage.

Q. Why?

A. "To bait" is to lure. You bait a fishhook with a fly. Or you may engage in the illicit "bait and switch" sales practice. Bated means "excitedly." Got it?

Q. OK, but what if I slip and use baited by mistake?

A. Many readers won't notice, and most of those that detect the error will simply roll their eyes and read on. Of course some damned grammar nazi may call you out. That's what the IGNORE button is for.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Bate too much and the season will not be a problem. Suspect baited breath requires a Cert.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Baited breath sounds rather fishy to me.

 

[UcMiami]

Fun - but 'bit' of a typo up there.
And a personal pet peeve - the use of 'Nazi' has proliferated in the last few years and comparisons to the Third Reich and its various specialize terminology 'Nazi', 'Gezpatcho', 'Holocaust', etc. in all sorts of very inappropriate ways, have become the put down of choice.
There are very few things that have occurred in the world that compare to the scope of atrocities perpetrated in Europe and Asia from in the 1930s and 1940s by Japanese and German imperialism - the Stalin purges, various African conflicts and perhaps the 'cultural revolution' in China may rise to that level - certainly nothing in the US in the 20th or 21st centuries. We risk trivializing history by inappropriately coopting the vocabulary of that era to trivialities of the modern era.

I realize you specifically Kib with your history meant no disrespect for those who suffered and fought against those evils. And most who use the terms lightly do not either, but as you point out frequently words and usage do matter.
End of lecture and moralizing.

 

[Adesmar123]

I think he baited you into that reply.

 

[johnnyc]

Q. "Bated breath?" Don't you mean "baited breath?"

A. Nope. Bated is the correct word here. Baited is incorrect.

Q> Are you sure? I see baited all the time.

A. I am certain. Baited is a common error, like supersede, committment, or judgement. Common mistake, bit still incorrect in this usage.

Q. Why?

A. "To bait" is to lure. You bait a fishhook with a fly. Or you may engage in the illicit "bait and switch" sales practice. Bated means "excitedly." Got it?

Q. OK, but what if I slip and use baited by mistake?

A. Many readers won't notice, and most of those that detect the error will simply roll their eyes and read on. Of course some damned grammar nazi may call you out. That's what the IGNORE button is for.

Well Kib.....either this post will contibute in abating the recent criticism of your grammatical insights or you will be accused of baiting the Boneyard.

 

[Topdawg]

Q. "Bated breath?" Don't you mean "baited breath?"

A. Nope. Bated is the correct word here. Baited is incorrect.

Q> Are you sure? I see baited all the time.

A. I am certain. Baited is a common error, like supersede, committment, or judgement. Common mistake, bit still incorrect in this usage.

Q. Why?

A. "To bait" is to lure. You bait a fishhook with a fly. Or you may engage in the illicit "bait and switch" sales practice. Bated means "excitedly." Got it?

Q. OK, but what if I slip and use baited by mistake?

A. Many readers won't notice, and most of those that detect the error will simply roll their eyes and read on. Of course some damned grammar nazi may call you out. That's what the IGNORE button is for.

I have always used the phrase "to wait with abated breath" implying anticipation before an impending event. I have not used the word "bated". Reactions?

 

[UCAP_Fan]

Some times you eat the fish. Some times you eat the bait.

 

[huskyd]

Q. "Bated breath?" Don't you mean "baited breath?"

A. Nope. Bated is the correct word here. Baited is incorrect.

Q> Are you sure? I see baited all the time.

A. I am certain. Baited is a common error, like supersede, committment, or judgement. Common mistake, bit still incorrect in this usage.

Q. Why?

A. "To bait" is to lure. You bait a fishhook with a fly. Or you may engage in the illicit "bait and switch" sales practice. Bated means "excitedly." Got it?

Q. OK, but what if I slip and use baited by mistake?

A. Many readers won't notice, and most of those that detect the error will simply roll their eyes and read on. Of course some damned grammar nazi may call you out. That's what the IGNORE button is for.

Well Kib.....either this post will contibute in abating the recent criticism of your grammatical insights or you will be accused of baiting the Boneyard.

In an unabated fashion.

 

[huskyd]

While we're waiting for the start of the season, I have some good news for Orangutan. There's an epidemic of lice up and down the east coast. He, his family, and friends can pick nits until tip-off. Show the love.

 

[Zorro]

Well, there was the cat who ate the cheese and waited by the mouse hole with baited breath. But seriously, folks;
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bai1.htm

 

[Woof 101]

It's another Boneyard debating thread! The names have been changed to protect the innocent!

 

[Sonny44]

Kib,
did you have anything at all you wanted to say in the OP?

 

[Biff]

Ha. Just saw this out there on the internet and had to share....

 

[Gus Mahler]

Season, Season time is near
Time for joys and time to cheer
I've been good, but I can't last
Hurry Season, hurry fast
Want a player that loops the loop
And a girl who shoots a hoop
I can hardly stand the wait
Please Season, don't be late

 

[Huskies Rule]

Well Kib.....either this post will contibute in abating the recent criticism of your grammatical insights or you will be accused of baiting the Boneyard.

Guess you might say he's a master at baiting the Boneyard

 

[arty155]

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Gezpatcho

?? Was something edited or deleted. I'm lost. Gezpatcho vz Gezpatcho ( ?gazpacho? - cold Italian soup) 'Course I'm frequently lost and confused.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Q. "Bated breath?" Don't you mean "baited breath?"

A. Nope. Bated is the correct word here. Baited is incorrect.

Q> Are you sure? I see baited all the time.

A. I am certain. Baited is a common error, like supersede, committment, or judgement. Common mistake, bit still incorrect in this usage.

Q. Why?

A. "To bait" is to lure. You bait a fishhook with a fly. Or you may engage in the illicit "bait and switch" sales practice. Bated means "excitedly." Got it?

Q. OK, but what if I slip and use baited by mistake?

A. Many readers won't notice, and most of those that detect the error will simply roll their eyes and read on. Of course some damned grammar nazi may call you out. That's what the IGNORE button is for.

Actually, the common definition of bated is reduced or lessened, which is why I made my original post - bate your breath too much and the season will not be a problem, 'cuz you'll be dead! It is slang for "abated" = reduced/lessened. See, I can play; I just don't like too.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Season, Season time is near
Time for joys and time to cheer
I've been good, but I can't last
Hurry Season, hurry fast
Want a player that loops the loop
And a girl who shoots a hoop
I can hardly stand the wait
Please Season, don't be late

I resemble those words..
I was waiting with Bated Breath---it was very difficult to swallow that critter. His wings tickled all the way down.

 

[alexrgct]

All I know is that it's better to be the master of grammar than the master of baiting...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

All I know is that it's better to be the master of grammar than the master of baiting...

Yeah, being the bait master on a charter boat or anywhere else is pretty bad . Martin Brody didn't like it.

 

[Kibitzer]

Well, there was the cat who ate the cheese and waited by the mouse hole with baited breath. But seriously, folks;
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bai1.htm

Thanks, Zorro. Somehow your link placed me in the same corner as Bill Shakespeare and Mark Twain on this issue. I'll take it, 'cuz it doesn't get any better than that.

 

[MilfordHusky]

All I know is that it's better to be the master of grammar than the master of baiting...

As I understand it, to become a master of baiting, one needs to take things into ones own hands. I believe there is also a standard manual to follow.

 

[Gus Mahler]

As I understand it, to become a master of baiting, one needs to take things into ones own hands. I believe there is also a standard manual to follow.

But once you learn how, you never forget!