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[clarencebunsen]

I was all set to download this spelling /grammar / context checker until I got to the last correction in the video (about the 1 minute mare).

[dave]

I guess I missed it. What was the problem?

[clarencebunsen]

I thought the as corrected version ("His abundant use of poetic license is to the detriment of his work.") was very awkward, as if it was written by a person who is not a native speaker of English.

[dave]

What makes say you that?

[clarencebunsen]

Not fair, you made me think. My first choice in the sentence would be "is detrimental to." I had to think even more when I heard a newscaster say, "redounds to the credit of." I don't think I have ever used "redounds" but if I were to use it I would probably use the newscaster's construction.

After running a few phrases through my head, I believe I would use my construction with linking verbs. I have to think a bit more to determine if I have a reason or if I'm controlled by habit.

[dave]

I still remember in Latin it was nouns followed by verbs. In high school, we practiced it on each other with, "The bus coming it is" and "A** my kiss."
There were others.

But your "... if I have a reason or if I'm controlled by habit," prompts me to say we get our constructions from our reading. I suppose it's from our habitual reading. Those phrases we don't mess up. I'm trying to think of the word for getting a phrase wrong. Like, "All I want for Christmas is my two front feet."

[clarencebunsen]

Is there a word for that? It is not exactly a Spoonerism. (It is kisstomary to cuss the bride.) I had a friend who frequently said, "We have to nip that in the butt."

[dave]

Yes, Spoonerism was what I was trying to recall. A loose Spoonerism then.