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Discussion » Questions » Communication » Why is it immovable not unmovable? See that's what I don't like about grammar! It's not logical and makes no sense!
Adaydreambeliever

Why is it immovable not unmovable? See that's what I don't like about grammar! It's not logical and makes no sense!

Of course, I am a Brit so like it or not I know grammar, I don't know what things are called but I know what is, and is not, correct..  But I don't really like it, nor do I approve of it :P  
What niggles me most of all, is when things don't even follow the rules and when some things do, and some don't. Also, infuriating is when grammar is an art rather than exact. I am happy to be wildly creative in my use of grammar - but unfortunately where there is debate over use of punctuation and grammar that can cause difficulty with people insisting that one way is right, when several ways are equally correct.

Posted - May 10, 2018
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Responses


  • 17614
    Unmovable is a perfectly fine word.  
      May 10, 2018 8:27 AM MDT
    3

  • 5354
    I agree it make no sense.

    From etymology i got that the in- prefix comes from Latin and originally meant very- or highly- (as it still do in words like 'inflateable' and 'investigate')

    I think I have seen 'in-flammable' used with both meanings for the in- ('very flammmable' and 'not flammable')

    Here is a bit about why: https://mentalfloss.com/article/57840/whats-difference-between-and-un
      May 10, 2018 10:36 AM MDT
    4

  • 17614
    Unmovable is a valid word.  Do you have a dictionary?
      May 10, 2018 8:14 PM MDT
    1

  • 5354
    Not disagreeing :)
      May 11, 2018 12:43 PM MDT
    1

  • 234
    Where's Randy D when we REALLY need him????....
      May 10, 2018 12:24 PM MDT
    3

  • 5835
    There are only two languages, English and foreign. And you only need to learn one of them. Whichever one you choose is simple enough that they make all the little kids learn it. So stop sniveling and learn it!
      May 10, 2018 12:35 PM MDT
    2

  • 6477
    LOL you are so cheeky! I never said I hadn't learned it... and my clever-clogs friend as you would surely know.. actually English and American, which are both different, not only in terms of spelling but also in terms of grammar... Yea I only have to learn one... but it's still illogical so there :P
      May 10, 2018 2:26 PM MDT
    0

  • 5835
    Anybody in the world can understand English if you speak slowly and distinctly. You only need to learn the special cases, and it's easy enough to work around those.
      May 10, 2018 3:55 PM MDT
    0

  • 6477
    It is??? Well you have my undying admiration then because from what I see, here and in real life, there are literally gazillions that struggle with grammar. Even those who think they know it all, don't and get it wrong.. I am humbled to be in the presence of one who finds it easy 
      May 10, 2018 4:06 PM MDT
    1

  • 5835
      May 11, 2018 3:30 AM MDT
    1

  • 6477
    yes, very cool pic. I am always amazed at the inventiveness and ability of people to come up with pics.. 
      May 11, 2018 10:52 AM MDT
    0

  • 5808
    Because:
    immovable ---im movable
    unmovable---un movable
    Clear??? hahaha
      May 10, 2018 2:26 PM MDT
    1

  • 6477
    As clear as mud :P
      May 10, 2018 2:27 PM MDT
    0

  • 7280
    immovable is also correctly spelled immoveable.

    But actually, I wasn't aware of the issue.

    https://wikidiff.com/unmovable/immovable
      May 10, 2018 2:44 PM MDT
    1

  • 7280
    And here's a few more comments about subjects that arose in this thread:

    Inflammable is derived from the word inflame (sometimes spelled enflame), and precedes the invention of the word flammable. ... So always remember thatinflammable means exactly the same thing as flammable—it could save your life.

    And lots more here:

    https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-78567,00.html
      May 10, 2018 2:49 PM MDT
    1

  • 5391
    English is just so ridiculous. Silent “K”?  What?
    It might have been less confusion for the world to have spoken Japanese. 
      May 10, 2018 3:41 PM MDT
    1

  • 6477
    I couldn't agree more.. It's probably the most ludicrous language there is...  
      May 10, 2018 4:08 PM MDT
    0

  • 5835
      May 10, 2018 3:58 PM MDT
    3

  • 7280
    Is that Victor Mature?
      May 22, 2018 10:31 PM MDT
    0

  • 16832
    Yep. Valuable and invaluable are synonyms, not antonyms. WTF?
      May 10, 2018 10:20 PM MDT
    2

  • 22891
    not sure why
      May 13, 2018 3:54 PM MDT
    0