You may be nauseous, I am just nauseated

[colliemommie]

Every time someone in pregnant complains about how "nauseous" she is, I can't help but laugh. I realize it seems to be a popular colloquial usage to use the word to describe feeling sick, but being popular does not make it right. I unilaterally revoke the Humpty Dumpty Law in this case. I don't care how much extra you pay "nauseous", it means "causing nausea", the same as "nauseating".

So, while I will not argue with anyone who claims she is "nauseous", I steadfastly remain merely nauseated.

Comments

[ciaobellamamma.livejournal.com]

First, what's the Humpty Dumpty Law? ...because in the three unabridged dictionaries I just looked in, both nauseous and nauseated mean the same thing: to be affected by nausea. I suppose that if the Humpty Dumpty Law has something to do with that, and you revoke the HD Law, then that explains that!

and yes, I am a dork and actually looked it up, haha

(Plus, the suffix '-ous' means "possessing', right? So it would kinda make sense?)

[litalex.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D