amphibology

[underused]

amphibology
a phrase or sentence that is grammatically ambiguous (also amphiboly)

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Amphibology, also known as "syntactic ambiguity," is a situation where a sentence may be interpreted in more than one way due to ambiguous sentence structure. A "globally ambiguous" sentence can be interpreted in more than one way; a sentence that is "locally ambiguous" is temporarily confusing, but becomes clear once read in its entirety.

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The need for brevity often leads to amphibology in newspaper headlines. "The Lower Case" column of the Columbia Journalism Review publishes reader-submitted examples in a feature called Headlines editors probably wish they could take back.

For your consideration:

FARMER BILL DIES IN HOUSE

GOVT BANS MOVEMENT OF BIRDS

SERVICES FOR MAN WHO REFUSED TO HATE THURSDAY IN ATLANTA

19 FEET BROKEN IN POLE VAULT

RESEARCH FANS HOPE FOR SPINAL INJURIES

Comments

[underused]

Whoa, that's a weird one. ☺ I feel like it has to be on purpose because it makes absolute no sense regardless of where you place emphasis.

In other news--hi! It's nice to hear from you. I've been away from DW for a while. I've been working on a project for some relatives that involves way too much online time, so I tend to stay away from the screen in my down hours. But I've been meaning to come post something. How's your life in these early months of 2018?

[full_metal_ox]

The context reveals that, by "human meat", they mean "those cuts of meat normally marketed for (affluent white American) human consumption"--i.e., clean cuts of muscle tissue excluding the organs, bones, stomach contents, and fur or feathers that a predatory animal would consume in the wild: people food as distinct from pet food.

My 2018 so far has been spent largely in alternating bouts of frantic errand-chaining when the weather relents (today we had a high of 79!) and burrowing into a fortress of covers when the sidewalks turn to buttered glass.

(This past week, I learned the answer to a question I'd been holding for most of my life, against the time when it would finally apply to me personally: H.J. Heinz used to do free 57th birthday care packages, but have long since discontinued the practice.)

[underused]

Heh, oh I get it, but who would ever say "human meat"? Someone was being funny, I think.

Yes, the weather. (I think we're not that far from each other.) We've had great dumps of snow followed by rapid melts. (One of these ripped off our eaves trough when the snow slid off the roof en masse.) Then sudden freezes (creating your beautifully described buttered glass) and now our across-the-road-neighbours have a lake in their front yard after two days of rain before the ground's had a chance to thaw. GOOD TIMES.

Your link was delightful. I always wondered about the "57" and though I'm disappointed to know it doesn't mean anything, I'm happy to finally KNOW. Also, "euchred pickles." Who knew?