tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-89090991025413482652008-06-30T01:58:00.006-04:002008-06-30T02:07:19.818-04:00<a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/tavis/features/2004/mar/ellington/concert_lg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.npr.org/programs/tavis/features/2004/mar/ellington/concert_lg.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I came across a refreshing usage at work last night.<br /><blockquote>Mark Rozell, a professor of political science at George Mason University, said the similarity of the attacks suggests a concerted effort to "build a picture" about Obama's character before the political newcomer has a chance to convince people of the truth of his rhetoric.</blockquote>Yes! For once, <i>concerted</i> means "concerted"! The story was about various McCain operatives working together, <i>in concert</i>. That's right: To make a <i>concerted</i> effort, despite widespread usage, isn't to try really, really hard to do something. That would be, perhaps, a <i>determined</i> effort. <br /><br />Even the notoriously permissive Merriam-Webster's dictionary doesn't accept the "trying rully, rully hard" definition.Billnoreply@blogger.com