impertinent vs irrelevant :

impertinent or irrelevant

“Impertinent” looks as if it ought to mean the opposite of “pertinent,” andindeed it once did; but for centuries now its meaning in ordinary speech has beennarrowed to “impudent,” specifically in regard to actions or speech towardsomeone regarded as socially superior. Only snobs and very old-fashioned peopleuse “impertinent” correctly; most people would be well advised to forget it anduse “irrelevant” instead to mean the opposite of “pertinent.”

Facebook Twitter Google +


  Do you make these 10 mistakes?
Definitions
  impertinent
  • s  characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
  • s  not pertinent to the matter under consideration
    mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point
  • s  improperly forward or bold
    impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
  irrelevant
  • a  having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
    an irrelevant comment
    irrelevant allegations
News & Articles
  impertinent
  • Trayvon Martin case: Prosecution's star witness proves to be a challenge
    Impertinent. Mumbling. Offended. Teary-eyed. Rachel Jeantel, star witness for the prosecution in George Zimmerman's murder trial, was all of those, and more, as her testimony Wednesday provided new details into Trayvon Martin’s last moments and infused racially loaded commentary into an already-sensitive trial.
    June 27, 2013 - Christian Science Monitor via Yahoo! News
  • EMMYS: ‘Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes
    Diane Haithman is an AwardsLine contributor. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes on what he’s learned in the business: On giving advice In a way, I always think advice is rather impertinent really, because I’m not aware of knowing anything that anyone else doesn’t. I suppose the only thing I would say to young writers is if you want to do these courses and read these books, just remember that ...
    June 24, 2013 - Deadline Hollywood
  • EMMYS: ‘Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes
    Diane Haithman is an AwardsLine contributor. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes on what he’s learned in the business: On giving advice In a way, I always think advice is rather impertinent really, because I’m not aware of knowing anything that anyone else doesn’t. I suppose the only thing I would say to young writers is if you want to do these courses and read these books, just remember that ...
    June 24, 2013 - Deadline Hollywood
  irrelevant
  • Leading Internet Marketing Company Reveals Top 10 Ways To Build Quality and High PageRank (PR) Backlinks
    “We all know Link Building has completely changed after the Google Panda and Penguin algorithm updates. The Old link building techniques don’t work any longer and many site’s rankings with spammy irrelevant backlinks moved from SERP #1 to hyperspace overnight”, stated Peter Rossi founder of ProfitSearch. (PRWeb June 18, 2013) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/6 ...
    June 18, 2013 - PRWeb
  • 5 moments to remember from jam-packed Bonnaroo
    Those who think rock 'n' roll is irrelevant or even dead need to pay a visit to Bonnaroo. It may be showing its age — eternally rocking Paul McCartney and Petty and The Heartbreakers were the two most prominent headliners.
    June 17, 2013 - WRCB Chattanooga
  • Irrelevant Week schedule pared
    Irrelevant Week might want to change its name to "A Couple of Irrelevant Days" in Newport Beach. The event that celebrates the last player selected in the NFL Draft seems to get shorter every year. Don't blame the organizers, Paul Salata and his daughter, Melanie Salata-Fitch.
    June 15, 2013 - Daily Pilot