Why Your Jive Doesn't Jibe with the True Definition

 

The greatest gift social media has given us is the ability to know just how many people not only don't know what they're talking about more than half the time, but also the fact that they don't even know the correct words to use when they don't. Forget about misspellings, those run rampant these days. And with the absurd rationale that enforcement of good grammar is somehow based in colonialism or that it's a symbol of being old, don't except it to get much better. This post is all about usage.

Some of the ones that really grind my gears:

• All the Sudden
• Few Far and In-Between
• Should of/Would of
• Jive instead of Jibe

That last one is the source of all my pain and suffering, the very origin of all that is empty and wrong in the world and, possibly, the universe and its many multiversal equivalents. I will move on at the risk of indulging in hyperbole.

For whatever reason, many people tend to automatically turn unfamiliar words into familiar ones based on fascinatingly obtuse biases. For instance, "Few and Far Between" may make sense to those of us who possess a literary bent, but those who do not look at and see a phrase that looks incorrect. The term refers to something that rarely occurs. To add "in-between" is to create a phrase that no longer means that but sounds more like a description of physical location. To be fair, I'm not convinced that the people misusing the term don't also believe the latter meaning is the one that applies. The same is true for "Jive" vs. "Jibe."

According to the Chicago Tribune, "Jive means either a type of music or loose, meaningless chatter. Jibe means to be in accord; agree. To confuse matters, jibe also means to shift your sail from one side of the vessel to the other (sometimes spelled gybe). And gibe, which means to make taunting, heckling remarks, can also be spelled jibe."

So, if you're using "jive" to mean something doesn't go along with your beliefs or those of someone else, stop it. You look uneducated. 

I had someone who moderates a page on scientific accuracy argue with me about this. Discounting the inherent superiority analytical types feel when dealing with creative people, this is an individual who appears learned and to be a good researcher. Yet in this case, where language is often regarded as secondary to opinion, they relied on a single source and then tried to spin the incorrect usage itself. When that failed, they tried to say the original wrong definition was correct. No amount of proof seemed to sway them.

On second thought, if you wanna use "jive" to mean what it doesn't mean, have at it. Just try not to vote. Or Procreate. Or work with the public. Or run for office. 

Or become a pet owner.

It just wouldn't jive with what makes a well-rounded person~