“vocabulary” (not to be confused with a previous post of mine)

 

In my young adulthood, I used to apply for jobs listed in the The New York Times’s help wanted section. I actually got several jobs that way.

In my thirties, I was working for a publisher and was unhappy there. I sent out a lot of resumes.

The help wanted ads would often specify: “include [in one’s response to the ad] salary requirements.”

I would dutifully do this. Later I found out that most job search counselors advise against this.

I would send a resume and cover letter to Box ___, The New York Times. I would end my cover letter with the following sentence: “I am seeking a salary of $13K per anum.”

Little did I know that the correct spelling is annum.

My high school Latin did not serve me well in this instance.

 

 

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per anum

adverbial phrase

definition:  Through or by way of the anus, as in the administration of medication.

 

 

— Roger W. Smith
 
   September 2017

3 thoughts on ““vocabulary” (not to be confused with a previous post of mine)

  1. Li Fontrodona

    Funny. But I think that, in rigour, you should use the ablative in both cases and write “anno” or “per anno” in the first instance and “per ano” in the second – Both words belong in the second declination, so they inflect alike.

  2. Li Fontrodona

    … I see I was wrong before, since the preposition “per” requires the acusative. So it is as you say: “per annum” & “per anum”. I’m sorry for the mistake.

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