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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Are the words objective and goals interchangeable and how many say on yesterday I walked the dog?
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1
2010/04/26 - 10:16am

As a child in Catholic school I was taught that objective and goal were not interchangeable words and that goals helped you reached your ultimate objective. This seemed to be validated in the business when I was encouraged to use the Management by Objective (MBO) method of strategic planning. Now, I seem to see the worlds used interchangeable. I would like you to weigh in on this.

My second question is prompted by my having lived down south for a year. In reference to an upcoming appointment, I would say “I have a doctor's appoint on Tuesday.” or “I have a doctor's appoint tomorrow.” I would not say “I have a doctor's appoint on tomorrow.” Neither would I say “On yesterday, I had a meeting.” Down south they say on tomorrow or on yesterday. Is this grammatically correct or just a colloquial way of speaking?

Thank you in advance

EmmettRedd
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2010/04/26 - 12:44pm

"On the morrow" has a long history. In the OED, I could read it back to 1535 (the old English stuff is beyond me). Maybe "on tomorrow" is tomorrow put together with the "on the morrow" construction.

Emmett

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3
2010/04/27 - 1:58pm

In my experience, saying "on yesterday" is strictly an African-American phrase. I am white, but much of my career has been spenting working with and around African-Americans. I have never heard any other culture use the phrase, but I have heard it consistently and continuously from African-Americans.

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4
2010/04/27 - 2:22pm

I would not use "on yesterday" or "on tommorrow" (with the caveat that in speaking, I might change in the middle of the sentence and be about to say "on Thursday" and realize after the "on" that Thursday was tomorrow).

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