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

This is an example of how a single 'as' can come out of the blue and make perfect sense: it is a news headline that goes:

BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Hazardous.

In this case the context instantly forms in mind: we all know the 'as' is used in the context of comparing the impacts on human health by the different kinds of plastic.  In general, I think that the existence of contexts that justify expressions like that (and like the examples of your post), should be obvious enough.

Now I would be very daft not to hear the  yet unspoken point of your post,  which  is:  No, Robert,  I know of people saying 'Green is as becoming a color,'  and there are no contexts that can explain it at all- what's with that?

From my previous post, my answer to that would have been, if that's true, then the 'as' in there is just senseless.  But now looking back I would like to modify that position if only slightly, to say that it could be a form of false sophistication, by which your example above is just a way of saying 'Green is such a becoming color.'  (And I might speculate again that that be well along the direction you are going with  your posts.)

I consider the misuse of "of" to be a serious matter.  You'll see kids (in their forties) writing "It must of been Bob who stole the liquor."

The words of and have are similar in sound, which means it doesn't "sound wrong" to people unless they are sensitized to the issue.  I'd think it would be less of an problem if people were aware it was happening.  I don't think awareness would get people to say less an error rather than less of an error.