Just a Spelling Lesson
Quite a few readers have emailed me comments on my new paper Spreading the Wealth Around: Reflections Inspired by Joe the Plumber. I appreciate the input.
The most frequent comment is to point out an alleged error: "just deserts" should be "just desserts," I am told.
So here I am with a spelling lesson: In the expression just deserts, the word deserts means that which one deserves. It may be pronounced like the sweet things you eat after a meal, but it is spelled like the spans of dry land.
For example, consider this dialogue:
The most frequent comment is to point out an alleged error: "just deserts" should be "just desserts," I am told.
So here I am with a spelling lesson: In the expression just deserts, the word deserts means that which one deserves. It may be pronounced like the sweet things you eat after a meal, but it is spelled like the spans of dry land.
For example, consider this dialogue:
Father: If you eat all your vegetables, Bobby, you can have a cookie and ice cream after dinner.By the way, another reader points out that yesterday's Doonesbury is related to the topic of Just Deserts Theory.
Bobby: Will you also pay me a dollar, Daddy?
Father: No, Bobby. If you eat all your vegetables, your just deserts are just desserts.
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