The Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo

I’d like to thank my middle brother (I have three) for the inspiration for this post. As we sat around after church, drinking coffee and eating the most amazing mini pecan pies, I asked whether the distance of something from my mind would be written as further (degree from) or farther (physical distance from). Of course, as soon as the question exited my mind, I knew that I’d only needed to say it out loud. My brother then stated that if I were to stand a great distance from him, he would tell me that I “couldn’t be farther from the truth.” And I laughed, cause I think he’s funny.

Many conversations followed, including many political near fights…most definite fights if I posted them here. But the absolute best five minutes of the afternoon were when I remembered a t-shirt I’d seen (eleven years ago) in a shop window. That was when I’d first realized that the mascot of a certain university were “the Buffaloes”…pluralized with an “s”. I almost died, because I tend to overreact when people change the rules of grammar and spelling without my express permission. I realize that I’m prone to error, as we all are, but I want the rules to stay the same. Unless you are a good ten years younger than I am, I’m sure you’ll remember when there was only one option for the pluralization of the word “buffalo”. And that was, of course, “buffalo”.

Apparently, this is no longer the case. I’m sorry if I’ve just rocked your world.

My brother calmed my tizzy by stating that, “Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo,” was in fact a complete and grammatically correct sentence.  Of course, it might help the readability to say, “The buffalo from Buffalo buffalo other buffalo.”

Yes, I realize that we are nerds. What do you talk about on a Sunday afternoon? Also, are there any dictionary additions that make you want to stand up and scream? Admit it, I’m not the only one!