From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:30:24 -0500, Tony Cooper wrote:

Please tell us what you want to hear so we can end this pointless
thread.

Bye!
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s|b
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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:36:09 +0000, Liz Tuddenham wrote:

Until recently I always thought of it as describing someone who not only broke the rules but did so in an extreme way. American usage has now
diluted this to mean any minor offender.

Funny how the meaning of words can evolve over time.
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s|b
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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On 2026-02-18 11:48, s|b wrote:

On Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:30:24 -0500, Tony Cooper wrote:

Please tell us what you want to hear so we can end this pointless
thread.

Bye!

And an adieu to you too.




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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

s|b:

Long story short; native English speakers, what's the first thing that
comes to mind when hearing/reading the word 'violator'.

Probably someone who has broken the law (rules, regulations, etc.).

But "violator" isn't a particularly common form in my BrE experience.
We'd be more likely to express the idea with another form: the verb "to violate", the adjective "violated", or the noun "violation".
--
John
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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:35:45 +0000, John Dunlop wrote:

Probably someone who has broken the law (rules, regulations, etc.).

But "violator" isn't a particularly common form in my BrE experience.
We'd be more likely to express the idea with another form: the verb "to violate", the adjective "violated", or the noun "violation".

That makes sense. Come to think of it, I don't think I've encountered
the word 'violator' that often, except for the name of that album.
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s|b
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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Peter Moylan:

It depends on country. The USA traffic rules

No such thing. As Tony would tell you, there are at least 51 sets
of them.

use the word "violation" to
mean the breaking of a traffic law, so that biases the understanding of
AmE speakers. The word isn't used in that way in other countries, as far
as I know.

Wrong. See for example

https://www.ontario.ca/page/check-status-traffic-tickets-and-fines-online-or-request-meeting-resolve-your-case

which talks about "parking violations" and "building code violations".
And if you look at the Highway Traffic Act, you'll see that it refers
to "violations" of the regulations for number plates (i.e. license
plates).

For me, in Australia, it is more associated with rape, violent assault, violation of human rights, and things like that...

I know that meaning but it's not the first one I think of.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Where is down special?" ... "Good." msb@vex.net | "Do you refuse to answer my question?" "Don't know."

My text in this article is in the public domain.
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