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From: drv@eisx.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Interesting use of language
Message-ID: <623@eisx.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Oct-83 10:08:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: eisx.623
Posted: Fri Oct 14 10:08:39 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Oct-83 06:41:07 EDT
Lines: 11

The other day I heard a radio ad for a white sale that touted:
		"Prices over 50%"
I cannot decide if this means "over 50% off the regular price" or "up
to 50% off the regular price".  My first reaction was "over 50%" but
when I heard it a second time, I began to think it was a slick way
of wording designed to make the potential customer think he/she is
getting a better deal than he/she really is.  I'm not looking for
an answer; just thought it was an interesting use (misuse?) of
the language.

Thanks--Dennis Vogel, ATTIS Labs, South Plainfield, NJ