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Wed 6 Oct, 2010 08:42 am
I kind of regard "unfortunately" as redundant (anyway, when is it ever fortunate?) So, is "someone unfortunately passed away" a proper English expression?
:-)
@Io ,
No, definitely not! Someone "sadly" and "unexpected" passed away.
@Io ,
I don't much care for the expression, but I do hear it used quite a bit. It is commonly used, even if it's not "proper".
the word is in the wrong place that's all. it should be, unfortunately, someone passed away. Unless it's Dick Cheney or Glenn Beck. then it's Yee Haw...someone passed zaway.
Yes, it's said all the time:
someone, unfortunately, passed away
someone, mercifully, passed away
someone, at last, passed away
@Io ,
Death is fortunate when someone is suffering (whether it be the dying person or those around them) 'Unfortunate' isn't redundant.
@MonaLeeza,
My son sent this to me, it's from the Onion and something that I would not normally pass along, but reading Bear's remark, I thought he might enjoy. But I wonder, if I think it's funny does that mean I'm going to hell? Maybe I can go in a handcart.
http://www.theonion.com/video/victim-in-fatal-car-accident-tragically-not-glenn,14380/
It's fine-
John Smith unfortunately passed away before paying me back the money he borrowed.
@Io ,
May I have your e-mail address, please?
@Io ,
No but when are English expressions proper?
@CalamityJane,
"No, definitely not! Someone "sadly" and "unexpected" passed away."
Unexpectedly not unexpected. Some one unexpected passed away. Unless you are trying to say it as if a random person passed away, which I have reason to believe you are not, you should use unexpectedly.
Oh come on folks, isn't the unfortunately passed away better than reading "Sweet Mother of God, 'so and so' fortunately passed away last night."? Maybe it would be understandable if the drafter had been waiting a long time for an inheritance........But I still think I would rather see "unfortunately Passed". But I'm a tad old school.
@glitterbag,
No being old school has nothing to do with it. That's how I feel.
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