Healthy vs. Healthful

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   Rochelle Frankposted 10 years ago

   We see so much written today about "healthy foods" or a "healthy diet", has this become correct by usage?
   I always thought people, animals and even plants could be healthy (in a state of good health), but things that contribute to that state should be referred to as healthful ie. "healthful foods" or "healthful activities".  Is "healthful" now an archaic term.

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      Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I read that in readers digest, I think, about... 17 years ago... I think it was RD anyway. I tried to use the proper verbiage since then, but it always ended up challenged so I stopped. lol

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         Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Well maybe it is outdated then, with billions of people talking about "healthy foods" it's hard to buck the trend. I still think it should be healthful. Most of the food we eat is dead (with the possible exception of  sprouts) so it may be healthful, but not healthy.

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            Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            haha... no, once you've decapitated something, I don't think it can be considered healthy.

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               Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               But then, do people still swallow goldfish?

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                  Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Yes, but they're wearing fur coats and saying things like, "Well that's the cat's pajama's." Wait... no. No one swallows goldfish anymore.

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                     Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     When I was in college the boys dorm had a "luau" that I went to. Someone had put goldfish in the toilets, and none of the girls wanted to flush them.

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                        Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        Now boys slip them drugs to knock them out. You're boys seemed a lot less harmful then our boys.

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   Beth37posted 10 years ago

   I looked for the article... I got to page 6 on google then gave up. Sorry.

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   Gordon Hamiltonposted 10 years ago

   I have to be honest in that I doubted there was such a word as healthful. First time I have ever encountered it. It appears it fell out of use circa 1400...
   
   http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/healthful

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      Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      What is the point you make good sir? Be hasty and give us your reply for methinks you bringeth up a meaning that is moot.

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         Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Gee, I would have bet the Brits were still using it.

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            Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            They do make the rest of us sound like redneck hillbillies.

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               Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Indeed, forsooth.

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                  Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Im using my awesome British accent now. You can't tell, but I sound very genuine.

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                     Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     You forgot an apostrophe. Anyway, you should probably say "I am" and "cannot", instead of using  lazy conjunctions.

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                        Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        its cockney it is.

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                           Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                           So would you say 'ealthy or 'ealthful?

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                              Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                              lol. I wunt say neither guv'nah. Me mum says she'll wush me mouth out wit soap if I don't stop pu'in on airs.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   You are right, Rochelle, we don't say healthful anymore! It just sounds archaic and awkward! Sorry about that!

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      Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Rats! First cursive writing goes, now grammar is crumbling. a downward unhealthful spiral.

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         (Ouch, my ears.)
               Well, get ready for not having to keyboard, either. We will all be talking our texting and keyboarding. Actually, why are we not doing this yet?
         Also, Rochelle, it seems to me that many people are now talking like they text and keyboard…very stilted as though reading. 
              They speak with many well enunciated words:  For instance, "I shall be going to the market shortly, so tell me please if there is anything you would like me to get for you." Instead of,  "Goin' to the store...whaddya want?"
         Eventually we will be reading "whaddya want" and other various sentences that are otherwise not keyboarded. We still have a very literary type of society due to the keyboarding and written word. when they go …. oooh no!

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            Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Yeah but you have to listen longer with the first one.

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            Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I do use my dictate option for some tasks-- usually first drafts, especially if I am reading from something which has already been  scribbled.  The dictation program is pretty good, but sometimes it like the children's game of "telephone". It comes up with some very funny mistranslations. I don't text at all. Like some other foreign languages, I understand some text, but speak it poorly.
            
            Sorry for the affront to you linguistic sensibilities.
            
            One odd thing comes to mind: Grammar (and other rules of word usage) was established to make meanings clear and consistent.  In other words (.. heh heh...), to make sure that language was easily understood. I know that words and expressions change, but it is now happening at such a pace that we may be building a new tower of Babel.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   ...what if the dictation option becomes perfected and exclusively used.  Here is an example of something written/recorded in dictation mode:
   "There was this girl i knew and she was pretty cool. Yeah, she liked some of the same stuff i liked, like movies and everything, and we got along, you know, like really good! Then she had to move and she moved really far away! Like to idaho or something. i sorta lost a good bud. i think its sad when people have to move away like that. But its cool cuz i got lotsa other friends and anyway we still talk and stuff cuz we use Facebook and email."

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago

   So ya know Rochelle, if you rally wanna use that word, healthful, its cool if you do. Its kinda weird but thats okay! Who cares if yer weird? Ya Know? If yer not weird you don't have any fun in life. So take my advice and use it anyway, ya know what i mean? just use it anyway! I think if you were my mom and you told me not to eat that unhealthful slice of cake i would know you were just looking out for me. Ya know?

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