#KnowYourEnglish

(A Segment from The Hindu)

He will always be known as a nepo baby

What is the meaning of ‘nepo baby’?
The first syllable in ‘nepo’ rhymes with ‘pep’, ‘rep’ and ‘hep’,
while the following ‘o’ sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘no’, ‘go’ and ‘so’.
The word is pronounced ‘NEP-o’, with the stress on the first
syllable. Although the expression ‘nepo baby’ is relatively
new, the word from which we get ‘nepo’ is rather old. It is
the abbreviated form of ‘nepotism’; a word which comes
from the Latin ‘nepote’, meaning ‘nephew’. When highly
influential people like politicians, businessmen, etc., use
their clout to promote their friends, relatives and children, it is said to be a form
of nepotism. The expression ‘nepo baby’ is normally used to refer to the children
of well-known celebrities; children who have followed in the footsteps of their
parents, and have succeeded in their career. It carries with it a sense of
disapproval. When you call someone a ‘nepo baby’, what you are suggesting is
that the individual would not have succeeded if it hadn’t been for the influential
parents. The success, therefore, is undeserving.

No matter what he achieves, he will always be known as a nepo baby.

Being labelled a ‘nepo baby’ always irritates him.

What is the difference between ‘permeate’ and

‘penetrate’?
The verb ‘penetrate’ comes from the Latin ‘penetratus’
meaning ‘to get into, enter’. When you penetrate something,
you force your way into it. The use of this word suggests that
there is some sort of stiff resistance to what you are trying to
achieve – in this case, gain entry to something - and this has to be overcome.
Since some sort of aggressive action is required for any kind of penetration,
the word, at times, carries with it a negative connotation.

Luckily for the soldier, the stray bullet failed to penetrate his skull.

The fog was so thick that sunlight failed to penetrate through it.

The word ‘permeate’ does not have the sense of violence that is associated
with ‘penetrate’. It is normally used to mean to pass through something without
any rupture or tear; the entry, unlike in the case of penetration, is gradual and
subtle. Once it has entered, it spreads everywhere. The word is mostly used
when talking about smells and liquids.

The smell of fresh filter coffee permeated the room.

The old plastic sheet prevented the water from permeating into the wooden
table.

Why do we say ‘a three-day event’ and not ‘a three-days event’?

In a sentence like ‘It’s a three-day event’, ‘day’ is functioning as an adjective,
and not as a noun; it, therefore, is used in its singular form – not plural. Although
it comes after a number (‘three’ in this case), it remains singular. Here are a few
more examples.

The young couple went on a two-week honeymoon. (Not ‘weeks’)

Last week, the students went on a five-mile trek. (Not ‘miles’)

If you wish to use ‘weeks’ and ‘miles’ in the above sentences, then they can be
rewritten as:
The honeymoon of the young couple lasted two weeks.

Last week, the students went on a long trek; it was nearly five miles.

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