Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2018 July 24

= July 24 =

Not even wrong
What does "not even wrong" actually mean? Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 20:26, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Have you seen the article Not even wrong? (If so, sorry for being presumptuous) ---Sluzzelin talk  20:34, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Thanks, it's clearly past my bedtime, I forgot the WP:WHAAOE rule. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 20:38, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * If you search the RefDesk archives for "not even wrong" you'll find plenty of examples.--Shantavira|feed me 07:36, 25 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Bonus leisure reading for you, Roger (Dodger67). -- Hoary (talk) 14:09, 25 July 2018 (UTC)


 * , that site is a trove of great material for postprandial mental masturbation, thanks! Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 14:54, 25 July 2018 (UTC)

Term for both "divorce" and "legal separation"
Is there a term or brief phrase that encompasses the concepts of both "divorce" and "legal separation? Thanks. 64.107.162.2 (talk) 21:09, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * How about "Splitsville"? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 21:13, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * "Failed marriage"? --Khajidha (talk) 23:12, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Or maybe "failing marriage", because those who are legally separated can get back together at will. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 00:37, 25 July 2018 (UTC)

Before the passage of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857, the word "divorce" could sometimes be rather vague (at least in England). In a Catholic context it could mean "annulment", and it could also refer to forms of marital disruption which fell short of allowing the wronged spouse to legally remarry and have his children born of this remarriage be recognized as fully legitimate. (Under the pre-1857 system in England, only a tiny number of aristocrats could obtain full divorces allowing remarriage -- king George IV notably failed in his attempt to get such a divorce for himself in 1820.) AnonMoos (talk) 01:54, 25 July 2018 (UTC)