Electrocution is the cessation of life caused by the application of an electric current to the body.
We were informed on the news tonight that one of the stories revealed by the Wikileaks was about “a man who had been electrocuted”, and complained about it afterwards – are we in the presence of the Second Resurrection, or just another instance of the BBC’s sloppy use of English?
He had received electric shocks in the course of being tortured. Had he been electrocuted, he wouldn’t be in any position to complain about it…to think there was a time when people all over the world listened to the BBC to improve their english!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Indeed, and then there’s the glottal stop…
Thanks for the reminder Bravo! Of course standard English inserts a glottal stop before a tautosyllabic voiceless plosive, e.g. sto’p, tha’t, kno’ck, wa’tch, also lea’p, soa’k, hel’p, pin’ch, but you knew that already 🙂
Sadly, I find it bothers me less and less. I suppose I’m just becoming accustomed to it. Not a Good Thing, though, CWJ.
They wear down your resistance eventually, but occasionally I become sufficiently riled to have a rant, for which I apologise!
It’s like being a little bit pregnant, or, come to think of it, a little bit educated. 🙂
Oh, I don’t know. You can be injured by electrocution, not all ends in death. So, the word was correct I feel.
A woman can be a little bit pregnant. That is why abortion is ‘acceptable’ at 3 months, but not at 6.
Re glottal stops, I found this interesting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1002808 , especially this line: ‘Well, it’s called a glottal stop, and it’s great!’
Val, I think you are wrong. The definition of the word requires death to occur. Otherwise, use ‘electric shock’.
Yes, I agree, the word electrocution was over the top in this case, but technically…
Val, I did tag this “Pedantry” for a reason!
Sipu, you are rarely right ( 🙂 ) and this time…… pregancy is not a gradual or partial condition. You be or you b’ain’t.
Janus, you must be American. Irony is lost on you.
CWJ, I’m sorry, I didn’t notice. I have now slapped my bottom 🙂
No and yes.