Pardon me for being picky…

Posted 3 December 2015 by Katie in Word Nerd Wednesday / 0 Comments

Public service announcement:

A crescendo is a gradual increase in volume. Ergo, when something ‘reaches a crescendo’ it has only reached a point where it is about to increase in volume. 

If something has reached a high point in volume, it may be said to have reached a forte, or perhaps even a fortissimo. It has quite possibly completed a crescendo, but it has not reached a crescendo.

Please avoid using this phrase in the future.

Thank you for your attention.

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