The other way around?

[Ashraful Haque]

Image 1 (wrong):

Image 2 (right):


Just so you know the second image shows the right way to screw dumbbells. I know a guy who keeps screwing it the wrong way. And every time I see him making this mistake I get confused how to tell him correctly. I just say:
"You've screwed it the other way around."

I want to know if there is a better way to say it. For example for clothes we say 'inside out' or for things we say 'upside down.' Is a similar phrase like these?

And not only this. I keep facing this problem all the time. For example a guy was trying to plug a usb jack to a usb port but was holding the jack the other way around?

 

[teechar]

Use "fasten" instead of "screw", and use the word "nut" in your sentence.
For example, "You've fastened that nut the wrong way".

 

[emsr2d2]

I might say "You've put that nut on back to front". Of course, the simplest thing is to show him the right way!

By the way, "USB" should be capitalised.

 

[GoesStation]

"Wrong way", not "other way".

"You've put that on the wrong way around. It has to go the other way."

 

[Rover_KE]

American English speakers seem to prefer 'around' where British English speakers like 'round'.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I might say "You've put that nut on back to front". Of course, the simplest thing is to show him the right way!

By the way, "USB" should be capitalised.

Also shouldn't it be "a guy was trying to plug a USB jack in/into a USB port"? Since we say 'plug it in.'

 

[Ashraful Haque]

"Wrong way", not "other way".

"You've put that on the wrong way around. It has to go the other way."

Can I also use 'the wrong way around' when:
- Someone's holds a remote the wrong way around.
- A new driver screws the steering wheel the wrong way around while reversing.
- When someone trying to read an Arabic book from left to right. (Arabic words and sentences are written and read from right to left )

 

[emsr2d2]

Also, shouldn't it be "a guy was trying to plug a USB jack in/into a USB port" no question mark here since we say 'plug it in'?

Yes, it should be "into".

Can I also use 'the wrong way around' when ...

- ... [STRIKE]Someone's[/STRIKE] someone holds a remote the wrong way around.
- ... a new driver [STRIKE]screws[/STRIKE] turns the steering wheel the wrong way [STRIKE]around[/STRIKE] while reversing.
- ... [STRIKE]When[/STRIKE] someone [STRIKE]trying[/STRIKE] tries to read an Arabic book from left to right. (Arabic words and sentences are written and read from right to left.)

Please note my corrections above.

BrE would use "wrong way round" for the remote example.
We don't turn a steering wheel round/around. We just turn a steering wheel.
I would say they were trying to read the Arabic book back to front.

 

[GoesStation]

I would say they were trying to read the Arabic book back to front.

In American English, I'd say they were trying to read it the wrong way, the wrong way around, or simply backwards.

 

[Glizdka]

In American English, I'd say they were trying to read it the wrong way, the wrong way around, or simply backwards.

Speaking of writing backwards, I always have a problem with what it actually means. Does it mean the direction I write, the symbols I choose, or the way the symbols are drawn?

---

What would I have to do to write the word WORD backwards?

A) I start with the last symbol and go towards the first one:
———D
——RD
—ORD
WORD

B) I start with the symbol that should be the last one, but I put it where the first symbol should be:
D———
DR——
DRO—
DROW

C) The text I write is mirrored:
———W
——OW
—ЯOW
ꓷЯOW

D) Some other crazy idea, for example this abomination:
———ꓷ
——Яꓷ
—OЯꓷ
WOЯꓷ

 

[emsr2d2]

Most people would use the simplest definition. To write "word" backwards, you would write "drow".

 

[jutfrank]

I wouldn't say that the phrase writing backwards has any particular meaning, but I'd agree with emsr2d2 above that your interpretation B is the most readily understood one.

 

[Glizdka]

I wouldn't say that the phrase writing backwards has any particular meaning, but I'd agree with emsr2d2 above that your interpretation B is the most readily understood one.

I remember you once praised Matt Anderson for his mad backwards writing skills in this post (it was C in that case). Does that mean writing backwards can be anything, A, B, C, or D, but it's most likely going to be understood as B?

I'm sorry for pushing it so hard, but it's important for me to find a way of referring to A, B, or C unequivocally. I'd used a lightboard in my classroom before the coronapocalypse made me look for a different profession, and a lightboard required me to be good at C. When drawing matrices, I used A a lot when approaching a vertical line from the left to make it look neat and aesthetic. I rarely ever find the need to use B. Are there words/phrases I could use?

I'm sorry for overtaking this thread. I'll be going back to my hovel, but I'll still read a replay if/when it comes.

 

[jutfrank]

I remember you once praised Matt Anderson for his mad backwards writing skills in this post (it was C in that case). Does that mean writing backwards can be anything, A, B, C, or D, but it's most likely going to be understood as B?

Oh, yes, so I did. Yes, I think it can be used in all four senses that you mention. The appropriate interpretation would depend on the wider context.

I'm sorry for pushing it so hard, but it's important for me to find a way of referring to A, B, or C unequivocally. I'd used a lightboard in my classroom before the coronapocalypse made me look for a different profession, and a lightboard required me to be good at C. When drawing matrices, I used A a lot when approaching a vertical line from the left to make it look neat and aesthetic. I rarely ever find the need to use B. Are there words/phrases I could use?

Well, 'mirror writing' fits sense C very well, and sense B can be disambiguously described as 'spelling backwards'.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Yes, it should be "into".



Please note my corrections above.

BrE would use "wrong way round" for the remote example.
We don't turn a steering wheel round/around. We just turn a steering wheel.
I would say they were trying to read the Arabic book back to front.

In American English, I'd say they were trying to read it the wrong way, the wrong way around, or simply backwards.

Thank you guys for the answers. But, how do I know when to use 'the wrong way (a)round' and when to use 'the wrong way?'

 

[GoesStation]

But, how do I know when to use 'the wrong way (a)round' and when to use 'the wrong way?'

I believe "the wrong way (a)round" is an adjectival phrase and "the wrong way" is an adverbial. But I'm often wrong about grammar. :-(

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I believe
"the wrong way (a)round" is an adjectival phrase and "the wrong way" is an adverbial. But I'm often wrong about grammar. :-(

What I don't get is why do we use "You've put that on the wrong way around" for dumbbells and 'wrong way' for steering wheels?

 

[GoesStation]

What I don't get is why do we use "You've put that on the wrong way around" for dumbbells and 'wrong way' for steering wheels?

You don't. You use the first for things (nouns) and the second for actions (verbs); the first is an adjectival phrase while the second is an adverbial.

A dumbbell is a thing. Turning a steering wheel is an action.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

You don't. You use the first for things (nouns) and the second for actions (verbs); the first is an adjectival phrase while the second is an adverbial.

A dumbbell is a thing. Turning a steering wheel is an action.

This is the answer I was looking for. Thanks a lot.
If I change the first example to an action:
"You're putting it on the wrong way."
Is the sentence correct?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes. Or you could just say, "You're putting it on wrong."