Have you noticed how often commentators, especially when discussing sports, use the term “unchartered waters?” They mean, of course, “uncharted waters.” The original term referred to areas of the world that had not been mapped, that had not been charted; areas that were known to exist but not fully understood. And that is how the term “unchartered waters” is also used.
On February 20, 2014, ESPN quoted Duer Sharp, the commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, as saying with respect to the college football selection committee that “It is kind of unchartered waters with strength of schedule being what’s going to be looked at.” Last fall, I heard a commentator talking about Alabama, which had won several games without being behind. The first time they trailed in that game, he stated something like “we’re not sure how Alabama is going to react because they are in unchartered waters.” On March 15, 2015, CBS Cleveland quoted Josh McCown discussing the travails of Johnny Manziel in 2014 as saying “It’s unchartered waters. It’s so hard.”
Kirk Herbstreit, who is a terrific college football commentator, used the term so many times that I sent him an explanatory email before the advent of this blog. He either didn’t read it or ignored my proffered help because he has continued to use the term.
I think these people actually believe that the term is “unchartered waters,” as if there is a lake or sea without charter boat operations. Then again, it’s not a crime to use the wrong term and every time it is used, I know exactly what the commentator means. So why mention it? Because I hope the improper term doesn’t spread into general usage. But if it does, it certainly won’t be the first time something that doesn’t make sense has become part of our language. And it won’t be the last.
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The rampant use of the term unchartered waters makes me feel very flustrated. I think I might have to deflect to another country.