Opinions wanted

[gnomi]

Is it "crazy-ass plan" or "crazy-assed plan"?

Comments

[cheshyre]

I don't know which is gramatically correct, but running a quick Googlefight between the two phrases, "crazy ass" is hands down the more popular usage.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I think as long as you're using substandard terms anyway, and as long as your audience knows what you're trying to say, it doesn't matter which one you use.

That said, I think I'd use ass instead of assed.

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

Hm. It depends if "crazy-ass" is just a random adjective ("It's a purple plan.") or something that would want to be modified ("It's a left-handed plan.")

I think the latter is more correct, but I'd believe that the former would be more common. I think when I say it, I say assed, as an analogue to "half-assed".

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Crazy-ass. At least, that's how Josh Lyman says it. *g*

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

crazy-ass, I'd say.

[somehedgehog.livejournal.com]

I would say that both are correct - that the more formal, gramatically appropriate "crazy-assed" was the original term, seeing as the -ed was necessary to make it a modifier. See the term "Half-assed," which I believe may have preceded the term "crazy-assed" and is generally not shortened to "half-ass." Furthermore, consider that "crazy-ass" is almost never used as a noun rather than a modifier, unlike "dumbass/dumb-assed" or "lameass/lame-assed."

However, I believe that, as with many terms, "crazy-assed" was shortened to "crazy-ass," which, considering the colloquial nature of the term, was considered an acceptable modification. Plus, if you do something wrong enough times, eventually it becomes right - see the general acceptance of the word "who" in place of "whom.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I'd say it should be the latter, but it's more often the former.

[bookishfellow.livejournal.com]

It depends. Are you describing the plan, or the plan's ass?