Is it buying "sight unseen" or "site unseen"?

Discussion in 'The Buying & Selling Process' started by thatbum, 19th May, 2022.

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  1. thatbum

    thatbum Well-Known Member

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    Just bathtub ponderings of mine.

    If it's the former, isn't it word redundancy?
     
    thatbum, 19th May, 2022
    #1
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  2. Lacrim

    Lacrim Well-Known Member

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    Sight and no, not redundant. I get what you mean though but it is what it is.
     
    Lacrim, 19th May, 2022
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  3. paulF

    paulF Well-Known Member

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    I think it's a simple case of homophone. 'Sight' is related to vision while 'site' is an actual area/space so would make sense for it to be "site unseen", assuming a context of property bought interstate for example without actually visiting the property.
     
    paulF, 19th May, 2022
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  4. maroon

    maroon Well-Known Member

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    The English language is so corrupted by widespread use of poor grammar/spelling that you doubt yourself sometimes! Site for exactly the reason you mentioned
     
    maroon, 19th May, 2022
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  5. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    Needs to be a poll question!

    Both work and I don’t know which would be correct in a millionaire hot seat quiz.
     
    Gockie, 19th May, 2022
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  6. Trainee

    Trainee Well-Known Member

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    Sight.

    Anyway if you are buying a car then site unseen doesnt work?
     
    Trainee, 19th May, 2022
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  7. Properwin

    Properwin Well-Known Member

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    Hear hear!

    (not here here)
     
    Properwin, 19th May, 2022
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  8. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    This websight is losing its vision as a property forum
     
    Paul@PAS, 19th May, 2022
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  9. Sackie

    Sackie Well-Known Member

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    I believe it's “sight unseen”. That's the correct spelling of the phrase. The two words site (place/location) and sight (something that is seen) have different meanings but the same pronunciation, hence the confusion. And “sight unseen” is by no means limited to real estate — for example, “I saw a listing for a car online, and I’m buying it sight unseen”.

    There's no redundancy because 'sight' is referring to 'a view' of something, not as in sight coming from the eye.

    That's my understanding of it.
     
    Last edited: 20th May, 2022
    Sackie, 20th May, 2022
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  10. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Thair eez noh reazin to missspell th' wurd eaven iffe eet sownds ve saim.

    Apparently 'sight unseen' is an Americanism from the 1890's according to the Oxford English dictionary.

    I prefer 'site' when it comes to physical viewing of a property as 'sight' pertains more to use of the eyes.
     
    Scott No Mates, 20th May, 2022
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  11. larrylarry

    larrylarry Well-Known Member

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    how large is your bathtub? :) More of these please!
     
    larrylarry, 20th May, 2022
    #11
  12. balwoges

    balwoges Well-Known Member

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    I think you have been inhaling champagne bubbles - not the ones made of soap ... :D
     
    balwoges, 20th May, 2022
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  13. skater

    skater Well-Known Member

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    I would always use 'sight' as when purchasing something without actually seeing it, the item you are purchasing is not limited to land.
     
    skater, 20th May, 2022
    #13
  14. Piston_Broke

    Piston_Broke Well-Known Member

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    People are so Homophonic! :rolleyes:
     
    Piston_Broke, 20th May, 2022
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  15. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    What were you not seeing in the bathtub? o_O

    The Y-man
     
    The Y-man, 20th May, 2022
    #15