Just as we (everyone in the world except for arnie) have redefined "moot," have we redefined "hone in"? See this headline?
By the way, this post comes courtesy of Geoff. Geoff, we are patiently awaiting your return!
December 10, 2012, 02:18
Richard English
I think it's a typo. It should be "homes in". "To hone" is "to sharpen" or "to improve" in my version of English.
The party could hone its skills - such as those of compaigning - but it couldn't "hone in" on them.
Richard English
December 10, 2012, 02:51
BobHale
It's actually a fairly common usage these days. MW says the first recorded usage is 1965 - I have heard it rather a lot.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
December 10, 2012, 03:24
arnie
Yes, I've come across it several times as well. This site includes a usage note:
quote:
Hone is sometimes wrongly used where home is meant: this device makes it easier to home in on (not hone in on) the target
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
December 10, 2012, 12:45
goofy
I don't think it's a typo. It's a nonstandard variant that dates back to the 60s, according to MWDEU.
December 10, 2012, 14:33
<Proofreader>
It's similar to the variant of "in the pit of my stomach" which transmogrified into "I've a pit in my stomach", which is dead wrong.
December 10, 2012, 20:58
Kalleh
I do believe we talked about "home in" here before, but, Proof, I've never heard that one about a "pit in my stomach." The worst of it is, I think I might have said that before!
I do hear "home in" a fair amount, but I always thought the speaker was just ignorant. It's hard to discern ignorance from nonstandard variations, in my mind.
December 13, 2012, 21:26
BobHale
Alan Sugar used "hone in" on this week's Apprentice.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale, 
It's there.