Word and Grammar Rage

quote:

Originally posted by 151:
Or, she's off.Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

Little things.

quote:

Originally posted by 151:
Little things.

Just making the best of a bad world.

Consciousmess, I was stumped on that too many times, I solved the problem: when I want to use the word "which" I switch it to the word "that", and probably 50% of the time I'm "write"!
TADAH!

Good thing about MS Word is that it underlines the word that is wrong in green and that is usually "which" for me.

Or should it be "That" is usually "which" for me?

quote:

when I want to use the word "which" I switch it to the word "that", and probably 50% of the time I'm "write"!

Yes, you are "right" or wait, I think you are wrong to "write" this or is it too presumptuous of me to "right" this wrong...I don't know anymore.

I do not know if this is the correct reasoning but I use the following to eliminate most of the "which" and "that" confusion.

"Which" is only used when referring to "things" but not to "people." "That" always refers to people.

The harder, secondary, rule to remember is that you always use "which" in a nonrestrictive clause and you always use "that" in a restrictive clause.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Best Regards,
Doug

quote:

Originally posted by Major-Tom:
Saw a couple of beauts the other day which bought the pedant in me to the fore

How much did the beauts pay for the pedant in me to the fore?

quote:

Originally posted by Ears:

quote:

Originally posted by Major-Tom:
Saw a couple of beauts the other day which bought the pedant in me to the fore

How much did the beauts pay for the pedant in me to the fore?

Discretion prohibits disclosure

quote:

Originally posted by Major-Tom:
Discretion prohibits disclosure

I like your style... and the full stop.

Having heard that many of our athletes have "medalled", I wonder how long it will be before we hear that Lewis Hamilton has "podiumed" (or "podiummed").

He "podiumed" (or "podiummed")yesterday.

There is no noun that cannot be verbed...

'Of' instead of 'have'. As in, 'he can't of...' Gnnnnng.

this is a great entertainment, very funny posts and some I have used.

'Ink' instead of 'ing'. As in, 'nothink'. Gnnnnng.

Nuffink, surely ?

As we often hear "wrought havoc", perhaps we shall see "wreaked iron".

Good afternoon,

I think that I will no more have the nerve to post a single thread, let alone to use any abbreviation in my written english. Unfortunately my knowledge of your language does not allow me to take part in the joke but I surely would have loved to!

Yours sincerely,
Massimo, the scared foreigner

No need to be scared Massimo, I'll wager that your command of English is better than that of many native English speakers!
Here's another source of annoyance...Upon entering a shop I'm often asked by the shop assistant (usually a teenager).." Y'all right there?"...Yes, I'm fine here! or ..no, I saw your shop & thought I'd pop in & have a heart attack!. Similarly,..."Can I help you at all?" To my way of thinking, the addition of 'at all' suggests that they're not confident in asking the question or are apologising for asking the question for some reason.

Yours in pedantry
MT

20+ years ago there was a major condescension of Can I help you? by store clerks.

Changed to, May I help you?

in the 60s it was the TV ad for smokes saying "Tastes Like a cigarette should", every English teacher railed against that to dumb heads like me.

As a cigarette should.

quote:

Originally posted by maxbertola:
Massimo, the scared foreigner

I agree with Major-Tom, Massimo. If we could all write in English as well as you, this thread would have been impossible.

Best wishes from Ears

quote:

Originally posted by Ears:

quote:

Originally posted by maxbertola:
Massimo, the scared foreigner

I agree with Major-Tom, Massimo. If we could all write in English as well as you, this thread would have been impossible.

Best wishes from Ears

I always - well, very often have a good laugh at some posts of yours. My mother transmitted to me a taste for british humour, for which thing - and for being able to bear alcohol, despite genes from my father who could get asleep simply watching a bottle label - I am forever grateful to her.
Have a good time, forum.

well I always enjoy foreigner's use or odd accents of words to see how they handle English.

I had a trip to Italy and trying my hardest to say things properly and they would look at me oddly or get a great chuckle.

My father traveled a great deal in his career, he was always learning to say hello or thank you in languages. he could even do this in some asian languages. It always produces a smile.

I liked the first year of French, but soured on it's complexity for the next 2. I wish I had been able to take the first year of German and Spanish, just to get the basics.

Oh and I'd love to be able to Sign, those people who do are always laughing.

Candidate for the most commonly misspelt word: supersede.

yeh.

Is supercede really a spelling mistake?

The Oxford English Dictionary lists 'supercede' as an acceptable alternative spelling.

Does the second part of the word derive from the Latin 'cedere' (to withdraw or transfer), or 'sedere' (to sit)?

James

yeh.