1
English & Linguistics / Unique means one of a kind
« on: April 08, 2005, 09:45:30 AM »
Ivory is even purer then: 99.44%.
(Say, Hobbes: is "purer" a word?)
(Say, Hobbes: is "purer" a word?)
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Pages: [1]
2
English & Linguistics / Fun with English
« on: March 25, 2005, 07:51:37 PM »
Sorry . . . I go into semi-lurker mode when grades get due . . . it's a last stop before full-lurk, when I don't even check Hatrack. During semi-lurk, I still check Hatrack but I don't check any other boards. Last year around this time, I had to quit all fora for a good month or so. This year, this quarter, things went much more smoothly, and I never had to go quite that far. 
So, um, yeah. What was the question?
No reason.
I just thought it was cute. 
So, um, yeah. What was the question?
No reason.
I just thought it was cute.
3
English & Linguistics / Fun with English
« on: March 22, 2005, 05:30:55 PM »
So, um, you frequent the Lois & Clark fanfic board?
4
English & Linguistics / Quick quiz
« on: March 22, 2005, 05:23:35 PM »
I was confuzzled the same way Annie was. 
5
English & Linguistics / Pronunciation question
« on: March 02, 2005, 12:29:20 PM »
I pronounce it exactly like you do.
6
English & Linguistics / Pronunciation question
« on: March 02, 2005, 11:25:12 AM »
I pronounce it as two syllables.
7
English & Linguistics / Grammar Questions
« on: March 02, 2005, 10:20:10 AM »
See, I don't think it's rare. I think it's all too common.
I wonder if it's a regional thing even within the US.
I wonder if it's a regional thing even within the US.
8
English & Linguistics / Grammar Questions
« on: March 02, 2005, 09:41:08 AM »
Hmm. I couldn't see that until you pointed it out.
9
English & Linguistics / Grammar Questions
« on: March 02, 2005, 09:31:12 AM »Quote
It seems to me that the only real motivation for calling it incorrect is so that we can legitimize our language by claiming that it's more correct than British English.
Actually, as I already noted, my motivation is that it sounds like butt to me.
-o-
And regarding smilies, I prefer the hatrack rolleyes. I don't find a smiling rolleyes sarcastic at all.
10
English & Linguistics / Grammar Questions
« on: March 02, 2005, 09:03:01 AM »
Actually, when I was a newspaper editor, I instinctively felt that "towards" was wrong and "toward" was correct. When one of my associate editors disagreed, I looked up the grammar sources to back me up. But my reasoning is basically that we already have a perfectly good word in "toward," and it means what people generally mean when they say "towards." Looking at it as some sort of amalgam of "to+ward," my view makes sense as well. We don't look "skywards," we look "skyward." Thomas Wolfe, of course, looks homeward.
Frankly, while I can accept that brits say "towards" and "backwards" and the like, I don't correct these simply for the sake of having different practices from Britain, but because I think they are wrong, or at best silly. I would say that "our way" is better than this British way.
-o-
My other pet peeve was "honors student," which should, of course, be "honor student." Unless you're British, in which case I suppose it's "honours stuodsents" or some silly thing with lots of extra letters.
Frankly, while I can accept that brits say "towards" and "backwards" and the like, I don't correct these simply for the sake of having different practices from Britain, but because I think they are wrong, or at best silly. I would say that "our way" is better than this British way.
-o-
My other pet peeve was "honors student," which should, of course, be "honor student." Unless you're British, in which case I suppose it's "honours stuodsents" or some silly thing with lots of extra letters.
11
English & Linguistics / Grammar Questions
« on: March 02, 2005, 06:52:30 AM »
Update on "toward" and "towards": quick googling indicates that "towards" is more accepted in British usage, while "toward" is preferred in American usage.
I have no idea which is preferred among Kiwis. :-p
I have no idea which is preferred among Kiwis. :-p
12
English & Linguistics / Grammar Questions
« on: March 02, 2005, 06:42:52 AM »Quote
*grin* A few weeks ago, I would have said definitely A. But Jonathon has cured me of my "toward" preference -- well, somewhat, anyway. I still think it sounds better. "Whilst," OTOH, is definitely archaic. So A, but I think C is also correct.
o_O
Jon done cured you wrong, then. You use toward, not towards. I have verified this.
-o-
"Nauseated" and "Nauseous" are not synonyms, though they are often incorrectly used as such. Somethine is "nauseous" if it induces nausea. A person suffering from nausea is nauseated.
-o-
I disagree on 38. I read sensuous as meaning pleasing to touch or something along those lines, and sensual as being oriented toward using the sense of touch.
13
English & Linguistics / Funny spellchecker suggestions
« on: February 23, 2005, 12:13:40 PM »
rofl!
14
English & Linguistics / Funny spellchecker suggestions
« on: February 23, 2005, 11:40:22 AM »
The spellcheckers on Macs suggest Arrowroot for my last name (Iriarte). Only Macs, though. I forget what PCs recommend.
Pages: [1]