Author Topic: Help me figure something out (Read 7183 times)

Icarus · « **Reply #25 on:** October 18, 2008, 10:33:53 AM »

Oh, and thanks.

Porter · « **Reply #26 on:** October 18, 2008, 10:53:03 AM »

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"Till" is absolutely fine and is preferable. "'Til" is technically wrong, but it's common enough that a lot of people actually prefer it and think it's right. "'Till" is a weird hybrid of the two that should be avoided.

Huh?

Jonathon · « **Reply #27 on:** October 18, 2008, 11:10:01 AM »

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I thought my post made it clear I was aware of both of those things.

I wasn't quite sure, but at any rate it's not the important issue. And you're welcome.

Jonathon · « **Reply #28 on:** October 18, 2008, 11:11:19 AM »

Quote

Quote
"Till" is absolutely fine and is preferable. "'Til" is technically wrong, but it's common enough that a lot of people actually prefer it and think it's right. "'Till" is a weird hybrid of the two that should be avoided.
Huh?

The second one is preceded by an apostrophe. I suppose I should have done them in italics rather than in quotes to be clear.

Porter · « **Reply #29 on:** October 18, 2008, 05:53:56 PM »

Huh. I like the weird hybrid.

Icarus · « **Reply #30 on:** October 18, 2008, 07:36:47 PM »

That's what SHE said!

rivka · « **Reply #31 on:** October 18, 2008, 10:27:37 PM »

It took me a minute to figure out what "till" as a verb was. I would have said the common other usage of the word was as a noun. *shrug*

Icarus · « **Reply #32 on:** November 01, 2008, 08:21:09 PM »

Is rolling eyes a cliché? I find a fair amount of support for the assertion that it is online. But I see rolling eyes as fundamentally different from, say, "his eyes slid down her bosom" or some such nonsense. I don't think rolling eyes is really a metaphor--I think it describes an actual action, and one that is very common in some situations. I'm writing about an adolescent protagonist, and if "he rolled his eyes" is out of my arsenal, then I may as well just quit. Adolescents roll their eyes all the freaking time, and it's not the same to say, "he looked upward" or something like that.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #33 on:** November 01, 2008, 08:26:50 PM »

Eye rolling, shrugging, slouching, shuffling, and all that are fair game, in my book.

Or, well, if I had a book.

You know what? I think I do have a book!

(Don't you roll your eyes at ME, mister!)

Jonathon · « **Reply #34 on:** November 01, 2008, 08:34:13 PM »

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Is rolling eyes a cliché? I find a fair amount of support for the assertion that it is online. But I see rolling eyes as fundamentally different from, say, "his eyes slid down her bosom" or some such nonsense. I don't think rolling eyes is really a metaphor--I think it describes an actual action, and one that is very common in some situations.

Yup. Not a cliche at all. Did someone tell you that it is?

Icarus · « **Reply #35 on:** November 01, 2008, 08:53:16 PM »

Yes.

rivka · « **Reply #36 on:** November 02, 2008, 02:29:56 PM »

I agree with Esther and Jonathon. For exhibit A, I present my 14-year-old daughter. For exhibit B, my almost-12-year-old son.

If their eyes were suddenly unable to roll (and it's amazing how far they go -- to a degree that is physically impossible in anyone over the age of 20), I think they might explode.

. . . hey, I could get behind this . . .

Jonathon · « **Reply #37 on:** November 18, 2008, 09:36:01 AM »

Capitalization rules are so stupid sometimes. If I follow what's in Chicago, I end up with this title Power from On High, which looks strange. But Power from on High looks weird too, and I'm not sure if I can justify Power From On High (which I think would be my preference).

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #38 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:12:45 PM »

Coincidentally, Jonathon, did you get to see the university forum today?

Jonathon · « **Reply #39 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:27:04 PM »

I caught a few minutes of it when I was across the hall and someone turned it on. I'll listen to the full thing later.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #40 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:42:16 PM »

In your example, I'd capitalize the whole thing, "Power From On High", based on the rule of it looks right to me.

rivka · « **Reply #41 on:** November 18, 2008, 06:06:11 PM »

Actually, so would I.

Jonathon · « **Reply #42 on:** November 18, 2008, 07:14:34 PM »

Yeah, I'm thinking that aesthetics wins out here.

The Genuine · « **Reply #43 on:** November 18, 2008, 07:23:49 PM »

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Yeah, I'm thinking that aesthetics wins out here.

Should that not be "aesthetics win out here" ?

Jonathon · « **Reply #44 on:** November 18, 2008, 07:40:10 PM »

Maybe it could be, but it isn't.

The Genuine · « **Reply #45 on:** November 18, 2008, 07:45:15 PM »

Have you ever considered becoming a lawyer?

Jonathon · « **Reply #46 on:** November 18, 2008, 07:47:19 PM »

Oh, gosh, no.

Though I do believe that the ability to analyze language is very helpful to the field of law.

The Genuine · « **Reply #47 on:** November 18, 2008, 07:55:38 PM »

In large part because the people who make the laws don't realize what they're making.

pooka · « **Reply #48 on:** November 18, 2008, 08:24:57 PM »

I've thought of being a lawyer. Though when I was a junior, I thought that was the worst idea ever.

I've used "Till" since one of my English teachers said it was legit. I forget whether I was told that " 'til" is wrong at that time.