Ship of Fools: Hell: the importance of pedantism

Thread: Hell: the importance of pedantism Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

Perhaps we should say that those with no command over words should not have permission to represent The Word?

Just an idea ...

[ 10. March 2003, 00:31: Message edited by: Erin ]

Posted by Amos (# 44) on :

It's pedantry, not pedantism, you big dummy! [Mad]

Posted by Chesterbelloc (# 3128) on :

Perhaps we should only allow people to start threads who know how to avoid tripping over their own arses - for their own sake, of course.

Try: PEDANTRY

Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on :

mmmmmm give me a hug over a thousand words. It seems a hug represents the Word more than most words I hear.

And what is all this permission crap? Waht do you mean?

P

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
And what is all this permission crap? Waht do you mean?

P

Pixie, the recognised spelling of 'what' is 'what'. In a thread about pedantry it is really important to spell things correctly.

If you need any help in the future, just mail me, ok?

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

And what about those of us whose style combines the happiest elements of Wilde, Chesterfield, Johnson, Donne, Austen and SJ Perlman? But who do not pretend to any relationship to the Logos? Where do we fit in this heavenly licensing scheme?

Librettists, I suppose, for all the best tunes...

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool.

Posted by Rhisiart (# 69) on :

quote:
Originally posted by IntellectByProxy:

quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
And what is all this permission crap? Waht do you mean?

P
Pixie, the recognised spelling of 'what' is 'what'. In a thread about pedantry it is really important to spell things correctly.

If you need any help in the future, just mail me, ok?

And the recognised name of Pyx_e is 'Pyx_e'. In a thread about pedantry, it is really important to spell names correctly.

[Devil]

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lanky_badger:
i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool.

Welcome to the club. [Big Grin]

Moo

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

I've created a Monster.

Well, not really. Just gave it a jump-start.

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lanky_badger:
i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool. i am such a fool.

It's "I" not "i"

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

quote:
Originally posted, humourously, by IBP:

Pixie, the recognised spelling...

quote:
To which was replied, betraying worring lack of wit, by rhisiart:

And the recognised name of Pyx_e is 'Pyx_e'. In a thread about pedantry, it is really important to spell names correctly.

In a thread about pedantry one is allowed to amusingly alter a person's name to bring down on their worthy head derision and scorn. Which is what I did.

Posted by Hãm'n'Eggs (# 629) on :

quote:
Originally posted by IntellectByProxy:

quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
And what is all this permission crap? Waht do you mean?

P
Pixie, the recognised spelling of 'what' is 'what'. In a thread about pedantry it is really important to spell things correctly.

If you need any help in the future, just mail me, ok?

Waht, n.
Unbridled stupidity (Afrikaans)

In a thread about pedantry, it is vital to differentiate between a typo, and an obscure but impressively apt word. [Disappointed]

Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :

It is also vital, dear Ham, to distinguish between a nasalised vowel (as in "hand", phonetically /hãd/, or the French for bread, phonetically /pã/) and a non-nasalised consonant, as in your name.

Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :

And not to forget the difference between consonants and vowels; it is the vowel in Ham that is not nasalised.

Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :

quote:
Originally posted by chukovsky:
And not to forget the difference between consonants and vowels; it is the vowel in Ham that is not nasalised.

Should that be "which is not nasalised"?

Long live pedantism, and pedantics worldwide!

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ChrisT:

quote:
Originally posted by chukovsky:
And not to forget the difference between consonants and vowels; it is the vowel in Ham that is not nasalised.
Should that be "which is not nasalised"?

Long live pedantism, and pedantics worldwide!

No, ChrisT, it should not. The correct form is either 'it is the cat that is not here' or 'it is the cat, which is not here'.

It depends on whether the fact that the cat is not here is vital to your understanding of the sentence ('that'), or purely incidental information about the lovable pet(', which').

In this case the vowel not being nasalised was vital, and so you use the 'that' form rather than the ', which' form.

Stupid boy.

Posted by Fr. Gregory (# 310) on :

Whenever I feel that my blood pressure could do with a little elevation I recite this to myself ...

It is important to completely [Mad]

specify how the program may be accessed [Mad]

and what inputs [Mad]

one must be prepared with [Mad]

.

Go on! Tell me you don't see anything wrong with that! [Mad]

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Fr. Gregory:
Whenever I feel that my blood pressure could do with a little elevation I recite this to myself ...

It is important to completely specify how the program may be accessed and what inputs one must be prepared with .

Go on! Tell me you don't see anything wrong with that!

What on earth are you going on about FrG?

Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on :

At last we see a side to Fr G we always suspected was there.

P

Pedantry is mostly important to pendants.

[Not worthy!]

H & E

Posted by Rhisiart (# 69) on :

quote:
Originally posted by IntellectByProxy:

quote:
Originally posted, humourously, by IBP:

Pixie, the recognised spelling...

quote:
To which was replied, betraying worring lack of wit, by rhisiart:

And the recognised name of Pyx_e is 'Pyx_e'. In a thread about pedantry, it is really important to spell names correctly.

In a thread about pedantry one is allowed to amusingly alter a person's name to bring down on their worthy head derision and scorn. Which is what I did.

Sarcasm may be the lowest form of wit, but it is a favourite of mine.

For Fr Gregory's sake: surely "Which is what I did" is not a proper sentence?

Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :

If you are British, you can use the relative pronoun that you prefer, or the relative pronoun which you prefer. It is only if you are from North America, and labouring under an oppressive government, that you are restricted to using the relative pronoun that is approved by the grammar fascists.

Posted by Jonah the Whale (# 1244) on :

Don't be provocative IbP, of course you can see what's wrong with it! There's little flaming smileys all over it, that's what's wrong with it!

Posted by Nightlamp (# 266) on :

Where is tomb?

Posted by Fr. Gregory (# 310) on :

Grammatical Pedants of the World Unite ... you have nothing to lose but the lazy slobs who know neither how to speak nor write!

I embedded in my sentence ...

a split infinitive
a noun transformed into a verb
an illicit plural form
an ending preposition

It should read ...

It is important to specify completely how access may be granted to the program and the input with which one must be prepared.

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

Damn it, I pick people up on all of these things and didn't spot them because I was too busy looking at the [Mad]

's. I feel suitable chagrin and am going to go quickly home and reflect on my inadequacy as a pedant.

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

bollocksbollocksbollocksbollocksbollocks.

Ignore the apostrophised intended plural of [Mad]

and also change 'suitable chagrin' to 'suitably chagrin'

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

You wrote it correctly the first time, IbP. Chagrin is indeed a noun, (or less commonly a transitive verb) but not an adjective.

Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on :

...... oh I get it, this is just another of those stupid word games.

P

Posted by Stoo (# 254) on :

Mr Badger, may I congratulate you at making me laugh out loud?

At you, of course, you realise.

Posted by Raspberry Rabbit (# 3080) on :

Fr Gregory writes:

quote:

Whenever I feel that my blood pressure could do with a little elevation I recite this to myself ...

It is important to completely specify how the program may be accessed and what inputs one must be prepared with .

Go on! Tell me you don't see anything wrong with that!

Well other than a split infinitive and a dangling participle I'm not sure what it means.

quote:
This is the sort of grammar up with which I will not put

- Winston Churchill to FDR

Raspberry Rabbit
Montreal, QC

Posted by Raspberry Rabbit (# 3080) on :

I meant 'ending with a preposition' not 'dangling participle'. Sorry - my mouth was full of peanut butter, my fingers are thawing out after a long walk home in sub-zero weather and I was momentarily distracted by a seagull smashing into the window.

Raspberry Rabbit
Montreal, QC

Posted by Raspberry Rabbit (# 3080) on :

I'm a stupid fart and have lost my right to post to the ship.

RR
MTL

Posted by tomb (# 174) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
And what about those of us whose style combines the happiest elements of Wilde, Chesterfield, Johnson, Donne, Austen and SJ Perlman?...

You omitted the serial comma, dearie. It should be "...Donne, Austen, and SJ Perlman...." Unless, of course, you are some lazy journalistic slut subscribing to the AP stylesheet who can't be bothered, and we'd never believe that of you. No, never!

And note that elipsis is three dots and never includes the terminal punctuation. If the sentence ends in a period, then obviously, there are four dots. But if a question mark or (God forbid!) an exclamation point, then only three dots are necessary.

Do not dismiss this Good Advice. Remember, at some point in your life, There.Will.Be.A.Test.

Love,

tomb

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

The prohibition against the split infinitive is an antiquated rule based on the sexual inadequacies of a number of Latin scholars who were incensed that the English language should be able to do something that the Latin could not.

As such it is not pedantry but jealousy, and no part of a true pedant's arsenal.

Reader Alexis

Posted by Duo Seraphim (# 3251) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Raspberry Rabbit:
I'm a stupid fart and have lost my right to post to the ship.

RR
MTL

That will be the "Ship", not a singular but unidentified ship, I take it.

Posted by Hãm'n'Eggs (# 629) on :

quote:
chukovsky mumbled something that escaped my attention:
Yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Yadda.

When you have mastered the capitalisation of proper names, then I may find it worth engaging with what you have to say.

I said "may".

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by tomb:
You omitted the serial comma, dearie. It should be "...Donne, Austen, and SJ Perlman...."

I think if you have a problem with my version (no comma before 'and') you need to take it up with Miss 'Ma' Reid, primary school teacher, fl. Belfast, c. 1958.

I expect the usage pre-dates the AP (and probably the AV). Oh, and try that 'journalistic slut' line on her and you'll be Kept In until half four doing extra sums (as best you can with your little hot swollen fingers and the mingled tears and snot adding to the blots from your scratchy-nibbed pen).

[Preview post is a pedant's best friend.]

[ 29. January 2003, 01:19: Message edited by: sarkycow ]

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

That should be no of course.

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

I won't mention the absence of a comma before the words "of course", Firenze.

This is because I agree with you when you state that there should not be a comma between the penultimate item in a list and the word "and".

Posted by madferret (# 3353) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
This is because I agree with you when you state that there should not be a comma between the penultimate item in a list and the word "and".

quote:
Originally posted by tomb:
Unless, of course, you are some lazy journalistic slut subscribing to the AP stylesheet who can't be bothered, and we'd never believe that of you. No, never!

nor before 'and' when used to link two phrases. If you need a pause use a semi-colon or dash...(.)

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

quote:
Originally posted by madferret:

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
This is because I agree with you when you state that there should not be a comma between the penultimate item in a list and the word "and".

quote:
Originally posted by tomb:
Unless, of course, you are some lazy journalistic slut subscribing to the AP stylesheet who can't be bothered, and we'd never believe that of you. No, never!
nor before 'and' when used to link two phrases. If you need a pause use a semi-colon or dash...(.)

Posted by Moth (# 2589) on :

This thread is full comments from people too dim to know when it is raining hard enough for it to be worth coming in out of from.

Posted by anglicanrascal (# 3412) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Rhisiart:
And the recognised name of Pyx_e is 'Pyx_e'. In a thread about pedantry, it is really important to spell names correctly.

Starting a sentence with a conjunction may have been all the rage when the Authorized Version was translated, but it is hardly suitable for the first decade of the third millennium.

Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Moth:
This thread is full comments from people too dim to know when it is raining hard enough for it to be worth coming in out of from.

I've never understood the obsession with avoiding prepositions at the end of a sentence at the expense of clarity.

(though maybe you want to reconsider the last "from"? It seems redundant to me)

Posted by Garden Hermit (# 109) on :

I can't see any comments about the joys of walking anywhere. Has someone mis-read the title ?

Maybe you all think its to do with having a Gold Chain hung round your neck ?

Or maybe the belief in infant baptism ?

Its obviously all about walking slowly so that you don't miss anything. It is also what Child specialists practise in Hospitals.

It is not as some newspapers believe the taking of child photos either.

In fact I'm writing this note slowly so that I don't fuddle my mucking worms.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by anglicanrascal:
Starting a sentence with a conjunction may have been all the rage when the Authorized Version was translated, but it is hardly suitable for the first decade of the third millennium.

And what exactly has transpired since 1611 to invalidate this construction?

Posted by anglicanrascal (# 3412) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:

quote:
Originally posted by anglicanrascal:
Starting a sentence with a conjunction may have been all the rage when the Authorized Version was translated, but it is hardly suitable for the first decade of the third millennium.
And what exactly has transpired since 1611 to invalidate this construction?

Hast thou no idea?

Posted by hatless (# 3365) on :

Difficult child, about to get a bed-time story, protests:

'What did you bring that book to read to me out of up for?'

Parent goes down and chooses another, about Australia:

'What did you bring that book to read to me about down under out of up for?'

Posted by Amos (# 44) on :

It's S.J. Perelman. Not 'Perlman'. Honestly. Some people. [Wink]

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Moth:
This thread is full comments from people too dim to know when it is raining hard enough for it to be worth coming in out of from.

I think you mean full of comments.

Reader Alexis

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

I know it's a late reply, but don't we still spell 'programme' with the extra 'm' and 'e' in this country?

Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :

It depends if you are talking about a computer program or a television programme.

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

Well, I still blame the Americans.

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lanky_badger:
I know it's a late reply, but don't we still spell 'programme' with the extra 'm' and 'e' in this country?

Aha! So you admit they are extra, unnecessary, unwanted, unneeded, superfluous? Daniel Webster lives!

May I also point out that fussy little rules about beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with prepositions are not pedantry but merely showing off that you are capable of memorizing fussy little rules (which happen to be WRONG). UNTHINKING pedantry is just as shameful as verbal imprecision. Nay, more so, as it shows you don't really understand something you're pretending to.

Reader Alexis

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
Aha! So you admit they are extra, unnecessary, unwanted, unneeded, superfluous? Daniel Webster lives!

Does 'extra' imply, verbatum, 'unneeded'?

I'd like extra fries, please. That's not related, I'm just hungry.

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

Of course, whether I should have, in fact, written, 'chips' instead of, 'fries' depends entirely upon whether I am in the Berni Inn or McDonalds.

I am in neither. I'm in the library. Is this therefore an impossible question?

Posted by Stoo (# 254) on :

Oh, by the way, it's "Bernie"

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

Well how can you have an "extra" E when there isn't already one to begin with, if "extra" doesn't mean something like "superfluous"? In the case of fries (chips), "extra" means "over and above the ones already included in the meal deal" -- and there isn't an E included in "program" so quite clearly THIS is not the meaning of "extra" you were employing.

Reader Alexis

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

Huh?

Posted by Rhisiart (# 69) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Stoo:
Oh, by the way, it's "Bernie"

Oh, no, it isn't...

This link will correct your correction of the spelling (about one entry from the bottom). If I may quote:

quote:
Berni Inns

Frank and Aldo Berni (1909-1997) were from near Bardi in northern Italy. The brothers arrived in Britain from Italy in the 1920s. Frank was the financial brains and Aldo the frontman. Prior to the Second World War they built up a chain of six unlicensed restaurants in the West Country. They appreciated that there might be scope to open American-style steakhouses which had low prices and limited menus. In 1948 the Bernis acquired Horts a licenced restaurant in Bristol. In the austerity of the late 1940s and early 1950s they achieved a reputation for being able to provide a good, well-priced meal.

In 1955 the Bernis converted the Rummer Inn, an old coaching inn, into the first Berni Inn steakhouse. Berni Inns developed a furnishing style which used red velvet and heavy wooden chairs. The original Berni menu was steak, chips, peas, bread roll and butter, and pudding or cheese for 7s 6d. Subsequently, it was refined to prawn cocktail, steak and chips, Black Forest gateau, and a medium sherry. The menu did not necessitate the presence of a trained chef all that was required in the kitchen was a deep-fryer and a grill.

In 1962 the company floated.

In 1970 the Bernis sold the business to Grand Metropolitan for $14.7m. Grand Metropolitan had its own Schooner Inns business which it rebranded as Berni Inns.

In November 1990 Grand Metropolitan sold the Berni Inns restaurant chain and 37 managed pubs to Whitbread for $115m. The Berni Inns were rebranded as Beefeater pubs.

(c) David Backhouse 2002

Posted by Stoo (# 254) on :

Arse. Arse. Arse.

Big, fecking arse.

Posted by Rhisiart (# 69) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Stoo:
Arse. Arse. Arse.

Big, fecking arse.

Thank you, Father Jack.

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lanky_badger:
Huh?

I win! I win!

reader alexis

Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :

Is there mean to be a capitalisation difference between this;

quote:
Originally sniffled by Mousethief:
Well how can you have an "extra" E ...

Reader Alexis

and this;

quote:
Originally taunted by Mousethief:
I win! I win!

reader alexis

I was just wondering.

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

Capitalization consistency is the bugabear of small minds.

Reader Alexis

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Are you totally sure about those semi-colons, Chris?

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ChrisT:
Is there mean to be a capitalisation difference <snip>

I assume you mean is there meant to be a capitalisation difference?

Reader Alexis

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
Capitalization consistency is the bugabear of small minds.

Reader Alexis

Is that bugbear, Mousethief, or do you Americans spell it with an extra "a" ?

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

Is there a hyphen in "semicolon" now, Smudgie?

Reader Alexis

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
Is that bugbear, Mousethief, or do you Americans spell it with an extra "a" ?

Hold the lettuce and the extra "a". [Embarrassed]

Reader Alexis

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
Is there a hyphen in "semicolon" now, Smudgie?

Reader Alexis

Well, there was in my post, Mousethief! [Embarrassed]

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

Pedants hoisted on their own petards. Details at 11.

[Killing me]

Reader Alexis

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
Pedants hoisted on their own petards. Details at 11.

Reader Alexis

I think you mean "hoist with, or by, their own petards", Mousethief. [Killing me]

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

You just keep thinking that, Smudgie. [Big Grin]

Reader Alexis

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Yes, Mousethief. The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms and I intend to keep thinking that. [Big Grin]

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

Dictionaries think? This is obviously some new use of the word "think" with which I was previously unfamiliar.

Reader Alexis

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Should there be a comma in that sentence, Mousethief?

Posted by Tim V (# 830) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
This is obviously some new use of the word "think" with which I was previously unfamiliar.

This is obviously some new plagiarism of The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy with which I was previously thoroughly familiar, having seen it in your posts time after time.

Posted by Fr. Gregory (# 310) on :

Mousethief ... I think that the Yanks must have all been asleep when they bastardizzzzzzed OUR language ... all those bloody "zeds" ... sorry ... zees! [Projectile]

Get rid of them! Use an "s."

More pet hates (aside from sentences without verbs) ...

From Latin pedantry ... plural forms for "um" endings ...

stadia not stadiums
aquaria not aquariums

"flora" and "fauna" are plural ... as is "data"

Posted by Amos (# 44) on :

Nonsense. Even Fowler thinks the English use of Latin plurals for neuter nouns is affected. Only a total wanker would say 'stadia' in ordinary conversation. I suppose you would say also that the plural of Kleenex is 'kleenices'.

Posted by JSS (# 2822) on :

Is this thread about pedantry or bloody-minded anal retention? [Big Grin]

BTW does anal retention have an hyphen? [Paranoid]

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Fr. Gregory:
Mousethief ... I think that the Yanks must have all been asleep when they bastardizzzzzzed OUR language

Taint your language any more. There's more of us than of you. Get over it.

Smudgie, no, that sentence does NOT need a comma.

Tim V, if you are thoroughly familiar with it, in what sense can it be said to be "new"?

Reader Alexis

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by JSS:
BTW does anal retention have an hyphen?

I'm not sure. What's an hyphen? I know it doesn't have a hyphen. I'm not familiar with that other word.

Reader Alexis

Posted by JSS (# 2822) on :

Hell Mousthief

quote:
I'm not sure. What's an hyphen? I know it doesn't have a hyphen. I'm not familiar with that other word.

Thank you for proving the point - - -> [Snigger]

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
Taint your language any more. There's more of us than of you. Get over it.

Reader Alexis

Mousethief, it is not we British who taint the language.

I think you may have omitted an apostrophe.

Posted by Duo Seraphim (# 3251) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tim V:

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
This is obviously some new use of the word "think" with which I was previously unfamiliar.
This is obviously some new plagiarism of The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy with which I was previously thoroughly familiar, having seen it in your posts time after time.

Now let's think about this carefully. Does Tim V mean:
1. that he is now familiar with the new plagiarism, having seen it in Mousethief's posts before; or
2. that he thought he was familiar with "the Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" through Mousethief's previous posts, but is now unfamiliar with that work, due to a novel use of the verb "to think"; or
3. that he is unfamiliar with the new plagiarism, despite having seen it in Mousethief's posts previously; or

...Oh, spank me. This must stop.

BTW, is Tim V the fifth crowned head of that name in his line or is he "Tim, whose surname begins with a V" or....

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by anglicanrascal:
Hast thou no idea?

You presume to 'thou' me! You are familiar, sir. I will not countenance it.

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
Taint your language any more. There's more of us than of you. Get over it.

I presume what you mean by 'taint' is to contract "it" and "ain't" in the Northern English style.

If this is the case then the accepted form is t'aint.

If this is not the case then your first sentence makes bugger all sense.

In addition you use "there's" when describing a plural set - what you have said is "there is more of us than of you" which is grammatically appalling.

What you should say is "there are more of us..." or "there're more of us..."

Posted by lanky_badger (# 3514) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Fr. Gregory:
Mousethief ... I think that the Yanks must have all been asleep when they bastardizzzzzzed OUR language ... all those bloody "zeds" ... sorry ... zees! Get rid of them! Use an "s."

Isn't the use of 'z' or 's' in 'ize' or 'ise' endings dependent upon whether the word in question is Greek or Latin in origin?

That looks okay without a comma to me.

To those of you who claim to have beaten me:

quote:
I win!

Yay for you. I'm a student. You don't get a prize.

Posted by Tim V (# 830) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Duo Seraphim:
Now let's think about this carefully. Does Tim V mean:
1. that he is now familiar with the new plagiarism, having seen it in Mousethief's posts before; or
2. that he thought he was familiar with "the Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" through Mousethief's previous posts, but is now unfamiliar with that work, due to a novel use of the verb "to think"; or
3. that he is unfamiliar with the new plagiarism, despite having seen it in Mousethief's posts previously; or

...Oh, spank me. This must stop.

BTW, is Tim V the fifth crowned head of that name in his line or is he "Tim, whose surname begins with a V" or....

OK. I am familiar with the plagiarism since Mousethief has committed (do you 'do' a plagiarism or 'commit' one?) it many times. This particular act of plagiarismentation is something I'm familiar with. However the latest implementation of the plagiarism, the interpretation of it if you will, is a new one.
I am also very familiar with the HHGTG - it's one of those books that when I wonder how my knowledge of it compares to my knowledge of the Bible I stop wondering pretty quickly because I'm not sure that the answer won't be something guilt-inducing.

Posted by Mister Muso (# 3986) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Stoo:
Oh, by the way, it's "Bernie"

I think Berni must have been a pedant. "That's B-E-R-N-I" - why did he bother every time?

Either Berni was a pedant, or his parents who named him were. Pedant parents... [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
I think you may have omitted an apostrophe.

Yeah, I couldn't figure out which side of the "T" to put it on.

And yes, I ended that sentence with a preposition on purpose.

And yes, I started these two sentences with a conjunction on purpose.

Reader Alexis

Posted by Jenny Ann. (# 3131) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Duo Seraphim:
...Oh, spank me. This must stop.

Only if you're very lucky.

J

Posted by logician (# 3266) on :

I thought: Moth [Not worthy!]

But hatless: [Not worthy!]

Posted by IntellectByProxy (# 3185) on :

There's a bloody irritating advert on Capital FM (London radio) for a new Directory Enquiries service whose number is 118118 and they say, ad nausium, that this number is "118 repeated twice" and I find myself screaming in an apoplexy of rage "No it bloody isn't, it's 118 repeated ONCE you mindless CRETINS" and then I have to calm down because, often, I get flashed by the police.

Posted by Moth (# 2589) on :

quote:
Originally posted by logician:
I thought: Moth
But hatless:

Thank you, Logician. I agree with your admiration of Hatless - I am outclassed! [Not worthy!]

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