Their or There?
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Once upon a time I received a general application form, submitted by a LAC Flight Line Mechanic (remember them?).
He wanted early replacement of his no.2 trousers; which had lost the will to live after only 6 months on the Flight Line.
The reason for his request was, as he had written the form, "fare ware and tare".
He got his new trousers and his Corporal had a quite word with him.
Rgds SOS
He wanted early replacement of his no.2 trousers; which had lost the will to live after only 6 months on the Flight Line.
The reason for his request was, as he had written the form, "fare ware and tare".
He got his new trousers and his Corporal had a quite word with him.
Rgds SOS
to which please add:
Wales [not to mention Whales]
Wales's as in the Prince's possession]
The Waleses [as proud parents of boy George]
The Waleses's son [see George above]
My skoolteacha dorta sez I'm rong thees daze.
Wales [not to mention Whales]
Wales's as in the Prince's possession]
The Waleses [as proud parents of boy George]
The Waleses's son [see George above]
My skoolteacha dorta sez I'm rong thees daze.
It annoys me with the creeping use of Americanisms in the English language and particulary on the BBC. As an example - use of the word 'appeal'.
Once upon a time, someone would appeal 'against' a decision.
Now they appeal the decision! Aaaarrrgghhh!!
As for encouraging a generation of tv presenters and DJ's to talk in stupid Geordie accents or Ali G yoofspeak, then God help us. What future for our children!!
Once upon a time, someone would appeal 'against' a decision.
Now they appeal the decision! Aaaarrrgghhh!!
As for encouraging a generation of tv presenters and DJ's to talk in stupid Geordie accents or Ali G yoofspeak, then God help us. What future for our children!!
Coming shortly:
the verb "to farewell" ............. what Australians do at a funeral.
"I'm good!"
the verb "to farewell" ............. what Australians do at a funeral.
"I'm good!"
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Tales outer scool.
(Following SOSL's #22)
We once had one of our lads who wrote in, asking for a recommendation for a Commission. Only trouble was: he couldn't spell it.
Titter not ! (as Frankie Howard used to say). When we got our post-war influx of new boys and girls as Air Traffic Controllers, I often had (tactfully) to point out spelling errors in the Log to Henlow's finest.
Churchill had the right of it: "I would not have boys beaten at school. Except for not learning English. And I would beat them very hard for that !"
We once had one of our lads who wrote in, asking for a recommendation for a Commission. Only trouble was: he couldn't spell it.
Titter not ! (as Frankie Howard used to say). When we got our post-war influx of new boys and girls as Air Traffic Controllers, I often had (tactfully) to point out spelling errors in the Log to Henlow's finest.
Churchill had the right of it: "I would not have boys beaten at school. Except for not learning English. And I would beat them very hard for that !"
Even varieties of English within the UK can cause difficulty...
"Stop while lights flash!", to normal people means do not move when the level crossing lights are flashing. To some FNMs, it means "Stop, then when the lights flash, move off...."
Ringing the OM at Leuchars once to speak to a colleague, I was told "He'll be here just now". "OK, please put him on." "No sir, he'll be here just now...". I gather that 'just now' is Jockistani for 'soon'.
As for Americanizations wordwise, 'awesome' is oft misused. But the one which annoys me most is 'momentarily' instead of 'soon'. "We'll be back momentarily after these words" actually means that the speaker will return briefly, then disappear.
'Guage' instead of 'gauge' was indeed a common error, haltonapp. As was 'muted' instead of 'mooted'.
As for those who cannot understand thence, hence, whence, thither, hither, and whither....
Then there's 'whilst' and 'while' - although I do agree that 'whilom' is somewhat archaic!
'Practice' and 'practise' are also frequently used incorrectly.
"Stop while lights flash!", to normal people means do not move when the level crossing lights are flashing. To some FNMs, it means "Stop, then when the lights flash, move off...."
Ringing the OM at Leuchars once to speak to a colleague, I was told "He'll be here just now". "OK, please put him on." "No sir, he'll be here just now...". I gather that 'just now' is Jockistani for 'soon'.
As for Americanizations wordwise, 'awesome' is oft misused. But the one which annoys me most is 'momentarily' instead of 'soon'. "We'll be back momentarily after these words" actually means that the speaker will return briefly, then disappear.
'Guage' instead of 'gauge' was indeed a common error, haltonapp. As was 'muted' instead of 'mooted'.
As for those who cannot understand thence, hence, whence, thither, hither, and whither....
Then there's 'whilst' and 'while' - although I do agree that 'whilom' is somewhat archaic!
'Practice' and 'practise' are also frequently used incorrectly.
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Danny42C
No, no, no - that's not what I meant!
My OP was simply a gibe at the old duffers, like me, who forget their Ps and Qs when they are posting late at night or after a few glasses of anything approaching 35%.
That's why I said
I didn't mean to poke fun at anyone who has difficulties with the English language.
My example of the Flight line Mechanic - his Cpl arranged an eight week, one day a week, course for him at the Stn Ed Centre, taught by a delightful WRAF Fg Off, which improved all his communication skills by leaps and bounds. However, you can't say that his gen app was in any way ambiguous.
Many wonderful people show symptoms of dyslexia and other language difficulties and some equally wonderful people have small language problems (cf 500N).
My beef is with the guys who are just too lazy to bother.
Darkened room, Black Grouse!
|Rgds SOS
My OP was simply a gibe at the old duffers, like me, who forget their Ps and Qs when they are posting late at night or after a few glasses of anything approaching 35%.
That's why I said
The grammar applies, whatever time of night it is, but is often affected by alcohol.
My example of the Flight line Mechanic - his Cpl arranged an eight week, one day a week, course for him at the Stn Ed Centre, taught by a delightful WRAF Fg Off, which improved all his communication skills by leaps and bounds. However, you can't say that his gen app was in any way ambiguous.
Many wonderful people show symptoms of dyslexia and other language difficulties and some equally wonderful people have small language problems (cf 500N).
My beef is with the guys who are just too lazy to bother.
Darkened room, Black Grouse!
|Rgds SOS
Last edited by SOSL; 9th Sep 2013 at 19:47.
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SOSL
"My example of the Flight line Mechanic - his Cpl arranged an eight week, one day a week, course for him at the Stn Ed Centre, taught by a delightful WRAF Fg Off, which improved all his communication skills by leaps and bounds."
Leadership , taking care of your troops
"My beef is with the guys who are just too lazy to bother."
+ 1
Sometimes I feel English has too many rules although I am no a great
fan of the American way of simplifying it.
"My example of the Flight line Mechanic - his Cpl arranged an eight week, one day a week, course for him at the Stn Ed Centre, taught by a delightful WRAF Fg Off, which improved all his communication skills by leaps and bounds."
Leadership , taking care of your troops
"My beef is with the guys who are just too lazy to bother."
+ 1
Sometimes I feel English has too many rules although I am no a great
fan of the American way of simplifying it.
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500N
Thanks for your response.
The thing about most English language rules (Grammar or syntax) is that often they have more impact when they are broken than when they are observed.
That is something we just have to put up with. We have to boldly go wherever the language takes us.
Rgds SOS
The thing about most English language rules (Grammar or syntax) is that often they have more impact when they are broken than when they are observed.
That is something we just have to put up with. We have to boldly go wherever the language takes us.
Rgds SOS
"
Many years ago I was taught that when writing English that:
Each pronoun agrees with their antecedent.
Just between you and i case is important.
Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
Watch out for irregular verbs which have crope into our language.
Don’t use no double negatives.
A writer mustn’t shift your point of view.
When dangling, don’t use participles.
Join clauses good, like a conjunction should.
Don’t write a run-on sentence you have to punctuate it.
About sentence fragments.
In a letter themes reports articles and stuff like that we use commas to keep a string of items apart.
Don’t use commas, which aren’t necessary.
Its very important that you use apostrophe’s right.
Don’t abbrev.
Check to see if you have any words out.
As far as incomplete constructions, they are wrong.
Never use a preposition to end a sentence with.
It is important to never ever under any circumstances split an infinitive.
The active voice is preferred.
Use of the passive voice is to be avoided.
Eschew obfuscation.
Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do
Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.
The English language is so illogical as in the examples below
The market garden was designed to produce produce.
The city tip was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
In the boat, a row erupted amongst the oarsmen about how to row.
The nurse wound the crepe bandage around the wound.
Dessie decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Chloe was too close to the door to close it.
When Ted saw the tear in the painting he shed a tear.
How can I intimate my thoughts to my most intimate friend?
Sherrie shed her shoes in the shed.
In terms of weight lead is in the lead.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
When the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
Why do our noses run but our feet smell?
I did not object to the object.
Freddie filled in his form by filling it out.
Why do performers recite a play, yet play at a recital?
I went up to university in the down train.
Each pronoun agrees with their antecedent.
Just between you and i case is important.
Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
Watch out for irregular verbs which have crope into our language.
Don’t use no double negatives.
A writer mustn’t shift your point of view.
When dangling, don’t use participles.
Join clauses good, like a conjunction should.
Don’t write a run-on sentence you have to punctuate it.
About sentence fragments.
In a letter themes reports articles and stuff like that we use commas to keep a string of items apart.
Don’t use commas, which aren’t necessary.
Its very important that you use apostrophe’s right.
Don’t abbrev.
Check to see if you have any words out.
As far as incomplete constructions, they are wrong.
Never use a preposition to end a sentence with.
It is important to never ever under any circumstances split an infinitive.
The active voice is preferred.
Use of the passive voice is to be avoided.
Eschew obfuscation.
Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do
Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.
The English language is so illogical as in the examples below
The market garden was designed to produce produce.
The city tip was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
In the boat, a row erupted amongst the oarsmen about how to row.
The nurse wound the crepe bandage around the wound.
Dessie decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Chloe was too close to the door to close it.
When Ted saw the tear in the painting he shed a tear.
How can I intimate my thoughts to my most intimate friend?
Sherrie shed her shoes in the shed.
In terms of weight lead is in the lead.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
When the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
Why do our noses run but our feet smell?
I did not object to the object.
Freddie filled in his form by filling it out.
Why do performers recite a play, yet play at a recital?
I went up to university in the down train.
Last edited by Warmtoast; 9th Sep 2013 at 20:56.