I've never claimed to have a healthy mind. I'm a teacher, for goodness' sake! An unhinged mental state is a prerequisite for the job!Originally Posted by DianaS
I agree, and would just like to add that had it not been for a certain Dr Johnson there wouldn't be this sad state of affairs... he was of course not only misguided but actually mentally ill and quite deranged, incombant on an advanced state of syphilis I believe which was precipitated by an unhealthy interest in both prepositions and the positioning of that accursed comma.Originally Posted by ducasi
Healthy minds don't dwell too deeply in these matters
I've never claimed to have a healthy mind. I'm a teacher, for goodness' sake! An unhinged mental state is a prerequisite for the job!Originally Posted by DianaS
get a gripOriginally Posted by Baruch
Split infinitives
A friend got docked 5% from his write up of a science experiment for this.
"The liquid was slowly poured into the beaker"
instead of "The liquid was poured slowly into the beaker"
Science - not English! Scientists can barely spell properly (except biologists), let alone do pedantic grammar
We (quietly) asked the rest of the class and no-one had a clue what split infinitives were. I can only remember which way around the quote was thanks to Star Trek "boldy going"
Take care,
Christopher
Ok, you've done it...Originally Posted by Ghost
You've posted on the Pedants' thread.
So I can ask now...
Why do you keep telling us all to take care?????????????????????
Pedantically speaking, I'd bet you don't really care one way or the other whether the entire forum population takes care or not.
If you don't, then stop it!!!!!
(but you should still stop using signals )
Really, you could have asked any time, I wouldn't have mindedOriginally Posted by ChrisA
There are basically three ways I sign things.Originally Posted by ChrisA
Take care
Be Well
Dance in Beauty
I'm fond of "Go your way in safety" but have only ever used it once.
Cool, what did you bet? I'm a really mellow guy. You know when someone says "Make a wish"Originally Posted by ChrisA
I always go with "World Peace"
So yes, I actually do care about all of you. It's unconditional too ~ Neg rep me till my ears bleed and I'll still "wish you well" (http://www.yogabasics.com/meditation...editation.html)
But I do so...Originally Posted by ChrisA
If it helps any, the only signals I use are for the Pretzel and Neckbreak and I'm working on ways to transition straight into them from other moves. Any suggestions are welcome, but it's probably safer to pm me..Originally Posted by ChrisA
Dance in beauty,Originally Posted by DocMartin
Christopher
How on earth can it be a split infinitive, when it's not an infinitive? It's a past participle being used to form a past historic verb form in the passive voice. Dock that science teacher a month's pay and tell him to stick to science and leave the English lessons to someone else.Originally Posted by Ghost
Well you're making progress....Originally Posted by Ghost
But I promise you that neither move requires a signal.
Er thank you. You will, maybe, when you stop using the stinkin' signals...Dance in beauty,
Pity I didn't know you back then. The last I heard she'd moved to France... heaven help them.Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo
Take care,
Christopher
Good to knowOriginally Posted by ChrisA
Originally Posted by ChrisA
Be Well,
Christopher
and ? I'm confused.Originally Posted by DianaS
Maybe I should have put a or a with my earlier post.
Your talking to an ex-lecturer in psychologyOriginally Posted by Baruch
Put what you like, I'm just barking wroooof wwwwwrooooooooof!!!
Help. Is criteria single or plural?
ie this there one criteria and many criterion?
Plural, technically.Originally Posted by DianaS
The other way round. Although technical usage and common usage differ, and I think people now use "criteria" for single and plural.Originally Posted by DianaS
And I still wince when I hear people say "referendums" - and this is on Radio 4...
Thanks David
It doesn't seem to say in my online dictionary!
Our corporate style guide is now insisting that "data" should be treated as a singular.
So we should say "the data was accurate" instead of "the data were accurate".
I believe the latter is technically correct but not common usage.
Love dance, will travel
They do? Slap them down with a kipper. What's wrong with 'criterion'? It's a beautiful word.Originally Posted by DavidJamesWasn't that part of Greg Dyke's influence? Or Birtism? One loses track.Originally Posted by DavidJames
Yes, sounds all science-fictiony doesn't itOriginally Posted by El Salsero Gringo
But, it's a dying usage.
Don't ask me, I just listen to the stuff.Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo
I only really noticed it a few months ago with all the kerfuffle about the European referenda on the EU constitution - and the most depressing thing from that I remember is that they were interviewing a Dutch politician who said "referenda" and all the British interviewees said "referendums".
As for the "data" thing, I'm not quite so pedantic (am I in the right place?), simply because it sounds weird to me, to say "the data are...". I know, it's subjective, but you have to go with the flow with a language like English. Also, you could just about make a case that "data" is short for "a group of information", so can be used in the singular.
Oooh, maybe I am in the right place after all
That's how I'd see it. But what would I know, having been educated in the 60's and 70's, with no formal grammar teaching, I have to go by what feels right - wouldn't dare be pedantic about anything without looking it up first (at least someone taught me how to do that!).Originally Posted by DavidJames
And Data on Star Trek was quite singular.
Last edited by Saxylady; 4th-November-2005 at 07:48 PM.
I can relate, and isn't it annoying? Most of what I know about grammar and spelling is despite my education, not because of it. For someone from my generation, I think I have a fairly good grasp of both, but I'm in the minority. In fact, even among primary school teachers I think I'm in the minority, which is a bit worrying!Originally Posted by Saxylady
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