ATTN: Copyeditors and Grammar Fiends

Well, I did consider 'Nobody can do that' but that was wrong in a different way really, so went for the second, which I think is more nearly equivalent. It is a problem of nuance (hence Orwell going on rather about double negatives getting it somewhat wrong in The Essay We Are Not Allowed to Mention).

I still think 'anybody can't do that' is ugly to the point of being unusable, partly because it is so runic.

Haha this actually might be a very good layman's explanation of why it's wrong, without having to go into rules about grammar and syntax -- I really can't tell what it means. I honestly wouldn't have thought the thrust of it was "not just anyone can do that," especially written. (Though I can imagine how you'd say it in a way that makes it clear.)

"I couldn't resist talking about it."

In this case, is "talking" a gerundive nominalization, or just your usual happy present participle?

"Off License" or "Off Licence"

?

Licence

you Brit sunts

Fusk you

"I couldn't resist talking about it."

It's a gerund, as far as I understand it.

While I'm here ... if in our house style, we say south-east, north-west etc, should I hyphenate south-central, or should I say "central southern" instead, maybe? Used adjectivally, as in south central Oman.

It always sounds weird to me.

To remember the difference between 'license' and 'licence', you must devise a device.

I think I'd go for just southern Oman, JTS.

I'd advise getting some advice on that xp

I suggest looking at a map. 'Southern central' is not the same as 'central southern', obviously.

This thread always fills me with surprice.

"I couldn't resist talking about it."

I agree with Mr Smith. If you can replace the -ing word with a noun then it's probably a gerund (e.g. "I couldn't resist the chocolate cake").

I suggest looking at a map. 'Southern central' is not the same as 'central southern', obviously.

Yes. But would either of those (depending) be better than south central, or south-central? This started out as a hyphenation query, really.

My personal preference would be for 'southern central' or 'central southern', depending on the actual geographical location. For some reason the hyphenated 'north-west' or 'south-west' doesn't carry over well to anything involving 'central'. Maybe that's just me, and/or a British vs American bias. It's also a lot to do with me not knowing what it means, ie I'm not sure if 'south-central' is supposed to mean 'in the southern portion of the central region', or 'somewhere broadly within the larger central AND southern region' (the latter being analagous to 'north-west' or 'south-east' etc.).

'Southern central' is not the same as 'central southern', obviously.

haha these things would be separated by "northern southern?"

Many guests on Mr. Letterman’s show, notably Julia Roberts, have tweaked him about his reluctance to marry. Mr. Letterman had sworn off marriage after he and his first wife Michelle Cook, were divorced in 1977.

From the NY Times no less. Tsk.

the comma right? im sick as fuck the rest seems ok

Is it

fish ‘n’ chips

or

fish ’n’ chips

? (note open/close quotes)

or

fish ‘n‘ chips

not that one.

s/b fish ’n’ chips -- each represents contraction of letter(s)

gone fish'n'

mare's tails or mares' tails? (when referring to the cloud formation)

mare's tails because you're pluralizing the phrase mare's tail, not pluralizing the mare.

Good question. Webster's 11th lists both as acceptable.

thanks

Does people still care about the difference between further and farther? Hadn't even thought about it until the word farther came up in a children's book, looking all weird.

http://www.lessontutor.com/eesfarther.html

DO people.

Grief.

Hmm, farther does look a little odd now you mention it, and I certainly wouldn't use it in the metaphorical sense, whereas further works fine in the literal sense.

To give a bit of context, I am analysing a book used to teach Science - in English - to Spanish children (who are simultaneously learning English).

Says: "As you move farther away from a vibrating object, the sound waves become weaker... If you move farther away, the waves will become weaker and the sound will become softer."

It doesn't really matter, since the most important thing is the kids get the gist of the science DESPITE the language difficulties. Still, looks weird and I wonder if I should learn the rule for use in formal writing or whether mere knowledge of it will bug me forever, as does the less/fewer rule.

Are there opinions on "toward" and "towards"? AP maintains that "towards" is "not a word" IIRC.

I see that one as a whilst/while kind of situation. The former supposedly sounds more formal but to my mind it's just an affectation.

i always use "toward," and just see "towards" as a bastardization of "toward"

also, i think "farther" should be used to express physical distance, so those sentences seem ok to me. "futher" is a metaphorical thing, ie to "further one's education"

Towards is UK usage, but frowned upon in the States. A bit like "firstly"

Firstestershire

I would like dual nationality so I can use both firstly AND oftentimes. How I love oftentimes.

I'd say that in Britain 'farther' is hardly used and 'further' just covers all those meanings.

xp

zoe espera, it sounds like you had the same job i had in spain for two years... auxiliar de conversación...?

Yep, that would be me. Auxiliar in the bilingual programme in Madrid. Where roughly were you? And did you like it? I'm on line 9 in the South East.

Have to say, I've learnt probably as much about English and English grammar as I did when I was a journalist (if not more).

And, I'm not sure if drumming grammar into kids' heads is always the best way. Just masses of exposure to another language seems to be the way. Could really do with some sort of basic text on bilingual learning, if anyone can recommend one...

ZE, I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but the Oxford Language Toolkit will probably be a great help. I've never been entirely sure who it's aimed at -- I get the impression it's non-native fluent English speakers -- but it's cleared up many a messy grammar fight at work.

Hope all is good out there. You likely to be back on these shores at any point soon?

Ah yes! You've mentioned that to me before and I've totally ignored you! How immensely rude.

All the same I'm still on the look out for research on bilingual learning/teaching.

Things are very good and, yes, I'll be BACK (at least in London) at the end of June and defo further north at some point before October. You will informed, course. Hi to all!

I've bought the toolkit. Cheers!

Superb. Hope you find it as useful as I have!

Keep me posted about ceremonial visits etc and I shall roll out the red carpet ;)

looking at adjective order and comma usage...is the (only) rule that you use commas when trad adjective order is broken? like:

my dear old dad
vs
my old, dear dad
?

i guess as well there's smthg like: if changing the order of the words would change the sense of the phrase then you don't use a comma? is that right? are there any other instances where you'd/not use a comma which can be explained by a rule?

(that last question just in the context of a series of adjectives)