02 Apr '11 15:31>
Originally posted by FreakyKBHWhat's with the "tada", like she agrees with you?
Tada!
Capitalized, she's clearly talking about Data, the android character in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Originally posted by DrKFIt figures.
I'm from the UK, and I honestly don't know what you think is weird about that sentence!
Originally posted by SuzianneAh, I see now. Thanks.
It figures.
Unilever is a corporation, is it not? And just ONE corporation, right? Follow me?
Correct is: "It seems that Unilever [b]has come up with a unique solution."
Or: "It seems that the folks at Unilever have come up with a unique solution."
See the difference?[/b]
Originally posted by DrKFNo, it's the gits who think Americans are somehow less intelligent (or sloppy) for speaking and writing English correctly that make me angry.
Ah, I see now. Thanks.
This whole topic seems to make you really angry. Which is weird.
Originally posted by SuzianneNo, I'm afraid mathematics is a 'mass noun', of course you would know this, and the meaning of, as I'm the mere Neanderthal for asking which sub group of noun it belonged to...as regard the sole reference to the 'superfluous,' you're mistaking the obvious goal as to 'simplify,' something to which Franklin strived.
As the addition of the superfluous S jars with me. (Much like adding a superfluous U to color.)
When you abbreviate, you break the rest of the word off, you don't go back in and add in the S for no reason, especially when talking about a singlular.
And for you neanderthals who think mathematics is plural, then what the heck is a mathematic?
Mathem ...[text shortened]... e would assume you were using a possessive or misusing a plural if you wrote it that way.
Originally posted by SuzianneLOL.
As the addition of the superfluous S jars with me. (Much like adding a superfluous U to color.)
When you abbreviate, you break the rest of the word off, you don't go back in and add in the S for no reason, especially when talking about a singlular.
And for you neanderthals who think mathematics is plural, then what the heck is a mathematic?
Mathem ...[text shortened]... e would assume you were using a possessive or misusing a plural if you wrote it that way.
Originally posted by Suzianne*sigh*
As the addition of the superfluous S jars with me. (Much like adding a superfluous U to color.)
Originally posted by SuzianneYes, I follow you, but you're only very partially correct in this case.
Unilever is a corporation, is it not? And just ONE corporation, right? Follow me?
Correct is: "It seems that Unilever [b]has come up with a unique solution."
Or: "It seems that the folks at Unilever have come up with a unique solution."[/b]
Originally posted by Shallow BlueAt least I can sort of understand the U, coming as it does from the French.
*sigh*
Neither of those is added. You (specifically, that revisionist Webster) removed them, and that for political, not for linguistic reasons.
At least get your facts right.
Richard
Originally posted by SuzianneYou do say mathematics and physics, don't you? The 's' is a grammatical ending, and those don't disappear when you abbreviate a word. If you talk about more than one PC, you aren't talking about several PC, but several PCs. The fact the singular form of "mathematics" isn't used doesn't change the fact that the 's' is an ending.
At least I can sort of understand the U, coming as it does from the French.
The S in maths, not so much. Please explain to me the etymology of the S. I see no reason for it, myself.
Originally posted by NordlysCan you give me just one more example of a word that is abbreviated in this way?
You do say mathematics and physics, don't you? The 's' is a grammatical ending, and those don't disappear when you abbreviate a word. If you talk about more than one PC, you aren't talking about several PC, but several PCs. The fact the singular form of "mathematics" isn't used doesn't change the fact that the 's' is an ending.
Originally posted by SuzianneIt is a plural form, whether you like it or not. Maybe this can convince you? http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=-ics
Can you give me just one more example of a word that is abbreviated in this way?
In what way is the S an "ending"? It doesn't denote a plural.
I was under the impression that abbreviations just chop off the rest of the word, so-called "endings" aren't kept. What other "endings" are kept when abbreviated? Plurals, maybe, I can't think of any others. ...[text shortened]... e. The apparent lack of other examples is what lowers the credibility of this for me.
Originally posted by SuzianneDo you mean Nordlys and Shallow Blue? They both seem to have a very good understanding of our common language.Better than mine and,it seems, yours.And,I assume,English is their second language.
No, it's the gits who think Americans are somehow less intelligent (or sloppy) for speaking and writing English correctly that make me angry.
That and the fact that there's a [b]lot of them here.[/b]
Originally posted by biffo konkerIt is mine. Well, third, really - or fourth - you can't spend a lot of time in the Northeast of the Netherlands without picking up a smattering of both Nether-Saxon and German by osmosis. But English is the first language after Dutch which I started really learning, rather than acquiring from the environment.
Do you mean Nordlys and Shallow Blue? They both seem to have a very good understanding of our common language.Better than mine and,it seems, yours.And,I assume,English is their second language.