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Posted by TooManyPosts (U2440869) on Wednesday, 17th January 2007
On the DTA board should it not be:
"This is the place for your opinions on the programmes, past and present, and on issues raised by *them.* "
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Reggie Trentham (U2746099) on Wednesday, 17th January 2007
Yes.
Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:59:51 GMT, In reply to: OJO
On the DTA board should it not be:Â
Should that not be "On the DA board..." nowadays?
OO-err, JOJO
stretching it a bit, one thinks.
On a student's paper I would have written in the margin " 'it' is too far away from the relevant subject" or something similar.
Speaking as an ancient and - at times - vituperative, nay, vitriolic PEDANT, I find it so interesting to observe how my native language has evolved during my lifetime.
And I'm happy to say that I'm becoming more relaxed about ROOLS. Language changes. Full stop.
jx
"This is the place for your opinions on the programme, past and present, and on issues raised by it."
After all, there is only one programme, with daily episodes, innit?
msg 3
Peet, "You are here > Archers message boards > Discuss The Archers". Discuss Archers on the LHS panel isn't it's title, it's what you'll do there.
msg 4
I find it so interesting to observe how my native language has evolved during my lifetime.
And I'm happy to say that I'm becoming more relaxed about ROOLS. Language changes. Full stop.Â
jane c, I like the 'language changes' quote though. It is true, although this statement often seems to me to be used as code for "I want it to mean this instead, so I'm going to state that 'language changes' even though it hasn't in this specific case, it's just I want it to/am not bothered about what would be correct". Language HASN'T changed so that 'it' and 'them' have become interchangable as referring to something in a singular or plural sense.
You have to have rules, for without rules there'd be anarchy. (Ralph Cifaretto, The Sopranos)
Hallo, OJO
I quite agree. Rules are necessary and helpful. But even rules do change over time.
How do you react to the following sentence?
"It is quite natural for someone to be asked by a customs officer to show their passport."
Twenty years ago I'd have pointed out that "his or her" was correct, not "their".
But "his or her" is just so clumsy. And that is often why rules change.
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:16:06 GMT, In reply to: jane c.
I'd have used "a valid"...
Good point, Peet - but that is dodging the issue.
Try
"Someone who has lost their passport should report the loss immediately"
jx
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:35:25 GMT, In reply to: jane c.
"a valid" again...? ;-P
giggle, Peet. But what if they/he/she had lost something in the plural - glasses?
, in reply to message 10.
Posted by KnottedKernel (U7026299) on Thursday, 18th January 2007
Actually I prefer "a valid" in this one because I believe if you lose somebody else's passport you should also report it immediately!
, in reply to message 5.
Posted by spartacus the pangolin (U1483022) on Thursday, 18th January 2007
Rosie is right
(as ever)
Gosh, am I?
, in reply to message 15.
Posted by spartacus the pangolin (U1483022) on Thursday, 18th January 2007
of course you are
(there's a 'pedant'*'s thread over in the Bull at the moment, can't remember what it's called but vanity fair started it)
*aka right-minded people who care about language
On the DTA board should it not be:
"This is the place for your opinions on the programmes, past and present, and on issues raised by *them.* "
No. It's not the place for issues raised by your opinions, it's for issues raised by the programme. And it's one programme, with numerous episodes.
, in reply to message 17.
Posted by spartacus the pangolin (U1483022) on Thursday, 18th January 2007
but it does say 'programmes' on the DtA front page, so you'd better get out your eraser
I SAID Rosie was right!
Fri, 19 Jan 2007 04:46 GMT, in reply to dean volecape the unhallowed pangolin in message 18
Here's exactly what it does say - "This is the place for your opinions on the programmes, past and present, and on issues raised by it."
Yes, I suppose that my pedantry could be exercised by the grammar, but I've been posting for 2 years and I hadn't noticed before now.
What's the saying? "Never lose your ignorance; you can't get it back!"
Keri, these boards are a wonderful thing!
"See, that sounds right, but maybe it should be "this board is a wonderful thing!" or "these boards are wonderful things!"
Help!
One board, six carriages (this is the 'no mobiles' compartment).
"no mobiles" carriage! Like it, rosie!
jx
How do you react to the following sentence?
"It is quite natural for someone to be asked by a customs officer to show their passport."Â
Try
"Someone who has lost their passport should report the loss immediately"Â
jane, I have no problem with 'their' in either case, although I'd perhaps reword the second example to
"Lost passports should be reported ASAP"
giggle, Peet. But what if they/he/she had lost something in the plural - glasses?Â
"Lost property should be reported ASAP"
Keri, these boards are a wonderful thing!
"See, that sounds right, but maybe it should be "this board is a wonderful thing!" or "these boards are wonderful things!"
±á±ð±ô±è!Ìý
"These boards are wonderful"
Note: tip from the word of mouth board - if something doesn't sound right, or you are stuck for the correct expression, then reword it ro make problem disappear.
, in reply to message 23.
Posted by Peggy Monahan (U2254875) on Friday, 19th January 2007
"These boards are a wonderful thing."
Absolutely no problem, several separate things can make one whole.
These dancers are a wonderful troupe or these singers are a wonderful choir. You wouldn't make troupe or choir plural in either of those would you?
I have absolutely no problem with their as a singular possesive adjective. SO much better than either "his" allegedly including women (do women really feel included) or having to say 'his/her.
And try telling Virignia Woolf to rephrase "Everyone should have a room of their own". Rephrasing isn't always an option.
On the other hand, what Rosie said about the intro to these boards was absolutely right. The Archers is one programme so they should that "s" on "programmes".
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