The English language thread

[madstock]

Ellipsis overuse is one of the great online crimes against written English.

 

I thought you were a liberal.

 

How did I miss this first time round?

 

Best response ever, methinks.

[DJLJ]

So that would be a period before the parenthesis, then? (Like this.) Sorted.

 

Next question; when you use abbreviations, are you required to put a period before a question mk.? (Or a period, exclamation mark etc.?) See, I'm fucked already!

 

I know the above is a shite example, but bear with me.

 

Actually no. It depends whether we're talking British English, or American English.

[Elmyn Noos]

Actually no. It depends whether we're talking British English, or American English.

 

A-fucking-hem? American english? It's english english. Any other version is incorrect. Just because people take our language and simplify it for their less well developed foreign brains does not make it correct.

[DJLJ]

A-fucking-hem? American english? It's english english. Any other version is incorrect. Just because people take our language and simplify it for their less well developed foreign brains does not make it correct.

 

Knock yourself out: Common Locale Data Repository. There are plenty more variants for you...

[Elmyn Noos]

Knock yourself out: Common Locale Data Repository. There are plenty more variants for you...

 

Eh? What is that? Spockspeak doesn't count.

[DJLJ]

Eh? What is that? Spockspeak doesn't count.

 

What it says on the tin. Common Language Data Repository. It is what decides whether yoiur computer speak British English, Australian English, American English, whether the standard English currency is USD or AUD or GBP. What decimal delimiters are to be used etc. I work with this each day.

[Elmyn Noos]

What it says on the tin. Common Language Data Repository. It is what decides whether yoiur computer speak British English, Australian English, American English, whether the standard English currency is USD or AUD or GBP. What decimal delimiters are to be used etc. I work with this each day.

 

pfft. If computers had any balls they'd make everyone speak english english.

[madstock]

pfft. If computers had any balls they'd make everyone speak english english.

 

"You have three choices ... UTF-8, ISO (Western European), or fuck off."

[Captain]

Is there an English word for the Norwegian term morrabrød? Morrabrød basically describes the situation when males wake up in the morning with a boner.

[kop]

Is there an English word for the Norwegian term morrabrød? Morrabrød basically describes the situation when males wake up in the morning with a boner.

 

And is, if I may add, directly translated as 'Morningbread'.

 

Looking forward to the noumerous English versions of the condition.

[Bubble]

"morning glory," as in the oasis song.

[She Knows It]

Or "Morning wood".

[Captain]

Woodstock makes sense all of sudden.

[kop]

I've got a question (teach, I'm looking at you):

 

Could someone explain to me the difference between "I was" and "I were"?

[Cosmos]

'correct english' - a complete fabrication.

[dandyman]

I've got a question (teach, I'm looking at you):

 

Could someone explain to me the difference between "I was" and "I were"?

 

One is gramatically correct the other is proper poor english

[Captain]

I was is correct, I were isn't. I think.

[kop]

One is gramatically correct the other is proper poor english

 

Are there no circumstances you can say "I were"?

[Guest Dog Chaser]

Are there no circumstances you can say "I were"?

 

Beyonce 'If i were a boy'

 

In the ordinary past tense of the verb to be, was is the first and third person singular: I was late and were is the second person singular and the plural: You were right. It is not acceptable in standard English to use were for the first and third person singular: I were late, and was for the second person singular and the plural: You was right.

 

In the past subjunctive, however, the situation is more fluid. Historically the past subjunctive of be is were for all persons, singular and plural: I wish she were here; Suppose I were rich; If only they weren't so expensive. It is quite common, though, to use was instead of were for the first and third person singular: I wish she was here; Suppose I was rich. This is perfectly acceptable in colloquial English, but in formal writing it is better to stick to were. Remember that the fixed phrase as it were cannot be changed – never as it was

[kop]

I was is correct, I were isn't. I think.

 

That's what I thought aswell, but I heard that latest Beyonce-song on the radio and it got me thinking. "If I were a boy". "If I were a rich man" is another. I'm not saying we should use singers as proof of anything gramatically though.

[kop]

Beyonce 'If i were a boy'

 

In the ordinary past tense of the verb to be, was is the first and third person singular: I was late and were is the second person singular and the plural: You were right. It is not acceptable in standard English to use were for the first and third person singular: I were late, and was for the second person singular and the plural: You was right.

 

In the past subjunctive, however, the situation is more fluid. Historically the past subjunctive of be is were for all persons, singular and plural: I wish she were here; Suppose I were rich; If only they weren't so expensive. It is quite common, though, to use was instead of were for the first and third person singular: I wish she was here; Suppose I was rich. This is perfectly acceptable in colloquial English, but in formal writing it is better to stick to were. Remember that the fixed phrase as it were cannot be changed – never as it was

 

 

That's a very good answer, thanks.

[Duncan Clench]

No, I wouldn't use "I were" if I were you.

 

Can I just say that most of this way beyond my grasp of the English language? Thanks.

[Guest simon]

Lots of jiberish to me here.

[Mr.SB]

If it's just lazyness then I really hate all the lazy cunts doing it. Lazy cunts. You heard me.

 

Laziness.

[Captain]

Do you tow the party line or do you toe it? I always assumed it was the former, but as you all well know assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups . . . .