Pedant's Corner: for all your viewing needs!

[tom]

Originally Posted by Bren Tierney

Although a somewhat clumsy rendering: rather "you came into effect at your conception..."

Beg to differ. In your rendering, "effect" is a noun, signifying "existence" or "being". In mine, "effect" is a verb ("to effect" = "to bring into existence").

Your coat's over there, behind your suppressed desire to breastfeed while being potty trained.

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by tom

Beg to differ. In your rendering, "effect" is a noun, signifying "existence" or "being". In mine, "effect" is a verb ("to effect" = "to bring into existence").

Your coat's over there, behind your suppressed desire to breastfeed while being potty trained.

Or rather, to bring in to being. My point was one of clarity - not construction.

I understand your desire to beg - and you are forgiven; nouns, verbs (intransitive or conditional) are not the contested issue here. Now bring me some fresh breasts - these are empty

[tom]

Originally Posted by Bren Tierney

My point was one of clarity - not construction.

Absolutely. My sentence was horrible. The point was just to demonstrate to aclivity that he was wrong.

Now bring me some fresh breasts - these are empty

I thought you were looking a little saggy. You should work out more

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by tom

Absolutely. My sentence was horrible. The point was just to demonstrate to aclivity that he was wrong.

Oh knickers, and I even double checked my spelling for fear of saying something stupid in the pedantry area. Or perhaps I should say "knicker's".

[tom]

Originally Posted by aclivity

for fear of saying something stupid in the pedantry area

Don't worry - I'm sure nobody expects to find anything *other* than stupidity round here!

[MattS]

Ahh pedants. I find quantum mechanics makes more sense than English.

"alternate, alternative - Alternate can be a verb or an adjective conveying the idea of two things being done by turns, as in 'the club's pool sessions take place on alternate Tuesdays' or 'to build the wall he used layers of brick alternated with flint and mortar'.

...so surely a pony or octo is an 'Alternate' air source as you would go to it in turn after the main failed. But a backup reg on a twinset would be an 'Alternative' air source as you have the choice of two.

:-)

[tom]

Originally Posted by MattS

surely a pony or octo is an 'Alternate' air source as you would go to it in turn after the main failed.

Only if you were planning to switch backwards and forwards between it and the main. Which would be pretty silly under the circumstances

But a backup reg on a twinset would be an 'Alternative' air source as you have the choice of two.

Agreed. Unless of course you were diving independent twins, and swapping backwards and forwards between the two regs during the dive. Then you would alternate between the two

PS - quantum mechanics - I've never understood where they get the tiny tiny little spanners from

[Mr T.]

Precisely what Tom said! The former being an alternative between which you may alternate.

Stick to Quantum Mechanics!

[aclivity]

another pet peeve:

innapropriate past-tense of words. On radio 4 this morning a young lady spoke of how she had 'seeked out' something. Surely she meant 'sought'?

Andy

(p.s. I did check my trusty "Collins Paperback English Dictionary" before posting this today, just in case I'd be picked up by the Pedant's Pedant.)

[HelenM]

One which provokes intense distress (in me at least):

People saying 'would of' rather than 'would have', as in: 'I would of liked to go to the funfair on Saturday'

Is it only me who can hear the screaming?