Assume v. Presume

[Black Hole]

Should that be "'phone" anyone?

Or as I'm quoting you (and now quoting myself) I should say "Should that be " "'phone" anyone?"?"

That's bordering on archaeology! See you in about 3 years when you've caught up.

 

[prpr]

Hodges was common

He was a greengrocer. Or is that green-grocer?
Put that light out!

 

[gomezz]

Why is it not a "greens grocer" which would be a more accurate description of their occupation?

 

[Black Hole]

Because they'd cock it up.

 

[MikeSh]

Why is it not a "greens grocer" which would be a more accurate description of their occupation?

Should it be "greens' grocer", as in a grocer of greens?

 

[gomezz]

By that thinking it would also be "car' dealer" and "bank' manager".

 

[Black Hole]

By that thinking it would also be "car' dealer" and "bank' manager".

That's random! Possessive apostrophes only come at the end if the root ends in an s, to avoid doubling it.

 

[gomezz]

The point under discussion is if a possessive apostrophe should be present at all. I say not as "greens" is a collective singular noun.

 

[Black Hole]

 

[EEPhil]

, or you don't understand the meaning of the word exponential

A common problem. Misused by the press all the time.

 

[Black Hole]

Misused by the press all the time.

Exponentially.

 

[Black Hole]

...

The ICO [Information Commissioner's Office], which is responsible for the operation of Freedom of Information legislation and data protection laws, has issued a style guide to its full and part-time staff.

It states: 'English has embraced thousands of words from other languages... But some words of foreign origin are so uncommon that they confuse or alienate our readers.'

In particular, the guide warns staff not to use Latin words and phrases... because 'few people have studied Latin'.

...

Yeah, well, few people have studied Urdu, but I bet they still know the word 'pyjamas'!

 

[EEPhil]

Oh ffs are we getting as bad as the French with them trying to ban English computer gaming terms? (I think that's what it was).
I'm all for clear language, but banning words - bonkers!

 

[Black Hole]

I agree about obscure phrases which might only be heard in legal circles and the like, but "en route", "ad infinitum", "circa" etc? Have they not passed into common use? How can you legislate what reading age you are limiting your text to?

And what about "et cetera"? Not on the list, but surely Latin!

 

[EEPhil]

En route is a strange one. I've heard it pronounced a number of ways. On root, on rout, en rout, and en rout being the most obvious.
What would we do without déjà vu?

 

[prpr]

What would we do without déjà vu?

There'd be another free slot in the EPG.

 

[Black Hole]

What would we do without déjà vu?

Or indeed schadenfreude.

 

[EEPhil]

Someone in the ICO obviously has made a faux pas! They should be declared persona non grata. I give this advice pro bono. No I am not pro Bono!
And if Francis Rossi et al were in a band called "The Existing Condition" would they have been as popular?

 

[RobH1]

EEPhil, I bet you were up all night composing that.

 

[EEPhil]

You lose your bet. Took about 10 minutes after I’d seen BH’s latest post.