Oh FFS!

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Whinging Courier, Mar 7, 2006.

  1. Whinging Courier

    ogden Guest

    The PC term is 'Slant'. HTH.
     
    ogden, Mar 9, 2006
    #81
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  2. Here, have a Chambers:
    discrete
    adjective: separate; discontinuous; consisting of distinct parts;
    referring to distinct objects; abstract (opposite to concrete).

    --
    Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
    Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
    GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
    WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
    KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".
     
    Dr Ivan D. Reid, Mar 9, 2006
    #82
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  3. Whinging Courier

    platypus Guest

    <BCB falls off chair>
     
    platypus, Mar 9, 2006
    #83
  4. Verdigris wrote
    Not me, I went a grammar[1] school didn't I and I am making no claims
    about understanding anything.



    [1] Actually I went to a Technical[1] School and only dropped down to a
    Grammar/Tech when we moved to Sunny Essex.

    [1] Cray Valley Technical High School For Boys, as it was then
     
    steve auvache, Mar 9, 2006
    #84
  5. Care to explain why? Oh - and if we are pointing fingers and throwing
    sticks I assume that you are always utterly logical?
    You really have a bee in your bonnet about this don't you? Hint - there
    are multiple definitions of the word 'right'.
    According to the rules of grammar using less instead of fewer is
    incorrect. According to the rules of everyday speech it is correct.
    Which one of those is 'right'?
    Wrong. English is a suficiently flexible language that allows all sorts
    of variations to be understandable. Just because they are
    understandable doesn't make them 'right' - it makes them
    understandable. There is a difference.
    In programming. In finance. In a greengrocers shop. (OK - so the last
    one it largely spurious becuase it's a social context where
    communications rules are flexible).

    Phil
     
    Phil Launchbury, Mar 10, 2006
    #85
  6. What a superfluity of naughtiness!

    Phil
     
    Phil Launchbury, Mar 10, 2006
    #86
  7. Or East Barnet Comprehensive...

    Phil
     
    Phil Launchbury, Mar 10, 2006
    #87
  8. Whinging Courier

    Howard Guest

    Much obliged
     
    Howard, Mar 10, 2006
    #88
  9. Whinging Courier

    Howard Guest

    Notwithstanding the evolving nature of language, there is a
    natural tendency to defer to accepted norms.

    Persuasion requires argument and authority, if the language used
    is peppered with glaring, grammatical mistakes,
    then that authority tends to get diluted, and consequently the
    argument.

    Witness the way ukrm maintains its interest, vigorously, in the
    topic. Bad grammar and spelling elicit mention of school holidays
    etc.

    Furthermore, some posters attract a certain esteem, and their
    contributions are given respect on account of their precision in
    knowledge and delivery.

    Not really part of the 'less' and 'fewer' argument, but I had a
    few minutes spare.

    I'll polish my helmet.
     
    Howard, Mar 10, 2006
    #89
  10. Whinging Courier

    gomez Guest

    Not universally so. No-one knows more about the the art and culture
    of dogging and less about punctuation, grammar and coherent writing
    than S.T
     
    gomez, Mar 10, 2006
    #90
  11. Whinging Courier

    M J Carley Guest

    Since "less" is also used as an adverb ("less successful"), "fewer"
    helps to distinguish "fewer successful professionals" (fewer
    professionals who are successful) from "less successful
    professionals" (professionals who are less successful).

    http://www.alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxlessvs.html
     
    M J Carley, Mar 10, 2006
    #91
  12. Whinging Courier

    dwb Guest

    The whole "me" rather than "I" thing still winds me up though.

    But as you said, it doesn't change the meaning, just irritates some
    people :)
     
    dwb, Mar 10, 2006
    #92
  13. I'm shocked I tell you! Shocked! Usenet and logical used in the same
    sentence :)
    "I before E except after C"? Sounds pretty prescriptive to me..
    "We have fewer sales generating less money" would look pretty stupid
    written as "we have less sales generating fewer money"..

    Phil
     
    Phil Launchbury, Mar 10, 2006
    #93
  14. Champ wrote
    The only correct use of English is when you make you point and are
    understood. All the rest is just bollox for cunts.
     
    steve auvache, Mar 10, 2006
    #94
  15. Whinging Courier

    Ben Blaney Guest

    And speaking slowly, and loudly, for the benefit of Johnny Foreigner.
    That's okay, too.
     
    Ben Blaney, Mar 10, 2006
    #95
  16. <Shameful confession>

    That was the first example I could think of

    Ah - so you object to things that "sound wrong" (to your ear) but
    object to people objecting to things that sound wrong to them?

    I agree - this has never been about 'loss of meaning' (most languages -
    and particularly English - are sufficiently flexible to allow meaning
    to be propagated even when the carrier medium is garbled) but about
    whether something is 'right'. The two are not necessarily related.
    Tapaidh leibh a'Charley![1]

    Phil.

    [1] OK OK - so it's Scots Gaelic. So sue me..
     
    Phil Launchbury, Mar 10, 2006
    #96
  17. Whinging Courier

    ginge Guest

    Does it work though? As our man in the sand, you need to tell us.
     
    ginge, Mar 10, 2006
    #97
  18. Ben Blaney wrote
    So I am given to understand but usually I prefer to let the staff handle
    dealings with tradesmen.
     
    steve auvache, Mar 10, 2006
    #98
  19. Ding.
     
    Soylent Green, Mar 10, 2006
    #99
  20. Whinging Courier

    Ben Blaney Guest

    Y E S I T D O E S.
     
    Ben Blaney, Mar 10, 2006
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