Thankç, Andrew. I can now avoid exposing that particular flank to young Master Michael Clevercloggs - but no doubt he'll find another one!
R.H.S. Dunlop wrote:
Quote:
this is a conversation in written form, dialogue if you will
I've been thinking about this. The difference between an exchange on this forum and a real life conversation is that in the latter you know who you're talking to and (unless it's on the telephone) can actually see them, and you know (or can make a good guess about) things about them such as their age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnicity, education, social class, state of health etc. This means it's a lot easier to judge your style and register appropriately and avoid giving unintended offence. When you don't have any of this information, that 's a lot more difficult, and I think a certain degree of formality of style is safer.
Incidentally, isn't 'if you will' an Americanism? I was brought up to say 'if you like'. Not that it matters of course...