English Usage
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shzl400
Posts: 729
Joined: Oct 2007
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09-05-2013 08:41 PM
Agreed with Robin - I for the subject, me for the object of the sentence. I also use Rshdunlop's easy method of checking for the correct 'I' or 'me' usage. Do they still teach this stuff in schools today?
More annoying is the use of 'myself' instead of 'me'. Surely that's far more pretentious and self-important. How typical of a politician!
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robin orton
Posts: 716
Joined: Feb 2009
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30-05-2013 10:03 AM
The received pronunciation of 'centenary' seems for some reason to be changing from 'sen -TEEN- ary' to 'sen -TENN- ary.' Two instances noticed on Radio 4 recently.
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robin orton
Posts: 716
Joined: Feb 2009
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30-05-2013 12:03 PM
To continue this interesting conversation with myself, perhaps, as the OED suggests, the new pronunciation is based on an analogy with 'centennium', 'millennium', 'millennial'. Their etymology is in fact different from that of 'centenary' - hence the double ns, which automatically shorten the preceding vowel.
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Southlonder
Posts: 119
Joined: Aug 2009
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ringingcod
Posts: 84
Joined: Jun 2005
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04-06-2013 10:44 AM
DS = darling son, as used on Mumsnet and the like. There's a whole raft of exciting abbreviations out there. We need more of them on here.
Mumsnet list
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rshdunlop
Posts: 1,111
Joined: Jun 2008
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04-06-2013 01:14 PM
Why do we need those abbreviations on here? I find them a bit grating and fey, myself. 'Darling Son'. Eew. By the time you've hit the shift key to type DS, you may as well just type 'son'. Keep 'em on Mumsnet, I say.
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ringingcod
Posts: 84
Joined: Jun 2005
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04-06-2013 01:27 PM
No no - not those ones - that was just an example of where they've been listed. There's obviously scope for abbreviations that cover regular topics: Sainsburys in, er, HOP; Southern trains; empty shops; dog poo. I don't know. I wasn't being entirely serious (which has got me in trouble with the admins before).
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rshdunlop
Posts: 1,111
Joined: Jun 2008
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04-06-2013 02:42 PM
Well, phew, because those Mumsnet ones are vomit-inducing.
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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04-06-2013 03:03 PM
DS = darling son, as used on Mumsnet and the like. There's a whole raft of exciting abbreviations out there. We need more of them on here.
Mumsnet list
ROFLMAO - some of those Mumsnet abbreviations are really, how shall I put it, special. Thanks for sharing ringingcod.
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ringingcod
Posts: 84
Joined: Jun 2005
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04-06-2013 04:55 PM
Pleasure.
DS could be used for canine excrement.
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Perryman
Posts: 820
Joined: Dec 2006
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04-06-2013 05:38 PM
I thought DS was a term of endearment based on the games device the child was addicted to. "Xbox 360 is in the living-room; DS is in her bedroom and Ipod Touch has locked herself in the bathroom again."
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MightyMouse
Posts: 122
Joined: Apr 2012
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04-06-2013 06:54 PM
*Why* would you ever need to tell anyone you were "nursing at keyboard"?
One for STFU Parents, I reckon. (There's an acronym to savour.)
As for the DS, I had a little groan when I saw it; I'm familiar with it from elsewhere.
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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04-06-2013 07:08 PM
Had a particular chuckle at DTD. Document Type Definitions will never be quite so dull again.
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robin orton
Posts: 716
Joined: Feb 2009
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06-06-2013 02:33 PM
The received pronunciation of 'centenary' seems for some reason to be changing from 'sen -TEEN- ary' to 'sen -TENN- ary.'
Another possible explanation is perhaps that there seems to be a general trend in the pronunciation of words which come from (or sound as if they come from) Latin as if they were still in Latin, rather than having become English. Three further examples noted today on Radio 4: 'supervizzary','eviskerate' and 'Lithooaynia'. (At least it's not 'Lithooahnia').
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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06-06-2013 04:38 PM
Not sure about the Latin explanation. What would be the correct pronunciation in Latin? No definitive answer IMO.
I think sen-TENN-ary is more in line with the US mode. Who to say which is right as both sides of the pond would probably agree on centennial.
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robin orton
Posts: 716
Joined: Feb 2009
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15-06-2013 09:06 PM
Three separate posts here with the (American) 'driver's licence' (but at least it's 'licence' rather than 'license') rather than the (British) 'driving licence'. Interesting.
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nottinghillbilly
Posts: 657
Joined: Dec 2010
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sandy
Posts: 191
Joined: Oct 2006
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07-08-2013 07:43 PM
Did we really need 'chavvy' in the description?
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Bcm
Posts: 187
Joined: May 2010
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07-08-2013 10:35 PM
Yep, it's actually very descriptive.
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robin orton
Posts: 716
Joined: Feb 2009
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07-08-2013 10:58 PM
Not descriptive at all - what does it add to 'Caucasian, blue/grey tracksuit and long greasy hair'? - but insulting and cruel.
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