The Pedant's Revolt

[kerrensimmonds]

It will end in pedantry, dear JR......

[Ajarn Philip]

It will end in pedantry, dear JR......

Anywhere but football...

[icomefromalanddownunder]

It will end in pedantry, dear JR......

Anywhere but football...

foot ball = ped ball? (memo to our American readers: that would be pedball, not paedball)

pedantry = foot, er, something or other?

xx

[Ajarn Philip]

Okay all you pedants, what about this one? "Shopping for free?" Do we need the 'for'? Is anything 'for' free?

[midget]

no

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I'm sure you missed me --- ? Many Enemy have done -- being rotten shots !
I have been unable to log in lately, but with the kind assistance of the Moderators -- here I am !
TO TOPIC ---- I know I am guilty of using Too Many Capitals, I suppose it is in an effort to emphasise the subject, -- I am told that, nowadays, spelling and Grammer (I'm sure that IS capitalised ) -- There I go again ! --- is not considered all that important in Teaching these days, merely the ability to express oneself clearly.
Perhaps OBs, now teaching, will correct me ?
OFF TOPIC -- Being 80 I have just received an addition to my State Pension --- 25p a week ! ---- This is insufficient to buy a 2nd class stamp, to write a letter of complaint !!!!!
Sorry Moderator -- I couldn't resist !

[J.R.]

I'm sure you missed me --- ? Many Enemy have done -- being rotten shots !
I have been unable to log in lately, but with the kind assistance of the Moderators -- here I am !
TO TOPIC ---- I know I am guilty of using Too Many Capitals, I suppose it is in an effort to emphasise the subject, -- I am told that, nowadays, spelling and Grammer (I'm sure that IS capitalised ) -- There I go again ! --- is not considered all that important in Teaching these days, merely the ability to express oneself clearly.
Perhaps OBs, now teaching, will correct me ?
OFF TOPIC -- Being 80 I have just received an addition to my State Pension --- 25p a week ! ---- This is insufficient to buy a 2nd class stamp, to write a letter of complaint !!!!!

Sorry Moderator -- I couldn't resist !

Absolutrly NO apology needed, young man. My sentiments exactly.

[midget]

One suggestion for the 25p is to attach PENNY coins to paper with Sellotape, send to His Greatness in Downing Street, and request a receipt certifying that the money has been used towards paying off the national debt. AND DO THIS EVERY WEEK!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Thanks Midget,
I think the idea of the penny, attached to the envelope is brilliant ! However, this will only work if you can get the TV to feature your response, or a National Newspaper.
The best weapon, which Politicians fear, is Public Embarrassment !
(I speak from experience ---having been a County Councillor and District Chairman )
now is the time to cross yourselves -- and bring the children indoors !!

[Foureyes]

Several years ago I had some windows on my house replaced. The estimate was £4,000 and when the bill was produced on the last day of work I had a cheque for that amount ready to hand over. To my astonishment, the actual bill was for £4,000.01p (that is, four thousand pounds and one penny). Of course, everyone blamed the computer, but nobody seemed empowered to over-ride it. So, I produced the cheque for £4,000 (which I had prepared) and then sellotaped one penny to the invoice. I also demanded a receipt for the full amount they had received which they then sent by first-class post, so they ended up more out-of-pocket (stamp less one penny) than if they had proved marginally more flexible. Little minds, etc....

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Re the "Computer Error" of 1p.
It is a well known fact that computers don't make errors ---- only what people put into them ! (Sorry Pedants -- That which )
On this Topic, we have been discussing the vagaries of the English language, When I first arrived in S. Africa, I was amazed to see painted on the road "SKOOL" --- ignorance ? no--- it is the Aafrikaans spelling.
It is a very literal language, ---for instance, the word for Lawn Bowls is ----- ROLLBALL !
When I was a Soldier, we had a game of translating English phrases into the local language --- Literally !
hence, "Tum Lakri, Lakri Tum" in Urdu, translates as "You would would you ? , Lakri being WOOD --- Get it ?
My all- time favourite is "Non venere il vecchio acido con meo---- solare ! " which translates, literally from the Italian as -----" DON'T COME THE OLD ACID WITH ME __ SUNSHINE !"
I'm sure other OBs have gems of this sort --- ?

[midget]

A new irritation for2009 :- "The problem IS,is......."

[Jo]

A new irritation for2009 :- "The problem IS,is......."

Oh, I completely agree!! I knew someone who used to do that years ago, and he also said "whereby" when he meant "whereas".

[kerrensimmonds]

I am forever suggesting to my team members that they should not use the word 'update' as a noun, despite the tendency for broadcasters and journalists to do so. I am sure that my colleagues consider me to be a mad old fogey.......because they continue to ignore/forget what I have said (or perhaps they don't even understand me, despite my reference to the OED), so I am forever correcting them. It drives me bonkers....

[J.R.]

........... and back to the 'H' thing..

Has anyone else noticed the continuity announcers on TV these days keep advising us that certain programmes are available in.........

"HAITCH D ?"

It makes my blood boil, but that's another pedantic story.