Grammar Discussions

[Happy Trails]

 

[Deleted member]

Where do I buy a hand gun and silencer ?

 

[TomVexille]

Now I would normally stay well away from this thread, but the misuse of one particular phrase really irks me. Why do people think it's tow the line instead of the correct use which is toe the line?

 

[VPS]

Now I would normally stay well away from this thread, but the misuse of one particular phrase really irks me. Why do people think it's tow the line instead of the correct use which is toe the line?

You're not having a go at one of our beloved moderators are you TV - you could be dancing on thin ice

 

[TomVexille]

You're not having a go at one of our beloved moderators are you TV - you could be dancing on thin ice

Not at all, it really just gets me how many people don't know what it is. And I'd think that a majority of people who use the phrase are using it incorrectly as while they know what it means, they clearly don't know where it comes from.

 

[Happy Trails]

Now I would normally stay well away from this thread, but the misuse of one particular phrase really irks me. Why do people think it's tow the line instead of the correct use which is toe the line?

I blame Paul Weller:

No peace for the wicked - only war on the poor
They're batting on pickets - trying to even the score
It's all inclusive - the dirt comes free
And you can be all that you want to be
Oh an equal chance and an equal say
But equally there's no equal pay
There's room on top - if you tow the line
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind

The Style Council Lyrics - The Lodgers (Or She Was Only A Shopkeeper's Daughter)

 

[TheRealTMA]

Now I would normally stay well away from this thread, but the misuse of one particular phrase really irks me. Why do people think it's tow the line instead of the correct use which is toe the line?

Where would you “tow” the line to, and what would you be pulling at the other end?

Expression comes from the start of a sporting event like a foot race etc AFAIK.

 

[JohnM]

Before a certain incident on another thread today, I must confess I'd never seen 'tow', instead of 'toe' the line used - but I thought I'd let someone else step onto the thin ice before me....

 

[TomVexille]

Before a certain incident on another thread today, I must confess I'd never seen 'tow', instead of 'toe' the line used - but I thought I'd let someone else step onto the thin ice before me....

I see it all the time on this forum and fb

 

[TheRealTMA]

I see it all the time on this forum and fb

Annoying ain’t it.

 

[VPS]

Before a certain incident on another thread today, I must confess I'd never seen 'tow', instead of 'toe' the line used - but I thought I'd let someone else step onto the thin ice before me....

You're a very wise man @JohnM

 

[Danger]

Virgin presumably paid tens of thousands for this full page colour ad in today's The Australian. It should fire the advertising company responsible for its inability to basic grammar.

 

[Deleted member]

You're not having a go at one of our beloved moderators are you TV - you could be dancing on thin ice

Or skating even. lol.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

its inability to basic grammar.

 

[Deleted member]

Should a sentence start with the word And?

using a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence is becoming more prevalent, especially when spoken, vs written.

 

[TheRealTMA]

using a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence is becoming more prevalent, especially when spoken, vs written.

And that's not as problem.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

The footage proved a hit when circulated on social media but, had the jumper smashed his head on the pillar, his stunt would probably have gone unnoticed.

 

[TheRealTMA]

At the end of today’s interview. “We will fight them on the beaches” -> “We will engage in hostile activities in the intertidal zones” Neil James on Richard Fidler The poetry of the trenches

 

[Hvr]

Apparently there have been people correcting other people's grammar for many years.

 

[RB]

There has been a radio ad on our local commercial station for quite some time. The real estate agency has a client giving a testimonial. I usually only hear the ad when I am driving. Today I heard the ad while home so I decided to check the web site. Yes the word used is tiresome

AN AGENT WHO YOU CAN PUT YOUR TRUST IN

"Stewart negotiated the sale of our house whilst we were travelling overseas. During the selling process he continually kept us updated and appraised of all details relating to the sale and attended to all necessary arrangements needed in our absence. In our opinion he went far beyond what was expected of him and was tiresome in his efforts to keep us informed the whole time. We found Stewart and all members of his team to be dedicated and committed to achieving the best result we could ever have imagined and would have no hesitation in recommending Stewart and his team to anyone who is looking to sell their property in the future.