Grammar Discussions

[Captain Halliday]

Our everyday language is changing constantly and has done so for a very long time , where should the line be drawn ?

In the sand.

 

[Tropic]

In the sand.

Actually language is changing all the time with new words entering the lexicon and other older words leaving common usage. But that doesn't change the general rules of grammar, syntax and punctuation. Spelling of words tends to remain static once in use also.

 

[ALH]

My pet peeve is customer service reps asking me "what WAS your name?"
I want to say that it has always been 'Cappuccino99'

Oh my. We were just saying exactly the same thing tonight.

 

[JessicaTam]

Oh my. We were just saying exactly the same thing tonight.

Or, "What are we having tonight?" I ask if they are joining us for dinner.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Or, "What are we having tonight?" I ask if they are joining us for dinner.

But then you place your order and it's "too easy"

 

[get me outta here]

Last time someone said that to me was a plumber calculating an outrageous bill and then saying, "too easy". I didn't use that guy again.

It's an annoyance up there with, "not a problem" when ordering coffee. I suggested that, 'you are welcome' sounds more professional.

But then you place your order and it's "too easy"

 

[tgh]

bbbbbbut the preceding posts are reflecting on common vernacular.
Do you all expect communication from/ with the masses in perfect "old school" english ?
We do not even teach correct language skills, let alone use them… whadya reckon hey ?

 

[ALH]

Or, "What are we having tonight?" I ask if they are joining us for dinner.

Ummmm. How the hell would I know? What did the chef make for you?

...and while I'm off-piste, I think I'll change my name to #notaguy! Sheesh. I'm obviously a 60 year old woman.

Why does everyone in a Restaurant or a Clothing store now call me a Guy?

 

[JohnM]

Ummmm. How the hell would I know? What did the chef make for you?

...and while I'm off-piste, I think I'll change my name to #notaguy! Sheesh. I'm obviously a 60 year old woman.

Why does everyone in a Restaurant or a Clothing store now call me a Guy?

'Guys' has become a commonly-accepted gender-neutral way of referring to a group of either any sex. It seems to have substituted for 'folks' and 'everyone'.

If you, as a woman, are being referred to as a 'guy' in the singular, that is wrong.

However, I can't think of how anyone would be addressed directly in the singular as a 'guy'. Indirectly, yes, as in "That guy over there." - and referring only to a male.

 

[get me outta here]

Didn't a Grammy winner or some such win with a young woman saying, "A bad Guy". (Billie Eilish)

 

[JohnM]

Didn't a Grammy winner or some such win with a young woman saying, "A bad Guy". (Billie Eilish)

I wouldn't know, but it is an indirect reference and as such should only refer to a male. But the phrase 'bad guy' or 'bad guys' in a more literary sense could be a bit rubbery.

 

[get me outta here]

A generation below me refers to inanimate objects as 'guys' too.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Spotted this in the Qantas media release about cuts to services:

Note: Qantas B787 has approx. 250 less seats than an A380.

#facepalm

 

[Melburnian1]

Spotted this in the Qantas media release about cuts to services:

Note: Qantas B787 has approx. 250 less seats than an A380.

#facepalm

Funny, without seeing yours I was going to post the same 'cut.'

Poor that its PR/media spokesmen and women don't know the difference between 'less' and 'fewer.'

 

[JohnM]

Poor that its PR/media spokesmen and women don't know the difference between 'less' and 'fewer.'

Lesser and lesser people do these days.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Lesser and lesser people do these days.

Fewer people know the difference, lesser people do not.

 

[Deleted member]

I’m also amused by the indexation of expressions. The very old and famous “$64.00” question seems to have morphed into anything from $100.00 to $1,000,000 !
I guess the origins have been lost in the mists of time .
For those who don’t know, it comes from a game show in the US in the mid to late 40’s where the top question had a prize of 64 silver dollar coins.
The show was take it or leave it.
In the 50’s a show based on take it or leave it had a $64,000 question, but the more popular expression remained at $64.00 ..... until now.
Here endeth the lesson.

 

[Buzzard]

That's indeed the general rule but while I can't think of them in an instant, there may be one or two exceptions because it's perceived as odd-sounding.

But supermarkets ought use 'eight items or fewer' not ...less.'

At least the customers get it right more or less.

 

[Buzzard]

I’m also amused by the indexation of expressions. The very old and famous “$64.00” question seems to have morphed into anything from $100.00 to $1,000,000 !
I guess the origins have been lost in the mists of time .
For those who don’t know, it comes from a game show in the US in the mid to late 40’s where the top question had a prize of 64 silver dollar coins.
The show was take it or leave it.
In the 50’s a show based on take it or leave it had a $64,000 question, but the more popular expression remained at $64.00 ..... until now.
Here endeth the lesson.

Inflation @GPH, inflation.

 

[get me outta here]

Newsreader just told me there are less than 1000 people with the virus.

I wonder how many people know what is wrong with that sentence!