Written English, Misc.

Daniel

I've decided to use the British- "... ... ... ."

in place of the American convention-

"... ... .... ."

I don't see how the Americans decided on this one. It seems impractical and arbitrary.

I'm 1/2 way to changing my mind about using the UK and European (and others?)-

[Date of the month] [Abbreviation of the month]

I can't use it on formal papers.

I might start using it for everything else.

I think it's far better.

The date should come first because it's the first thing to change.

You shouldn't need to remind yourself 30 times in a row before you need to scan for the date and double check it.

It's distracting.

I'm considering using the writers' convention of the writer interviewing herself, hisself, one's self...

The only reason I haven't done it other than rarely is it seems to make people upset.

This isn't a valid reason not to do it. It isn't even a reason.

AndyD

What do you think about the verbing of nouns? It's not a new phenomenon of course, but some are like nails on a blackboard.

Apparently the latest, as an example: you are seated in a restaurant and the waiter will come over and ask
"Have you been menued?

Daniel

I would pack up and leave.

I'd stand up. I'd smile.

I'd say I'm leaving. Excuse me. Goodbye.

AndyD

Sometimes you almost need an English translator:

"Bear with, I'm cubing to improve my performability"

Nails, blackboard

Steve Miller

Yikes! What does that even mean?

CHAS

I usually manage to leave when people speak their own private languages.

Daniel

As well you should.

Daniel

@andyd This reminds me. "Gifting" is actually a word that is one of my pet peeves.

Yes, a lot of people like this word, and so many people use it that it's English today.

Yes, most of us here use it.

I know.

But I'm not sure how long it will last, or in other words, I don't think it will last. I give it 10 years.

But who knows.

Anyway...

You give a gift.

So what this word means after you take it apart and put it together again is:

You gift a gift.

On a different note, one of my best critics said of my English the following:

"Educated speech has an unusual robotic quality."

I concluded that this person had a limited intelligence, poor social awareness, and a lack of social experience.

I guess I had the option of thinking "FU" but it was such a unique and amusing comment.

Bernard

And no flies! It’s so bona to vada you! Your lovely eek and your riah! Sharda that we don’t palare more often!

AndyD

Gifting could be replaced with presenting.
So you'd present a present.

WTF-Beta