A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English

Thad E Ginathom · 14th February 2008, 02:25

It's silent in damn, but not in damnation!

It is silent in both column and columnist.

It is not silent in columnar.

v1p3r · 14th February 2008, 02:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

It is silent in both column and columnist.

Nope. It's not silent in columnist, but then again, that word is an Americanism.

binz · 14th February 2008, 02:33

A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English

Shouldn't it be:

A YetiGuide® : How to post in proper English

v1p3r · 14th February 2008, 02:36

Binz, why is your p-p smaller?

binz · 14th February 2008, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Binz, why is your p-p smaller?

Care to explain why in this day and age you still call it p-p.

Its punctuation.Specifically,upper/lower case.

anupmathur · 14th February 2008, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by binz

A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English

Shouldn't it be:

A YetiGuide® : How to post in proper English

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Binz, why is your p-p smaller?

LOL, that is not fair!

Moreover, it is slang.

As far as the above example is concerned, both are accepted formats.
There is yet another accepted way of writing the heading: How to Post in Proper English.

Thad E Ginathom · 14th February 2008, 12:12

I'm really not sure about "columnist" --- I'm sure British newspapers have them too. I just cannot recall ever having heard of a colum-nist!

research...

My SOED does not list the word.

My Concise OED lists it, but the pronunciation is not clearly given. If it differed from the root word, I would expect it to be clear.

My Illustrated OED lists it and gives the pronunciation as kol-um-ist (diacriticals excepted).

So looks like the 'n' is silent.

How To Post in Proper English? Capitalisation of headings is fine.

So I think we can be happy to stick with nice big P-Ps

condor · 14th February 2008, 14:16

Quote:

Thad E Ginathom

: I just cannot recall ever having heard of a colum-nist!

Same here. But looks like it is correct either way. I checked dictionary.com for "Columnist", and here is the pronounciation key :

col·um·nist, or :
kol-uh

m-nist, -uh-mist

columnist - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Thad E Ginathom · 14th February 2008, 15:06

dictionary.com agrees that it is an americanism, too.

Maybe this is how the USAians say it. I really don't think us Brits pronounce that 'n'.

prabuddhadg · 14th February 2008, 15:39

You guys have taken "columnist" to a different plane altogether. Rarely has the word received so much detailed attention.

Next word please.

Edsel Rulez! · 14th February 2008, 16:02

What about the usage of "native" when one means "hometown"? I've seen the word used very often on this forum, and it confused me at first. I soon figured it's short for "native place", which appears to be another popular Indianism. "Native place" may be acceptable, but "native" is best avoided. "I just returned to Delhi after visiting my native in Gujarat" sounds terrible, in addition to being ambiguous.

Thad E Ginathom · 14th February 2008, 16:50

Native, in that context is an adjective, not a noun, so one cannot visit 'one's native'

Native, adjective, means born in.

Native, noun, means one who was born in.

I am not native to Chennai; I was born in Warwick, England.

I am a native of the United Kingdom.

My native place is Indian usage.

Strangers often expect that I am a temporary visitor here. If they ask where I am from from I explain that I live (English usage) or stay (Indian usage) in Chennai, but my Mother Country or Native place is UK

anupmathur · 15th February 2008, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I am not native to Chennai; I was born in Warwick, England.

Thad, is this correct usage in the context?
I would imagine native to would be used for flora or fauna but not people.
I am not a native of Chennai sounds correct.

Thad E Ginathom · 15th February 2008, 16:07

I think either is fine, though I am willing to be corrected.

I am not a native of Chennai --- yes, this sounds more elegant, and more elegant is more likely to be right!

I may have reached the point where my immersion in Tamil English has disqualified me from giving authoritative answers on this thread!

anupmathur · 15th February 2008, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I may have reached the point where my immersion in Tamil English has disqualified me from giving authoritative answers on this thread!

There there, don't take it so seriously, Thad.

Immersion in Tamil English (hereafter referred to as Tanglish) may have reduced the authority but has certainly not disqualified you!
We look to you, Thad, to grant approval on issues like small p-ps and big P-Ps!

14th February 2008, 02:25	#601
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,976 Times	It's silent in damn, but not in damnation! It is silent in both column and columnist. It is not silent in columnar.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 02:33	#603
binz Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,306 Thanked: 431 Times View My Garage	A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English Shouldn't it be: A YetiGuide® : How to post in proper English Last edited by binz : 14th February 2008 at 02:50.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 02:36	#604
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,359 Thanked: 7,470 Times View My Garage	Binz, why is your p-p smaller?
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 12:12	#607
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,976 Times	I'm really not sure about "columnist" --- I'm sure British newspapers have them too. I just cannot recall ever having heard of a colum-nist! research... My SOED does not list the word. My Concise OED lists it, but the pronunciation is not clearly given. If it differed from the root word, I would expect it to be clear. My Illustrated OED lists it and gives the pronunciation as kol-um-ist (diacriticals excepted). So looks like the 'n' is silent. How To Post in Proper English? Capitalisation of headings is fine. So I think we can be happy to stick with nice big P-Ps
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 15:06	#609
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,976 Times	dictionary.com agrees that it is an americanism, too. Maybe this is how the USAians say it. I really don't think us Brits pronounce that 'n'.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 15:39	#610
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 811 Thanked: 82 Times View My Garage	You guys have taken "columnist" to a different plane altogether. Rarely has the word received so much detailed attention. Next word please.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 16:02	#611
Edsel Rulez! BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 210 Thanked: 33 Times	What about the usage of "native" when one means "hometown"? I've seen the word used very often on this forum, and it confused me at first. I soon figured it's short for "native place", which appears to be another popular Indianism. "Native place" may be acceptable, but "native" is best avoided. "I just returned to Delhi after visiting my native in Gujarat" sounds terrible, in addition to being ambiguous.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 16:50	#612
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,976 Times	Native, in that context is an adjective, not a noun, so one cannot visit 'one's native' Native, adjective, means born in. Native, noun, means one who was born in. I am not native to Chennai; I was born in Warwick, England. I am a native of the United Kingdom. My native place is Indian usage. Strangers often expect that I am a temporary visitor here. If they ask where I am from from I explain that I live (English usage) or stay (Indian usage) in Chennai, but my Mother Country or Native place is UK
	() Thanks

15th February 2008, 16:07	#614
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,976 Times	I think either is fine, though I am willing to be corrected. I am not a native of Chennai --- yes, this sounds more elegant, and more elegant is more likely to be right! I may have reached the point where my immersion in Tamil English has disqualified me from giving authoritative answers on this thread!
	() Thanks