Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 836652)

I have always pronounced sic as sick!

It may be a generation thing, but I don't recall having heard it pronounced seek.

Of course, as it tends to occur in written or printed work, one doesn't often hear it at all! lol:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 837427)

But there is a certain colloquial style about internet-forum posting, and it doesn't seem out of place when we break that rule here. I would not do it in formal writing; there it would feel wrong.

Originally Posted by hydrashok (Post 719307)

Coming to the specific thing that Condor was speaking about, a native speaker of Hindi would first think "Mujhe neend aa raha hain", translate the words to "For me sleep is coming", then format the translated words into the syntax and usage followed by English and say "I'm feeing sleepy".

Now, this is in the case of a person well educated and familiar with English. Someone who is not that familiar with using English may end up saying something else altogether in the end (most likely a literal translation of the native language into English). Most languages have their special ways: "Mein 1000/- ka DD nikalke aapko bhej doonga" becomes "I will remove a DD of 1000/- and send it to you" etc., etc.

Originally Posted by vnabhi (Post 837565)

'Mr X started dancing when he heard he had become a grandpa' ('naachna shoroo kiye') instead of 'jumping with joy'.

Originally Posted by anupmathur (Post 837554)

Has the 'but' been deliberately put in the above sentence as an example? :)

I really don't know what The Yeti's reaction to this will be!
I'm afraid he will be rather cross that 'his' thread is being treated as 'colloqial internet banter'! :eek: LOL.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi (Post 837628)

Oh but (ha!) this thread is not mine alone. I merely initiated it.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi (Post 837628)

Oh but (ha!) this thread is not mine alone. I merely initiated it.

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008 (Post 837111)

Is it ok to start a sentence with BUT ?

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008 (Post 837111)

Even though I do start a sentence with BUT many times, I think it's wrong.

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k (Post 837709)

no sentence can be started with "because" because "because" is a conjunction.

Originally Posted by anupmathur (Post 837758)

Which of the following would be correct?
1) No sentence can be started with 'because' as it is a conjunction.
2) No sentence can be started with 'because' because it is a conjunction.
3) No sentence can be started with 'because' as 'because' is a conjunction.
4) 'Because' is a conjunction. Do not start a sentence with it.

Originally Posted by manaa45 (Post 837713)

i think you have answered the question itself by using "Even though" instead of using 'but'

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008 (Post 837638)

That sure is an innovative way to avoid using BUT to start a sentence !!

Anyway, in formal writing, any other words I can use instead of 'but' ?

Although, However are the ones I can think of right now.

Any others ?

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 838140)

By the way, my wife uses the word 'repair' or 'under repair' when she means 'broken'. Is this 'Tamil English' or simply an idiosyncrasy? I can imagine that perhaps someone once saw a machine with an over-optimistic sign, Under Repair on it, and understood that it actually meant, will never work again!