[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Here's one from me... is there any rule to determine which is the correct ending for words that end in -ence or -ance?

Can you elaborate further?

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Type O, there is no need to hate it. Anyways is a perfectly acceptable word in modern English.

I have my reservations on this one. Anyways is often listed as archaic/colloquial/dialect version of anyway. I think it's a very bad word.

Originally Posted by lurker

I understand what Sam and Hydra are saying here, just wanted to put in my 2 cents in this discussion by saying that for us English is a 'tool'. A means to an end. And hopefully nothing more.

Why? I speak English as my primary language, at home and out. I was brought up speaking English. To me, English is my mother tongue. Why should I not be proud to speak it well? Is there something in the law that says otherwise?

Originally Posted by lurker

... but there are a lot of young uns in our society for whom a perception might spread that speaking the English language properly is more important than anything else. Lest their priorities get misplaced, I had to put in my piece.

Originally Posted by lurker

the college and school going crowd esp the excitable young men and women speak English in a manner way too fast for anyone else except for a fellow Indian college-school goer to follow. This also applies to correspondents/newscasters/presenters who often speak into the mic/camera as if they are addressing a fellow college going teenie bopper.

I'm sorry to bring this up, but your talk of young uns and teenie boppers and college goers sounds a little like you're talking down.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by v1p3r

I have my reservations on this one. Anyways is often listed as archaic/colloquial/dialect version of anyway. I think it's a very bad word.
.

Threepio, anyways is colloquial/dialect and informal. Not archaic. It's a new word, how can it be archaic? It's not as nice as anyway, but anyway is not an orthodox word either.

[Joz]

Very nice thread Sam.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Can you elaborate further?

Assuming you are expecting him to explain further and not that you are questioning his ability to do so, is the above sentence right?

[Thad E Ginathom]

ance or ence? liker performance, sentence... --- maybe I'm just getting them all wrong?

Could be >Blush<

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Joz

Very nice thread Sam.



Assuming you are expecting him to explain further and not that you are questioning his ability to do so, is the above sentence right?

Caught out there!

But this has certainly become acceptable usage. What should we say...

Would you explain further?

Maybe?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by Joz

Assuming you are expecting him to explain further and not that you are questioning his ability to do so, is the above sentence right?

Yes, I believe so. I wanted to know if it was possible for him to elaborate.
It might have been more polite to use could though.

Could you elaborate? Still means the same, in the sense of questioning his ability to explain further. But in either case, the usage was to request for an elaboration.

And as you can see, our dear Thad has done very little of that. But he does look cute blushing lol.

[Joz]

Thanks Sam.

Actually I was stumped by a similar sentence while preparing for the GMAT. I gave up after asking for the right usage with a couple of friends.

[Wimwian]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Oh dear; That's Pink Floyd... That's British!

I know, that's why I said it was 'primarily' American. Somehow, I have not come across this mistake in my conversations with Brits till date. Nevertheless, this is purely my observation and I might be wrong.

[SRK]

Nice!

English lectures were always boring for me.

I will try to give up my habit of using too many fullstops, I didn't know it was banned to use (....),I think thats the reason I got an infraction(hehe).

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by SRK

Nice!
English lectures were always boring.

I will try to give up my habit of using too many fullstops, I didn't know it was banned to use (....),I think thats the reason I got an infraction(hehe).

And now I am really, really happy we have this thread. Thank you SRK for the kind words

[muni]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The Exclamation:.
While the verb is to exclaim, the second i is dropped in exclamation (just like explanation)

What is most obvious, is the sign (!)

What is often overdone unfortunately, is the usage. Please use it judiciously. Too many, or in the wrong context may be an eyesore. It's fine to say "Oh! I didn't know that." But please avoid "May his soul rest in peace!!! " lol

Sam, You have the Midas touch out here(Unofficially!) and it has got a lot to do with your quality of posts filled with the right amount of humour.

A quick doubt in the above sentence.Should the usage be like ".. posts filled with the right amount of humour." or Should it be ".. posts filled with right amounts of humour."


You say avoid too many exclamation marks.

How about if I use it in this context. "Veerappan was shot dead in a shootout today. The dreaded Brigand is no more.May his soul rest in peace!!!".

Here I dont intend for his soul to rest in peace and have used the additional exclamation marks to convey the opposite meaning. Some of you might agree and some might not.

Also, I like posts which are formatted well i.e, with proper spacings and basic grammar.

[muni]

One most common mistake that I have come across in our land is with the usage of the word "Salon" which is correct and wrongly spelt and used as "Saloon" almost everywhere. It has a single O and pronounced as Syallun. Hope am not wrong.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by Joz

Very nice thread Sam.



Assuming you are expecting him to explain further and not that you are questioning his ability to do so, is the above sentence right?

I would either say
(in a respectful manner) would you be kind enough to elaborate ? (or)
(in a matter of fact manner) could you elaborate ? (or)
(in a matter of fact manner with a little bit of grace) could you please elaborate?

P.S. Sam, i did not refer this time.
cheers

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by muni

It has a single O and pronounced as Syallun. Hope am not wrong.

With the single O is correct, if you are referring to a place where you would get a haircut or manicure. However it is a french word and pronounced in a french way. Like you would say Sallow (with a slight nasal sound at the end).

A saloon is what they had in the cowboy movies. A nice big bar with guns, a piano and some pretty wenches.