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Joined: Mar 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004 |
In real English (you know we Brits are never going to stop thinking that!) we definitely say that "I have a licence, but I cannot license you to drive", for instance.
Defence is a noun. Defensive is not - and that's why it takes the (s).
cheer
the sunshine warrior
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Joined: Nov 2003
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addict
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addict
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And if you repost a fencer in, he'll be foiled again
A riposter needs a good foil to sharpen his blade.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
Force as a noun and a verb.
Impulse as a noun?
Fence as a noun and a verb?
Hence and whence as adverbs?
Sense?
Tense?
...
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
You want consistency? Try Esperanto ...
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Joined: Jan 2004
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
I expect nothing of the sort in English or any other language. (There are inconsistencies in Esperanto.) But when somebody quotes me a rule, I expect consistency or a caveat. I was lead to believe that British (aka "real") English had a rule, but it doesn't.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Well, yes it does. It goes "When the noun form of a word is spelled with a 'C' and the verb form of the same word is spelled with an 'S', learn to live with it. If this anomaly doesn't exist for any given noun and verb combination, learn to live with that, too." As rules go, it's pretty straightforward and all-encompassing, I would have thought! 
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
addict
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addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619 |
I was lead to believe that British (aka "real") English had a rule, but it doesn't
The "real" rule is much the same as the Golden Rule which prescribes that he who has the gold rules.
He who claims the "real" English rules the rules.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
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Ah, yes, I seem to remember The Ruling Class.
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Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
I'd find it difficult to believe, though, that the British spelling would be incence (frankly).
Edit:
Perhaps that's incencitive of me,but then again I am easily incentivised (crossing threads somewhat adroitlessly.)
TEd
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Ah TEd, you give a whole new implied meaning to the word "gauche"! Good to see yer, too! 
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