|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
After having built my collectoin of links, I decided to check some of them out, Starting with this one: http://snurl.com/20qsThat led me to The Economist's style guide, where I found this page, that I thought might be useful for stirring up a good old-fashioned pre- vs. de- scriptivist glory here. What say y'all? http://snurl.com/20qr
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
I came racing back here to reply to a post that isn't here anymore - Is Rod Serling running this board?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Do-de-do-do, do-de-do-do...
No--I made haste to delete mine when I realized I had clicked on the wrong link to respond to. Sorry. I'm glad nobody saw it, though.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
> I'm glad nobody saw it, though.
Well, that does wonders for my sense of self-worth.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
?? Why? 'Twasn't your fault in any way that I was too careless to click on the correct link; I was just trying not to add any more on to the considerable evidence for you and for all of what a fool I can be. If I didn't value your opinion so much, I wouldn't have made such haste to delete--I'd seen that you were on here with me.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
Jackie, I was only teasing. You said "nobody saw it", and I replied, "that does wonders for my self-esteem". That is, I saw it, therefore, I must be nobody. I'm misfiring badly today, it seems. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Argh--you beat me again! I just now realized I should have put 'nobody READ it'!! [danged nitpickers, grumble grumble]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
Actually, I read it as well - I get all replies to my posts by email, and so I see the originals. This experience has taught me that such email notification is VERY quick.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
So, if y'all are done apologizing at each other, perhaps Max could tell me is that big white space in the middle of the Economist Style Guide sposed to be filled with white space, or is it another example of my inadequate browser?
BTW, I've always thought that a style guide is the perfect place for prescriptivism. Ifn ya wants ta play the game ya gots ta foller the rules.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Oh, Gawd. How many Americanisms have crept into my everyday vocabulary ... !
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
constituency (try supporters),
A constituency is a body of constituents, the group of people that one represents. George Bush's constituency is the entire United States. His supporters are a small portion of that group.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Oh, Gawd. How many Americanisms have crept into my everyday vocabulary ... ! And I suppose that's our fault, too.
A constituency is a body of constituents, the group of people that one represents. George Bush's constituency is the entire United States. His supporters are a small portion of that group.
Okay--is a constituency, then, the States, or the voters? A thing, or people? Used interchangeably?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
the States, or the voters?
I'd use it to mean the latter. AHD recognizes both and also the version the Economist is pumping for, supporter.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,916
Posts230,424
Members9,211
| |
Most Online17,319
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
