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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 22
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 22 |
I have been rereading some of my favorite P.G Wodehouse, which covers a period between 1915 to 1935. On several occasions he used NO in a sentence I would normally have used NOT. For instance:
Whether or no he is a fascist is beside the point.
Is this specifically English or of a period that eventually evolved into NOT?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 22
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 22 |
Gah! My bad, I'm sorry. I should have gone to Bartleby first. Quote:
Whether or not and whether or no are semantically interchangeable Standard idioms; the only difference is that whether or no has a somewhat more literary ring. The or not can be omitted when the idiom introduces a clause working as a nominal—subject, object, or object of a preposition—We inquired whether she planned to attend. When the clause is adverbial rather than nominal in function, the or not must be kept: We will attend, whether or not she does [whether she does or not].
http://www.bartleby.com/68/5/6505.html
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
veteran
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veteran
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529 |
Quote:
Gah! My bad, I'm sorry. I should have gone to Bartleby first.
Quote:
Whether or not and whether or no are semantically interchangeable Standard idioms; the only difference is that whether or no has a somewhat more literary ring. The or not can be omitted when the idiom introduces a clause working as a nominal—subject, object, or object of a preposition—We inquired whether she planned to attend. When the clause is adverbial rather than nominal in function, the or not must be kept: We will attend, whether or not she does [whether she does or not].
I agree, nightotter.
English with its chummy literary rings is almost enough or no to make a fellow want to move to the planet Camiroi where all citizens speak Camiroi; a language that expects the speaker to speak and the hearer to hear, logic, or not. 
Last edited by themilum; 02/23/2007 8:41 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
If this is yes or no of no importance, chummy or no, I would prefer the use of only no on all occasions. Do you no agree ? runs smoother than : Do you not agree ? The t sort of puts a brake on the sentence. Maybe just an alien's problem. I'll hold a five minute's conference with my Camiroi brothers and sisters.  You'll hear from us.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
dalehileman
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