Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rambi who wrote (28)	1/1/1998 4:44:00 PM
From: Janice Shell	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4710

I have stopped using the word "forte", referring to a quality in which someone excels, because I pronounce it with the preferred 'fort' and not 'for-tay' and I'm tired of people looking at me as if I were stupid. I hear you. Pisses me off, too. I use it, though, and glare at 'em if they get uppity.

To: Rambi who wrote (28)	1/1/1998 5:12:00 PM
From: Jack Clarke	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4710

Hi Penni: The main reason English is so rich compared with French is because of the influx of so many Latin/French words brought in with the Norman conquest. Just read Chaucer "Of which vertu engendred is the flour." I did the same thing you did with forte. If we were strong enough in our own self images or egos, Penni, we wouldn't give a damn what the illiterati thought about our pronunciation. Incidentally, I notice with interest the construction in your last sentence: Once someone posts in a forum such as this, has she set herself up to be read very critically? Your method is an excellent idea for getting around the he/she business with the words someone, anyone, anybody, everyone etc. Gramatically these words take a singular pronoun, and in those old pre-PC days, it had to be he. Now people usually make the choice among (1) being grammatically incorrect but politically correct: Will everyone please take their seat? (2) being gramatically correct but awkward: Will everyone please take his or her seat? (3) changing the sentence to avoid the problem: Will all students please take their seats? But, Penni your solution, which I have seen proposed, to me is the best. If the writer is female, use the feminine singular pronoun. If male, the masculine. These are interesting discussions. Jack

To: Rambi who wrote (28)	1/1/1998 6:43:00 PM
From: Zeev Hed	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4710

penni: "Once someone posts in a forum such as this, has she set herself up to be read very critically?" Not I, I am the student on this thread and trying to absorb other's wisdom. So would someone explain to me when should it be "its" and when should it be "it's"? Another problem that puzzles me is the plethora of uses for the word "right", much too confusing for me. Last, I was wondering if "throth" should not be the analogue of "both", like "thrice" is the analogue of "twice". Thank you very much for my next lesson in English. Zeev