I once knew a kidney bean that drove a Ferrari

Hope you’re not talking about my champ Schumacher…

Hi Dee (Hi?)

Keep 'em coming please. I've set up a word file and am copying you straight into it. Brilliant! Lynne Truss has been a mixed blessing to me - I picked up the message about not being intimidated by punctuation in general and the colon family in particular with the result that I now spray colons, full and semi, around like they're going out of fashion and my work now looks like a couple of drunk centipedes with inky feet got in.

I don't want to lower the tone of this erudite debate but while I don't know what the correct grammatical term is, there must be one for examples which relate men playing rugby with funny shaped balls and dangling modifiers.

Dontya just love the minefield that is language?

Philosophically yours

Zettel


<Added>

PS

Newspaper headline:

"Philosopher chick pees in lotus - Chris and his mum sue for breach of premise."

PPS

Can do the peas. If it works out I'll phone my mate and ask him "can we buy that flat you lent us?"

Ok I guess it does deserve a kick in the dangling modifier. Memo to self: stop before you get arrested.

Is there anything more pathetic than a philosopher having fun?

(One word answers please)

Zettel

oh god don't start me on this! i'll be here all day!

what gets me at mo is the addition of words that aren't needed. it's all over the place!

separating out for example - you can't separate in... it's everywhere - journalists, academics tv programmes - people who should know better

Zettel,

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

with the result that I now spray colons, full and semi, around like they're going out of fashion

The trouble is – they are going out of fashion. Perhaps we should start a movement to revive them.

Jai, that’s tautology you’re talking about. ‘Reversing back’ is another common one.

My pet hate is ‘at this moment in time’. Why the f@@k can’t they just say ‘now’ or ‘at the moment’? It’s babble.

Dee
x

Almost forgot – my other pet hate is people who say Hi Dee Hi.

Gee, it was so funny the first 397 times I heard it but after that…

Jardinery,

You are absolutely right. Unnecessary words seem to used by a lot of people who should know better.

As regards the colon and the semi-colon, I agree that the colon is fast disappearing but the semi is still very much with us. The reason for the demise of the colon is people's unwillingness to learn and understand when and where this may be used effectively. However the semi is being used but, I agree, less nowadays, partly for the same reason of ignorance but I think 'writing' has changed with the use of far shorter sentences and with the full stop being the obvious 'end'.

However language is in a constant state of change; nowadays the greater influence for change is the 'Americanization' of English. 'Tis a pity, for the Americans adopted English, adapted it for their own needs and now we, in turn, are now adopting their adaptation.
Len

I agree that the colon is fast disappearing

*Chortle*

IB,

A good one! Keep 'em coming...

Dee

Suitably chastened and repentent on you know what. Recalls a quote on the radio today - "In the beginning was the Word and in the end was the cliche."

I'm up for the other idea - what do we call it - Colonic Restoration?

Z (little smiley's get to be a bit like hi.....)

No worries, Zets. I forgive you... this time

(I like smilies)

Dee
x

Took me a day or 2 to get over marriage rejection but I think I'm ok now to move on. I like saddies.

D

Lucky man! I am not kidneying you, Nudgy, but you have just been saved! Sure, women are very appealing but they don't half flag-it-a-lot. Be like me, become a has-bean, think corn(y) thoughts. The ladies can still be won over - just sing them that hypnotic song 'The Sleepy Legume'.

Well, if they can mess with my disappearing colon, I'll mess with their beans!

Len

Len

Thanks for the re-assuring words, but have you ever hosted Countdown in a different guise?

Can't say I have... but I do like that pretty lady who reads from the Dictionary... I bet she knows how many beans make five.