Cato's Grammar Grumble

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Both are considered correct, according to most dictionaries: "specialty" without the extra "i" is probably more common here in America: probably most people would agree that it is easier to say.   Possibly for fancy emphasis you might hear "My speciality is...ontology."  0:)

("Speciality" is underlined right now in red.) 

For this reason I have chosen to use 'speciality'

[Spineur]

.....Vortex is like matrix so it shouldn't be too hard to remember vortices being similar to matrices.

Dont you think this has more to do with science education than english knowledge ?  I was talking to somebody about hysterisis and metastable states in magnets and she thought I was talking about cancer....

[Ten thumbs]

Indices are basically mathematical. Those things at the back of books are, and should always be, indexes.

[Cato]

Indices are basically mathematical. Those things at the back of books are, and should always be, indexes.

Interesting distinction: I could not find a dictionary with that idea. Where did you find it?

Again, a major business newspaper (Wall Street Journal) calls its (mathematical) stock charts "indexes."

[North Star]

I trust you also use all the appropriate Finnish noun cases and plurals when talking about saunasta... And speaking of charts, the plural of χάρτης is of course χάρτες - chartes.

[Karl Henning]

I've become increadingly annoyed by a certain self-replicating typo.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I've become increadingly annoyed by a certain self-replicating typo.

Goodness me I feel I need to check my thread title from that CD thread I made......

[Karl Henning]

[Cato]

I trust you also use all the appropriate Finnish noun cases and plurals when talking about saunasta... And speaking of charts, the plural of χάρτης is of course χάρτες - chartes.

Whenever I use Finnish or Greek, absolutely! 

[Ten thumbs]

Interesting distinction: I could not find a dictionary with that idea. Where did you find it?

Again, a major business newspaper (Wall Street Journal) calls its (mathematical) stock charts "indexes."

Ah! Maybe this is a cross-Atlantic difference. Here in England it is absolutely the case.

[Cato]

Ah! Maybe this is a cross-Atlantic difference. Here in England it is absolutely the case.

That would explain it!   0:)

Today, at a McDonald's, I saw a framed award with the following highly disturbing sentence:

"The Henderson Road Store is awarded this Certificate of Excellence

For Its Execution of the Five Primary Drivers."   

There MUST be a better way of stating this!   

[Ken B]

That would explain it!   0:)

Today, at a McDonald's, I saw a framed award with the following highly disturbing sentence:

"The Henderson Road Store is awarded this Certificate of Excellence

For Its Execution of the Five Primary Drivers."   

Texas I assume.

[Monsieur Croche]

I notice many things hopefully!

Tsk, tsk. That is, "it is to be hoped," ~ not 'hopefully.'

[North Star]

Tsk, tsk. That is, "it is to be hoped," ~ not 'hopefully.'

Except if Cato means that the manner in which he notices those many things is hopeful. 

[Ten thumbs]

Except if Cato means that the manner in which he notices those many things is hopeful. 

Talking of plurals - why do people insist on saying cacti and narcissi but baulk at consistency when it comes to dahliae and chrysanthema?

[Wendell_E]

Talking of plurals - why do people insist on saying cacti and narcissi but baulk at consistency when it comes to dahliae and chrysanthema?

I think it's the English language that baulks at consistency.  It actually farts in consistency's general direction.

[Cato]

Tsk, tsk. That is, "it is to be hoped," ~ not 'hopefully.'

Irony was intended in that case!    And you went back 7 years to read the topic?!  Very impressive!

Except if Cato means that the manner in which he notices those many things is hopeful. 

  Also a constant! 

Quote from: Ten thumbs on Today at 02:54:30 AM

Talking of plurals - why do people insist on saying cacti and narcissi but baulk at consistency when it comes to dahliae and chrysanthema?

Probably some people find cactuses and narcissuses too hard to thpit out!  0:)

Never expect consistency in languages: they are invented by inconsistent human beings!  0:)

[Karl Henning]

Adaptation of the indigenously-correct plural along with the word imported into English, is a sometime thing.  To wit: octopodes 

[Cato]

Adaptation of the indigenously-correct plural along with the word imported into English, is a sometime thing.  To wit: octopodes 

My Random House Dictionary wants octopuses as the primary plural, and octopi as a (less standard) secondary form.

[North Star]

My Random House Dictionary wants octopuses as the primary plural, and octopi as a (less standard) secondary form.

Octopi is idiotic, of course. Latin plural for a Greek loanword in English. . .